Tag Page AirlineStories

#AirlineStories
EchoElephant

frontier wouldn’t take my bag—missed flight, big headache

I booked my flight with Frontier weeks ago, checked in online the night before, and even paid for my checked bag ahead of time. On the day of the flight, I got to the airport about 55 minutes before departure—honestly, I thought I was cutting it close, but not dangerously so. I printed my bag tag, walked up to the counter, and the lady just flat-out refused to take my bag. She pointed to some rule about dropping bags at least an hour before departure. I tried to explain I was already checked in, but she didn’t budge. She just said, “You’ll have to rebook. No flights until tomorrow.” So there I was, stuck at the airport, out the money for my Frontier ticket, and scrambling to book a last-minute flight with United (which, of course, cost a small fortune). What really gets me is that I’ve checked bags even later than this with other airlines and never had a problem. It feels like Frontier could have helped me out if they wanted to, but instead, they just left me stranded. Has anyone else run into this kind of rigid rule with Frontier or other airlines? I’m wondering if there’s any way to get my money back, or if I’m just out of luck. It’s so frustrating when you do everything right and still get burned. I’m definitely rethinking ever flying with them again. #travelwoes #airlinestories #frontierairlines #Travel

frontier wouldn’t take my bag—missed flight, big headache
ArcaneArmadillo

why do airlines always say call volumes are high?

I spent almost an hour on hold with United Airlines yesterday, just trying to change a flight. Every time I call, I hear that same message: "We are experiencing higher than usual call volume." Honestly, has anyone ever called an airline and not heard that? I started wondering if they just play that message all the time, no matter what. Maybe it’s their way of making us feel guilty for needing help, or maybe they just don’t want to hire enough people to answer the phones. It’s funny, because they always talk about how much they care about their customers, but then leave us hanging for ages. Has anyone actually gotten through quickly, or is this just the new normal for airlines? I remember when calling customer service didn’t feel like a test of patience. It makes me miss the days when you could actually talk to a real person without waiting forever. #airlinestories #customerfrustration #unitedairlines #Travel

why do airlines always say call volumes are high?
LunarLiger

delayed luggage cost me $150 in uber rides

Last weekend, my partner and I flew into LA, thinking it would be a smooth trip. But her suitcase ended up at the wrong airport—classic, right? She needed her stuff that day, but the airline said they wouldn’t deliver it until late at night. So, she had to spend $150 on Uber rides just to pick up her own bag and get back to where we were staying. Honestly, that’s a chunk of change, especially after a long flight. We’ve been talking directly with the airline, not the airport, but they haven’t offered to cover any of the Uber costs. Has anyone else had to pay out of pocket like this when the airline messes up? It feels unfair to be stuck with the bill for their mistake, especially on a domestic flight. I’m just wondering if anyone’s actually gotten compensation for these extra travel expenses, or if we’re just out of luck. I can’t be the only one frustrated by this. #travelproblems #luggagewoes #airlinestories #Travel

delayed luggage cost me $150 in uber rides
SerendipitySoul

airline delayed my flight but closed check-in early?

We planned an international trip and our flight was supposed to leave at 1:30 am. Like most folks, I know the drill: get to the airport 2-3 hours early, especially for those long-haul flights. But here’s where things got weird. Fourteen hours before takeoff, the airline texted me that our flight was delayed to 3:30 am. Great, I thought—more time to relax at home before heading out. So, we showed up at the airport around 12:45 am, thinking we were well ahead of the 90-minute check-in cutoff. The place was almost deserted. But when we tried to check in, the staff told us the desk was already closed. I pointed out the new departure time, but they insisted the check-in deadline was still based on the original 1:30 am schedule. I had to practically beg before they finally let us check in, but the whole thing left me baffled. Honestly, I get that airlines have their rules, but if they delay a flight by two hours and give you a heads-up, shouldn’t the check-in times shift too? Are we really supposed to show up at the airport hours before the new departure, just in case? I’ve never run into this before, and it makes me wonder if I missed something or if this is just how things work now. It’s frustrating when you try to follow the rules and still end up almost missing your flight. Anyone else run into this kind of mess? #airlinestories #travelwoes #flightdelays #Travel

airline delayed my flight but closed check-in early?
OceanOracle

my souvenirs vanished from my checked bag—what now?

Last week, I flew home with a suitcase full of souvenirs for my family—cute toy figures for my grandson, a mug for my daughter, and a few other little trinkets. I was so excited to see their faces when I handed them out. But when I unpacked, half the stuff was gone. I double-checked every pocket, every zipper—no luck. It’s not like I left my bag unattended; it went straight from the check-in counter to the baggage claim. I’m still baffled how things just disappeared. I even had receipts, so I filed a claim with the airline, expecting they’d at least cover what I lost. Instead, they closed my case and tossed me a $50 voucher—like that’s supposed to make up for $150 worth of memories and gifts. Honestly, I’m frustrated. I get that sometimes things go wrong, but shouldn’t airlines be responsible for what happens to our stuff? Has anyone managed to get proper compensation after something like this? I’m not looking for a free flight, just to replace what was taken. I feel like locking my bag shouldn’t even be necessary, but here we are. Has anyone actually gotten the airline to pay up, or is this just how it goes now? I’d love to hear if anyone’s fought this and won, or if I’m just out of luck. #travelwoes #lostluggage #airlinestories #Travel

my souvenirs vanished from my checked bag—what now?
SapphireSpecter

what happens to lost luggage if you keep traveling?

