The World's Worst Business Travel Experiences

As you may have guessed - we see it every day. At WorldMate we get to experience all those flight delays and cancellation, lost luggage, mishandled hotel bookings and all sorts of travel mishaps - TWICE. First - because we monitor everyone's flight and itineraries - we send dozens of thousands of flight alerts every day. We track flight and airport delays, and we have users sending us thank-you notes about how we saved them from their trouble... Second - we're out there ourselves... just a few weeks ago I landed in RDU at midnight, rented a dingy Subaru to drive all the way to Pinehurst NC the next day to participate in a conference, then drove to CLT to catch a flight to Toronto... So we share your pain...

And because we do - we are now announcing the "World's Worst Business Traveler Experience" contest. What you have to do to win is very simple. Send us your worst travel horror story. It has to be up to 100 words, and all you have to do is post it as a comment right here (below). On June 1st we will bring all these stories before our esteemed panel of judges hand-picked from our team and our buddies... the best story will be featured in our next WorldMate newsletter, and the lucky winner wins an Amazon Kindle II reader, to keep him entertained on the next long wait at some airport...

So what are you waiting for? Tell it all, WorldMate Listens!

Comments

[Toni M]

I had a Northwest flight from Atlanta to LA connecting through Memphis. The flight actually left on time (which is highly unusual for me...the person with the world's worst travel karma) and we took off without incident. As the flight continued to ascend, I kept waiting for the moment when my ears would start to feel better. I don't generally have significant problems with my ears on a plane, but was thinking, "Boy, this is the worst pressure in my ears I have ever felt on a plane." About 20 minutes into this ~30 minute flight, the pilot came on to announce that they were having problems pressurizing the plane. At this point, we were nearly in Memphis, but for reasons unclear to me, the decision was made not to continue on to Memphis, a Northwest hub, but to return to Atlanta (pre-NWA/Delta merger) where there were exactly FOUR Northwest gates at the world's busiest airport! So, we had to endure another 20-30 minutes of an unpressurized flight to return to Atlanta. Once they finally found some Northwest personnel to service the plane, they made everyone sit on the plane while undergoing maintenance. As I had a connection to LA for a very important meeting the next day, I kept questioning the flight attendants as to whether or not I would make my flight. There were some people they allowed off the plane as it was clear they would not make their connections and needed to make other arrangements, but I was assured that I would be fine. Well, of course, by the time we eventually took off, I missed my connection and there were no more flights out of Memphis by the time we landed. In fact, the airport was basically closed with the only inhabitants those people from my flight! After much complaining, I was put up at a Sheraton Four Points in a room opening into a courtyard that overlooked the bar...just in time for Monday Night Football. Obviously, a very quiet evening for an already irritated and stressed out me. The room was so unbelievably crappy and dingy that I couldn't believe Sheraton would even put their name on it. The crowning glory of this room was seen when I opened the bathroom vanity door to get more toilet paper to find that they hadn't even bothered to install the floor of the cabinet and I was actually looking directly at a dirt floor in my hotel bathroom!! Thank goodness the flight to LA early the following morning was uneventful, but I actually had to use the Airphone during the flight as I was unable to conduct any business the night before since I had arrived at Memphis so late, and it was pre-business hours on the West Coast when I boarded my flight in Memphis. All in all, among my many horrific travel stories, this one still stands out as one of the worst. (My ears are still hurting...)

[Ashley L Goltermann]

I was returning from a humanitarian trip to help rebuild houses in New Orleans, Louisiana. A group of friends and I had flown down, drywalled in 105 degree weather, and were in a huge pick-up heading back to the airport to drop off our rented truck. Suddenly, out of nowhere, another truck crossed the grass median from the opposite side of the Interstate and we had no choice but to T-Bone the vehicle. Luckily, every one was all right. The woman in front of me had a broken foot, while I was the most severely injured with a broken femur and six broken bones in my right hand. What a way to end a trip!

