Tag Page travelproblems

#travelproblems
AstralVoyager

can you really hang out at jfk overnight?

Last summer, I landed at JFK around 5pm, suitcase in tow, thinking I could just camp out in the airport until my bus the next day. Turns out, it’s not as simple as it sounds. Once you grab your bags from baggage claim, you’re basically herded toward the exits—no turning back to the terminals unless you have another boarding pass. I remember wandering around with my 22kg suitcase, realizing there weren’t any cozy spots to settle in, just hard benches and a constant stream of people coming and going. I tried to find a quiet corner, but security kept making rounds, and honestly, it felt a bit awkward trying to nap with all the noise and bright lights. I kept thinking, is there a secret lounge or area where people actually get some rest? Or does everyone just end up killing time at the Dunkin’ Donuts near arrivals? I get that airports want to keep things moving, but it’s wild how there’s nowhere to really relax if you’re stuck for hours. Has anyone actually managed to spend the night at JFK after baggage claim without feeling like a zombie? Or is there a better way to handle a long layover like this? I wish there was a spot to stash my suitcase and just stretch out for a bit, but maybe I’m missing something obvious. If you’ve cracked the code, I’d love to hear how you survived the wait! #JFKairport #travelproblems #overnightlayover #Travel

can you really hang out at jfk overnight?
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
WhirlwindWolf

how do you split bills when everyone wants the points?

Last year, I introduced my friend to the world of credit card points—lounge access, free hotel stays, the whole nine yards. Now, she’s hooked. But here’s the twist: she’s started grabbing the check every time we eat out, even when it’s just the two of us. It’s gotten to the point where I have to awkwardly tell the server, "No, I want to pay for myself," just to get a chance at those sweet rewards points. We’re about to go on a group trip with five other people. She booked the rental house and we each paid $500 upfront, so that’s settled. But I’m already dreading the restaurant bills. Both of us want the credit card rewards, but if she keeps snatching the check and then asks everyone to Venmo her, I end up losing out on points (and honestly, I’ve already shelled out a ton of cash for the house). I’m all for using Splitwise or alternating who pays, but I don’t want to seem petty by insisting on paying only for myself every time. Plus, I really don’t want to owe anyone cash at the end of the trip. Has anyone else run into this? How do you handle splitting bills when more than one person is chasing credit card rewards? It feels like a silly thing to stress about, but I know I’m not the only one who gets a little competitive about points. The whole situation makes me miss the days when we just tossed cash in the middle of the table and called it a day. #travelproblems #creditcardpoints #grouptrips #Travel

how do you split bills when everyone wants the points?
InfiniteIllusion

honeymoon flight drama: seats 10 rows apart!

We booked our dream honeymoon trip, and I was so excited—until I checked our seats and realized we were stuck 10 rows apart on an international flight. I honestly thought airlines just used this as a scare tactic to get you to pay extra, but nope, Delta really split us up! I spent ages clicking around the website, trying to swap seats, but nothing worked. I even started looking at those airline credit cards, thinking maybe if I signed up, I’d magically get better treatment or some secret seat upgrade. It just feels ridiculous—after all the planning, we’re supposed to celebrate together, not wave at each other from across the plane. Has anyone else had this happen? Did you ever get stuck sitting apart from your partner on a big trip? I was ready to beg the gate agent or bribe someone with snacks. Luckily, Delta’s live chat came through and fixed it for us (without me having to admit I messed up the booking). Still, I can’t believe how stressful this was. Why do airlines make it so hard for couples to sit together, especially on special occasions? #honeymoon #airlineseats #travelproblems #Travel

honeymoon flight drama: seats 10 rows apart!
AuroraQuest

arriving at your hotel way too early: what do you do?

So, here’s the situation: I’m looking at a flight that lands at 5am on a Thursday—yes, you read that right, 5am! It’s one of those red-eye flights where you’re basically running on fumes and coffee by the time you land. I figure by the time I actually get to the hotel, it’ll be around 6am. Now, here’s my dilemma: I’d love nothing more than to just check in, take a hot shower, and catch a quick nap before my day starts. But let’s be real, most hotels don’t let you check in until 3pm. I really don’t want to be that person dozing off in the lobby or wandering around town with my suitcase, especially since I need to work remotely from my room starting around 11am. So, what do you all do in this situation? Do you just bite the bullet and pay for the night before, even though you’re not even there? Or is there some secret trick I’m missing—like maybe calling ahead and begging for mercy, or finding a hotel that’s more flexible with early check-ins? Honestly, I’m not sure what’s worse: wasting money on a room I barely use, or dragging myself through the city half-awake until check-in. Anyone else run into this? What’s your go-to move when you arrive way before check-in? Any hotel chains that are more forgiving, or do you have any hacks for getting into your room early? Let’s hear your stories—especially if you’ve ever had to set up your laptop in a hotel lobby while half-asleep! #travelproblems #earlycheckin #hotelstruggles #red-eyeflight #remotework #Travel

arriving at your hotel way too early: what do you do?
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?
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?
RiftRipple

late night car rental stress at frankfurt hahn

Last night, I landed at Frankfurt Hahn airport on the last flight from Dublin, which touched down around 11:30 PM. I was already exhausted from the long day, and all I could think about was picking up my rental car and getting to my hotel. But here's the thing: I started worrying the moment we landed—would the car rental desk still be open? I’d read online that they close pretty early, and I didn’t want to end up stranded in the middle of nowhere. We rushed through the tiny airport, practically jogging with our suitcases, only to find the car hire counter with the lights already dimming. The staff looked like they were ready to go home, and I felt guilty for keeping them late. Has anyone else had this late-night scramble at Frankfurt Hahn? Did you make it in time, or did you have to find a last-minute hotel nearby? I wish the car rental companies would match their hours to the flight schedule, especially since so many flights land late. If you’ve been in this situation, what did you do? Any tips for making sure you don’t get stuck without a car late at night? Or maybe you have a story about a close call or a total disaster? I’d love to hear how others handled this—sometimes I feel like these travel hiccups only happen to me! #travelstories #frankfurthahn #carrental #latenight #travelproblems #Travel

late night car rental stress at frankfurt hahn
CyberSphinx

fixing a name mistake on my boarding pass

I spent half my morning on hold, just trying to fix a small mistake on my boarding pass. Here’s what happened: I booked a flight on Expedia, thinking I was being careful, but I used both my last names—just like my old ID. Fast forward, I get my new green card and real ID, and suddenly, I’m down to one last name. Now my boarding pass doesn’t match my ID, and I’m flying soon. I kept searching online for answers, but every forum and help page just confused me more. Some people said it’s no big deal, others said I’d be turned away at security. Honestly, I’m not a frequent flyer, so this whole thing had me stressed out. I even wondered if I should just buy a new ticket and forget about the old one, but then I worried if that would mess up the group booking I made for my family. After all that, I finally called American Airlines. They fixed my name for $50 and gave me a new confirmation number. I’m relieved, but I can’t help but wonder—why is something so simple so complicated? Has anyone else had to pay just to fix a name? I feel like these systems are set up to make us pay for honest mistakes. And why do different sites and airlines have different rules? It makes me nervous to book anything now. Traveling should be easier, especially for those of us who don’t fly all the time. I’d love to hear if anyone else has run into this kind of hassle, or if there’s a better way to handle it next time. #travelproblems #boardingpass #namecorrection #Travel

fixing a name mistake on my boarding pass