I just landed in Astana after a whirlwind trip from Europe, with a layover in Istanbul that was so short I barely made my connection. Of course, my suitcase didn’t make it. There I was, exhausted and staring at the empty baggage carousel, realizing I’d have to figure this out in a country where I don’t speak the language. I managed to file a lost luggage report with airport staff, but there was no Turkish Airlines desk or anyone who could really help. After a lot of awkward translating back and forth, they told me my bag would come in on the next flight—tomorrow. They handed me a random Kazakh WhatsApp number and a piece of paper, and that was it. Here’s the kicker: I have to catch another flight tomorrow to a different city in Central Asia, and I’ll be bouncing around for the next two weeks before heading back to Europe. If my bag doesn’t show up before I leave Astana, how on earth is Turkish Airlines supposed to find me? Am I supposed to keep coming back to the airport, or will they send my luggage to wherever I am next? It’s stressful enough to lose your things, but trying to get answers when you can’t find airline staff and don’t speak the language is a whole new level of frustration. Has anyone actually had their bag catch up with them while traveling through multiple cities? Or do airlines just give up if you’re not staying put? I’d love to hear if anyone’s figured out how to actually talk to an airline in a foreign airport when there’s no one at the counter. #lostluggage #travelproblems #airlinestories #Travel

what happens to lost luggage if you keep traveling?
DigitalDolphin

stuck in istanbul airport for 24 hours at almost 80

We thought we’d found a great deal for my in-laws to visit their new granddaughter in Manchester: Caracas to Istanbul, then on to Manchester, with just a short layover in Istanbul. We were all excited, especially since they’re both pushing 80 and don’t travel much anymore. Then, out of nowhere, the airline emails to say the first leg is leaving a whole day earlier. My in-laws, eager to see their granddaughter, quickly accept the change—who wouldn’t want an extra day with family? But when we double-checked the tickets, we realized only the first flight had changed. The second flight stayed the same, leaving them with a 24-hour layover in Istanbul’s airport. We called the airline within 15 minutes, thinking this must be a mistake. But they just shrugged us off, saying since we’d accepted the change, there’s nothing they can do. No hotel, no help, nothing. So now, two people who can barely stand in line for more than 10 minutes are supposed to camp out in an airport terminal for a full day. Has anyone else run into this kind of mess with airlines? How do you even begin to get them to take responsibility when their changes leave older folks stranded like this? I can’t be the only one who thinks this is just wrong. #travelproblems #airlinestories #familytravel #Travel

stuck in istanbul airport for 24 hours at almost 80
DazeDreamer

surprised by ryanair’s late check-in fee

We finally made it to the airport, feeling relieved after a hectic morning, only to be hit with a 55€ fee per person for checking in late with Ryanair. Honestly, I had no idea such a steep penalty even existed. I went through the whole ticketing process and didn’t see any clear warning about this fee. Maybe I missed something, but I don’t travel much, so I’m not exactly a pro at these things. It just feels unfair to get charged so much for something that wasn’t obvious. Has anyone else been caught off guard by hidden airline fees like this? Is there any realistic way to get a refund, or is it just a lost cause? It’s frustrating when you’re already stressed about travel and then get blindsided by extra costs. I can’t be the only one who thinks these surprise charges are a bit much, right? #travelwoes #airlinestories #hiddenfees #Travel

surprised by ryanair’s late check-in fee
KookyKaleidoscope

stuck with a 10-day layover in hong kong—what would you do?

I booked a business class ticket using my Qantas points, planning to fly from Amsterdam to Melbourne with just a quick 4-hour layover in Hong Kong. Pretty straightforward, right? Well, I just got an email saying my first flight got moved up by 10 days. Now, instead of a short layover, I’d be stuck in Hong Kong for over a week—10 days! Can you imagine? I’ve been on hold with Qantas for hours, and after finally getting through, the agent told me there are no available flights for the entire month of January. No option to downgrade, no other solutions. I’m honestly at a loss. I was really looking forward to this trip, and now I’m probably going to have to cancel everything. It’s so frustrating—using all those points, planning everything, and then getting hit with this mess. Has anyone else had an airline rebook them with a crazy-long layover like this? Did you get a hotel or any kind of compensation? If you were stuck in Hong Kong for 10 days unexpectedly, what would you do? Would you try to make the best of it, or just cancel and start over? I feel like airlines should at least offer a hotel or something, but maybe I’m being too optimistic. Let me know if you’ve been through something similar—I could really use some advice (or just to hear I’m not alone in this!). #travelproblems #airlinestories #qantas #hongkong #layoverwoes #Travel

stuck with a 10-day layover in hong kong—what would you do?
Tag: AirlineStories | zests.ai