[Cynthia Berryman]

It took me four days and a trip around the country for the fun-loving people at Delta to fly me home to California from my one-day meeting in Florida. Palm Beach to Atlanta: cancelled. Palm Beach to Newark the next day: delayed in Greensboro North Carolina. Newark to Los Angeles: missed because of delay. Newark to Minneapolis the next day: cancelled. Newark to Minneapolis on yet the next day: made it! Minneapolis to Orange County on, miraculously, the same day: made it!

[Patrick Mulcahy]

Flew LAX to Shanghai without ticket or passport after wife drove away with both still in car. I wasn’t going to let that stop me. Called Chinese consulate, talked them into finding, faxing visa application. Talked myself onto plane, then in Shanghai tried to enter with my faxed visa app. Taken to security and questioned. Threw out every business card of Chinese officials I had, including mayor, who then retrieved me. Security was not pleased. Passport FedExed to me, but security called when I tried to depart Beijing with no entry stamp in passport. Process began all over again.

[Chris Morris]

While flying from NY to California, I looked out the window and saw that the engine on the wing had flames coming out of it. I notified the flight attendent. Over the loud speaker I heard the pilot say that we needed to make an emergency landing. He landed the plane in Des Moines. Later that night at the hotel me and my friends had a few beers and jokes in the hot tub. We told the guys sitting next to us our story of the flames coming out of the airplane engine. They said, oh you were the people who saw the flames. You are so lucky to be alive. We are the guys that were sent to fix your plane.

[paul]

We take off from Amsterdam heading to South Africa for a nice family vacation. towards the end of our flight the air plane gets struck by lighting and we lose lighting inside the plane. everyone on board is pretty sure that its the end, a young boy screams out "WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE" and you can hear people crying in the background through the rest of the flight. directly after we safely land, the pilot come on the over head and says that it was the worst and scariest flight of his whole career.

[Allan Huss]

Left PBI for meetings in Chicago, New York and Toronto. Checked my bags directly through to Toronto. (Foolish mistake!) Due to snowstorm, flights to Toronto were cancelled, as was my meeting. So onward to New York, but bags had gone to Toronto. By Tuesday evening in New York, had contracted the flu. Went to Thursday meetings in same clothes I had been wearing since Monday. Friday went to morning meetings and to Newark airport for flight back to Florida -- still no luggage but still with remnants of flu. As I left United luggage service office at EWR, my bags came down onto luggage carousel. Took bags over to US Air for flight to PBI through CLT. Flight was delayed on runway for 3 hours at EWR, breaking connection at CLT. Ran and got last seat on flight to FLL. Bags didn't make it. At US Air next day at PBI, was taken back into luggage sorting area and told "See if you see your bag". Luckily, the day glo orange "Priority" tag stood out, and finally retrieved it.

[Christina Singer]

We traveled to Williamsburg Va. a few years back. All the history and the shopping, I was in heaven. Until the hotel room ceiling fell in because the guest on the upper floor left the water running all night. Our belongings were ruined, our travelers checks ruined, our new purchases and souveniers ruined. The hotel moved us and comped our stay, but we had no travel insurance so we still lost a lot of money and missed out on a great vacation.

[Melissa D]

On a one night visit to my company's West Coast office, I was booked into a no-frills hotel. I woke up the next morning covered in itchy bites. Peeled back the sheets-- bed bugs! I packed and fled the premises. Later, I caught a redeye flight back east and went right to work, toting my luggage with me. I didn’t know my little bloodsucking bedbug friends had hitched a ride, infesting my entire office within days. The company spent hundreds of dollars on exterminators, and, when that didn't work, new carpeting and couches. I’m itching just thinking about it.

