Tag Page AirportStories

#AirportStories
InfiniteInk001

do i really have to listen to clear agents at airports?

I was at the Austin airport this morning, standing in the Sky Priority line for TSA Pre-Check, feeling pretty good about getting through security quickly. But then, I noticed the CLEAR agents were letting their own line cut in front of us—three people in a row! I’d already waited long enough, so I just stepped up in front of the next CLEAR person. Immediately, the CLEAR agent started calling out, “Sir! Sir!” but honestly, I just ignored her and told her to buzz off. Here’s what gets me: CLEAR agents aren’t airport staff, and they definitely don’t work for TSA. They’re just employees of a private company, but they act like they run the place, bossing people around and telling us where to stand. I don’t even use CLEAR, and frankly, I’m not a fan of the whole setup. Why should I have to listen to someone who doesn’t even work for the airport or TSA? Has anyone else run into this? I’m wondering if there’s any real risk in just ignoring them and going about my business. Are there actual consequences, or are they just bluffing? It’s frustrating to feel like I’m being pushed around by a company I never signed up for. I can’t be the only one who finds this whole situation a little ridiculous. #airportstories #tsa #clear #Travel

do i really have to listen to clear agents at airports?
SilkenShadow

delta rescheduled our flight and left us stranded overnight

I can’t believe what happened to us at the Salt Lake City airport last night. We showed up 2.5 hours early for our Delta flight to Atlanta, thinking we were being extra careful. But after waiting in line for 45 minutes just to check our bags—no self-check option, of course—we finally got our tickets and hustled over to security. And guess what? TSA had already closed the doors. There were about 50 of us standing there, totally confused, while TSA just shrugged and said, “We open again at 3:30.” It turns out Delta had rescheduled our flight for 2:05 AM but never bothered to tell TSA. So the security staff had no idea there was a late flight, and we were all stuck outside. An airport rep finally showed up and told us, “Delta forgot to call TSA.” Our bags? Already on the plane. The flight left without us. We spent hours at the Delta desk while the agents tried to rebook everyone. Now we’re stuck with an overnight layover in Atlanta, and we won’t get to our final destination until Sunday. I’m honestly frustrated—after all the planning, we still got stranded because of someone else’s mistake. Has anyone else had Delta or another airline totally drop the ball like this? Did you get any compensation or help from the airline or the airport? What did you say or do that actually worked? I feel like we’re just being shuffled around with no real answers, and I’m not sure what to push for next. It’s hard not to feel powerless when you’re just trying to get home and everything goes sideways like this. #DeltaAirlines #TravelProblems #AirportStories #Travel

delta rescheduled our flight and left us stranded overnight
RippleRogue

lost my passport abroad—should i risk flying home?

I’m sitting at the airport, heart pounding, staring at my empty hands—my passport vanished somewhere between flights. We spent 20 minutes retracing every step, asking at every counter, but the airline just shrugged and said they couldn’t find it. I only have my REAL ID, and after a lot of back-and-forth, the airline finally agreed to let me board. The catch? If the border agents in the US turn me away, I have to pay for my own flight back to this layover city. I tried calling the US embassy and consulate, but nobody’s picking up—probably because of all the coronavirus chaos. State Department? Same story. I’m running out of time, and my flight boards in less than half an hour. Has anyone actually tried getting back into the US without a passport recently? Did they let you through with just a REAL ID? Or did you get stuck in airport limbo? I’m torn—should I take the risk and board, or play it safe and stay put? If you’ve been in a similar mess, what did you do? Any advice would really help right now. I can’t be the only one who’s had travel plans go sideways like this! #travelproblems #passportpanic #realid #usentry #airportstories #Travel

lost my passport abroad—should i risk flying home?