Worst flight experience?
- Thread starter KingOfBBN
- Start date
I fly maybe 4 or 5 times a year, so not too much and have been pretty lucky. My worst experience was when i was flying from DC (where I worked) to Dayton to visit my family for Thanksgiving and my luggage got lost. I called the carrier at the Dayton airport a couple days later because I had not heard anything yet and they told me to come to the airport. I walk in and there are hundreds of bags just piled all over one another in the ticketing area. I walk up to the counter, explain my situation to the woman she points to the pile and says, "Is one of those yours?". Needless to say, I never got my luggage.
Whoa whoa WHOA. Be careful putting out those kinds of details. You don't want to get sued for libel.
Our flight was delayed once we were already on the plane and they wouldn't let us off. We sat inside the plane, on the ground, for I want to say close to three hours.
The only "bad" flight experience I ever had was being delayed 4 hours out of LaGuardia and by the time I got to Memphis I had missed my connecting flight and was stuck in Memphis overnight. It didn't really end that badly though. They put us all up in a hotel and there was a really hot chick from the flight at the bar that I met. We sure got back at the airline. They paid for 2 rooms for us and we only used 1.
Wettcat will top all your stories.
He had a couple incidents in the US then started flying exclusively Malaysia Air. I think he's still lost.
He had a couple incidents in the US then started flying exclusively Malaysia Air. I think he's still lost.
Worst i have had was having to switch planes after taxiing due to a "chemical smell" (good thing we didn't take off I presume) and once on landing during a storm had to pull up abruptly at the last moment because apparently another plane was still on the runway.
I was 18 and working away from home. Called the Huntington WV airport and booked a flight to Grand Rapids Minnesota. Needless to say I landed in Grand Rapids Michigan. I should've paid more attention but was young and new to flying. I remember getting off the airplane and saw a sign that said Welcome to Michigan Gerald Ford Airport. My stomach dropped.
Flying on SWA last Sept with wife and kids returning from vacation. And only seats left were in the back middle seats. So no seats together. No one offered to move, so my (just turned) 8 yr-old had to sit by himself.
I was on a flight one time that landed in Cleveland. Cleveland! I'm not perfect, but I don't deserve to be treated like that.
Puked on while taxing for a flight on Northwest Airlines in Memphis. Massive dude with dreds took off running to the bathroom and tried to keep it in. He didn't, I took he brunt of it. They didn't go back to the gate and gave me wet wipes to try and clean it off my clothes and the back of my head. Did get a $250 voucher though.
Nothing real bad, but had to sit on a plane awaiting takeoff for 90 minutes where the plane shut down with no air conditioning and we couldn't get up out our seats to go to the bathroom or get a drink of water.
Sat on the Tarmac in Philly for about 6 hours and they wouldn't let us off. Borderline criminal and I nearly lost my mind.
Sat in front of a woman once who got seriously air sick. That was pretty miserable for all within about 4 rows of her.
Sat in front of a woman once who got seriously air sick. That was pretty miserable for all within about 4 rows of her.
When @WettCat shows up, he'll own this thread, but I must say most of you have had it easy except MCF and the vomit story.
- I've white knuckled it due to turbulence when the plane has taken a massive drop of several hundred feet.
- Was on a plane that was coming in for landing and got caught in a cross wind and it tipped up one side of the plane setting of alarms.
- Fire trucks met one flight at LAX.
- Sat on the tarmac for 5 hours one day at a different airport due to a plane having a blowout and being crippled on the runway at the airport we were supposed to land at. It was an international flight and the other airport had no passport facilities so we had to wait until we could go back to the designated airport.
- Luggage handed to me in 2 different part once...that was fun. Remarkable everything was still in there so it must have been torn when thrown onto the belt.
- Flight attendant opened overhead and someone's heavy duffle fell straight down onto my head. Delta red coat met me at the gate after that flight to basically tell me I could have whatever I wanted.
- I've slept in both ATL and LAX due to weather delays.
- Have had so many late, delayed, missed flights that it's comical.
I fly almost every week. I haven't been injured or killed; that's number 1 in my book. But here are a few:
Oh, and whining about delays is for p*ssies. See Louis CK's bit on flying.
-Wayne
- Emergency landing in Memphis because "something was wrong with the hydraulics". We did a fly-by over the tower, and then landed to be met with a bunch of fire trucks. Worst part was that they made us get on the same damn plane to continue our trip a few hours later.
- Flight from Louisville to Houston with severe turbulence the entire freaking time. It's usually about a 2-hour flight, but the pilot said we had to go over Oklahoma due to weather. It ended up taking about 2:50. And about 95% of it I thought we were going to die.
- Flight from Detroit to Evansville with a major line of storms between the two cities. No joke, the pilot came to the cabin before we took off and said that a) we have to get the plane at least to Indy, b) this trip is going to be hell, and c) open bar. I should have caught the next flight, but I stayed on. Sure enough - terrible fligt and worst part - the weather was so bad they couldn't do a cabin service. Made it to Evansville in time for a few tornados.
- Wake turbulence on a descent into Charlotte. Flight attendant hit the side wall of the plane while doing announcements. We corrected quickly, but that was the first and only true feeling like what going down in a plane crash would be like. Total loss of control - complete fear.
Oh, and whining about delays is for p*ssies. See Louis CK's bit on flying.
-Wayne
Washington Reagan to Nashville 12 years ago. I am traveling with wife and 4 mo old. The flight is overloaded with US mail and they are begging people to take later flights. By boarding time they were offering round trip, lower 48 tickets. We've been gone a week, we are ready to just be at home and we have just enough diapers to make it to Kentucky, so we board.
Mid flight, the captain says that they can't tell if the landing gear will lock down for landing and we are diverted to Dayton.
We buzz the tower so that they can physically see that the gear is down, but still don't know if it is locked.
We assumed crash positions, but landed uneventfully.
Since they are not letting us fly out of there with that plane, we have to stay the night.
At the time, it seemed pretty scary. USAir was not apologetic at all. We received $5 meal vouchers and room at a local motel with one minivan to ferry 40 passengers 3 at a time.
They got us back to Nashville the next day via Pittsburgh.
We were so convinced that we would get free tickets out of this because of how easily they were giving them out in DC.
In exchange for us feeling the end was near, we received a voucher for $200.
Never used. We have never flown with them again.
Mid flight, the captain says that they can't tell if the landing gear will lock down for landing and we are diverted to Dayton.
We buzz the tower so that they can physically see that the gear is down, but still don't know if it is locked.
We assumed crash positions, but landed uneventfully.
Since they are not letting us fly out of there with that plane, we have to stay the night.
At the time, it seemed pretty scary. USAir was not apologetic at all. We received $5 meal vouchers and room at a local motel with one minivan to ferry 40 passengers 3 at a time.
They got us back to Nashville the next day via Pittsburgh.
We were so convinced that we would get free tickets out of this because of how easily they were giving them out in DC.
In exchange for us feeling the end was near, we received a voucher for $200.
Never used. We have never flown with them again.
^ What's funny about that, and it applies to one of my situations too, is if there is a problem with the landing gear why not just go to where you were going to land in the first place?
While on a hunting trip in Alaska the small float plane that came in to take my 3 friends and myself out of the bush crashed on take off after hitting a tree and losing a pontoon into the lake. The pilot decided that if we were going to crash it would be better to crash into the lake so he lined the plane up, landed on one pontoon until gravity took over and then in we went. The plane spun around in the water and basically stayed afloat until we all got out. The water was swallow so it never sunk and the company actually came in and raised the plane and reattached the pontoon and floated the plane. After they checked the engine for any water damage, the motor started and within 2 days, we were in the air again.
A real exciting trip to say the least.
Went to Orlando with the family 2 years ago, and stayed in a time share condo with about every bell and whistle you'd want. One of the good things was that it had a utility room with a full size washer and dryer, so my wife made sure to do laundry thru the week so we wouldn't have to do any when we got home. Packed up all the luggage with everybody's clothes clean and folded to be put up when we got home. Lo and behold we get to the airport, and right before we start to load up, a damn monsoon rainstorm pushed in and delayed the flight. So we sat by the window and watched as our luggage got absolutely soaked on the ramp right beside the belly of the plane. 8 days worth of clothes for 4 people all had to be re-washed when we got home.
Hit this on an approach into ATL from LEX. Was pretty terrifying and the worst part was they were having engine trouble before we ever left LEX so I was convinced it was some major problem and we were going down. We were banking on approach when we hit it and while we probably weren't I would've sworn we were perpendicular to the ground. Only lasted a few seconds, but it's crazy how many things can run through you mind that quickly.
Only other "bad" was a 14 hour delay in the Mexico City airport. Wouldn't have been too bad, but I was with three customers so I had to entertain and make sure everyone was happy/comfortable as they could be for 14 hours.
Was on a Delta flight from LAX to Atlanta years ago, had gotten the coveted upgrade to First Class, and they ran out of bourbon about halfway through the flight. Inexcusable.
For non-frequent travelers, Delta serves Woodford Reserve. It is inexcusable when they run out.
Went to Cuba for a few weeks in June. Flew to Havana through Mexico City. Flight from Mex to Havana was supposed to leave about 10am. When I got terminal, flight was delayed until 3, then 5, then 8 then 9, then 11:30, we finally left Mexico City at 1am. The did give us 500 pesos every few hours for food and I met a cool British chick that ended up spending a week with us though.
Coming back we were only delayed 3 hours, got struck by lightning and circled the Cancun airport for 2 hours.
Whenever you guys go to Cuba, I would not use Cubana de Avacion if going through Mexico.
Coming back we were only delayed 3 hours, got struck by lightning and circled the Cancun airport for 2 hours.
Whenever you guys go to Cuba, I would not use Cubana de Avacion if going through Mexico.
Thats enough...
Had a buddy who was returning to Norway after coming to Ky for a funeral of a mutual friend. He got loaded pre flight but somehow got on plane with no problems. About an hour and a half later he texted to me "Volcano" I thought he had gotten sick from drinking and smoking weed prior to the flight. I get home that evening and sure enough a volcano had erupted in iceland (this was spring of 2010). Some way or another he ends up diverted from Oslo to Germany. Everything is grounded. Can't fly anywhere. Hotels are packed. HE made friends with some guy in the airport who said his son was coming from somewhere in Poland to pick him up, and that my buddy could ride with them to that point, then take the car to Denmark and leave it with another friend. (Cant believe the guy was that generous). He does that, then gets a ferry to Sweden and eventually a train back home to Oslo. Took him roughly a week. Crazy. And the whole time his wife is home pregnant to the hilt and, right before take off, her grandfather had died in the states and she couldn't get home to the US due to her pregnancy. So after all that, his wife wasn't gonna sex him up for his troubles. And probably cried a lot.
I got bumped off flight by continental in cancun for extra four days. they paid for hotel. worst part was work didn't believe me.
Flying into Reagan in DC. Bad weather couldn't land so they put us in a holding pattern.While we were holding the plane was dropping severely every couple of minutes. When they finally let us land we had people screaming and crying. Plane was going side to side all the way to the runway. Had it not been for xanax it would've botherd more than it did.
Damn, that was absolutely awful. Did you have to spend much time in therapy afterwards?
Another good one. Was flying from Green Bay to Chicago one night in December. This is typically a 35 minute flight. As soon as we take off it starts snowing - with lightning too. An hour into the flight the captain comes on and says we are being diverted to South Bend because O'Hare is shut down. 45 minutes later he announces that we are going back to Chicago because South Bend is shut down. We're in a CRJ, so it's not like we can be up in the air for 4 hours. At the 2:15 mark we land in Chicago. Pilot joked we were almost on fumes. Not funny dude.
Coming back off leave, took a C130 flight from Kuwait into Bagdad. I knew something was up when the air force crew members took extra long on the barf bag briefing and were smiling. People are basically sitting like zippers, knees to nuts all the way down the row facing each other. about 10 minutes out the C-130 started doing evasive maneuvers. it was ascending and descending so rapidly the guy next to me's water bottle completely collapsed on itself. I literally could feel the blood slamming to the top and bottom of my skull. I started laughing cause I knew the AF crew was messing with us while completing their mandated training. The dude across from me was green and pissed at me for laughing. he then missed his barf bag and hit me. Once we approached Bagdad International the plane went into a corkscrew landing. Could feel the blood on the side of my skull then. I remember watching the sun spot from the window flying around the cabin. Kept my lunch, cleaned off the other guys, and went about my business. Never want to do that again.