[Liz]

This trip was supposed to be a nice relaxing trip, a break from our long Indiana winter, and new job stress. I started a new job in January as the Director of Sales and was thrown into the mix of this face paced, thriving, HR consulting and outsourcing company named Reach360. In the last 3 months I started this new power position, broke up with a boyfriend, started training for a half marathon, and above all that I am a single mom raising a 6 year old boy. Can someone say... vacation please?!! THIS trip to visit my best friend in California was supposed to be a lovely relaxing vaction after a very long Indiana winter. The vacation started out fantastic; a concert with girlfriends on Thursday night and an 8-mile run Saturday morning with the Leukemia team in training. Everything seemed to be headed in the direction of a great vacation, that is, until I borrowed my friends car to go shopping at a specialty boutique that we don't have in Indiana to get some great designer clothes. As I was driving down the road in their 1-year old Saturn Vue enjoying the drive and sunshine, a small child ran out in the road and in an effort to not hit the little boy, I had to swerve the vehicle and the noticed I was about to hit a parked car. I quickly tried swerving back but it was too late. Slam! "No, no, no, this is not happening!" I thought, over and over. "Thank God, I didn't hit that kid!" OnStar came on immediately and called the police for me, which was a good thing because I was in such a state of shock that I didn't know what to do, let alone where I was. My friend and he husband were saddened by the whole accident, but I was devastated and humiliated. I felt awful and now have a hefty bill to fork over in order to pay for their deductible, car rental fees, and rate-up on their car insurance. What was supposed to be a relazing vacation turned in to a bad dream.

[Julián Sanz]

Coming back from Orlando to Madrid, my trip had scale in Miami. I had to change to Iberia. As i was on business class, fligth attendant told me that my flight to Madrid boarded on gate XX. When arrived to Miami, i went to gate XX (only half an hour to board) and I realize that she made a mistake on my flight company (was Iberia, not American Airlines). I had to run trought all Miami Airport but... my plane leaved without me. After two hours i could book a new fligth to Madrid, via London, with BA. I was worry about my luggage and, when got Madrid airport, i could confirm that they were in Miami yet... Finally, a 8 hours flight took 24 hours, and my luggage returns home two days later. Now, with Worldmate live, i have confirmation on my boarding gates...

[brooke]

My worst horror travel trip was full of wonderful experiences and people. I flew out of a small airport to a slightly bigger one to transfer airline and catch my flight to Colorado. The trip there was fairly normal and boring; however, the return trip was full of adventure. First, when I got to the Colorado airport the people that were suppose to pick me up were no where insight. I called and left messages (this was before cell phones were so popular) and then spent an hour walking around and riding the trams. Finally, someone showed up and acted like I had made a huge deal about them being late. Hmm yeah. The rest of the trip was horrid..I was dropped off at the airport five hours early so took a seat and waited to check in. Everything seemed normal as I got checked in and took my seat. We sat on the plane an hour and then they took everyone off because they were having some issues. Back into the waiting area for two hours and of course I have missed my connections so I'm trying to get that worked out. Five hours after first getting on the plane we board the second plane. Now remember I have been at the airport for over ten hours now. We take off and about thirty minutes into the flight the lights on the left side of the plane flash on and off. I'm thinking that can't be good. A few minutes after that the whole plane shakes and the crew comes on and tells us that we are experiencing mechanical difficulties and will be turning around to head back to the airport. Turns out the engine on that side stopped working for whatever reason. We land and I am informed that there are no more flights out for the evening. I ask about hotels in the area and am told I am to fend for myself. I quickly explained the situation again and found myself at a hotel. Return the next morning and have to sit around and wait for a flight. Spend more of the morning chatting with other passengers about all that is going on and the bad weather that was going on. Colorado in the dead of winter go figure. It is amazing how delays and cancellations can bring total strangers into friendships. Soon someone comes over and tells me that they heard my name mentioned at the desk so I hightailed it over there. Yippy I get to get on the flight. Sitting beside an older gentleman with sweat stains and bad breath, I ponder if this is all worth it. We start chatting and I tell him my tell of the day before. A mother in the seat behind me asks how I was able to get on the plane today. I told her that I have never been on a plane that didn't have problems (sad but true) but not to worry because I haven't been in a crash yet and everything always works out. What's that quote about "famous last words". You guessed it as we are following the landing directions they come over the intercom and inform us that the landing gear isn't coming down and not to panic yada yada yada. The pilot was amazing and we belly landed with no problems. Everyone got to slide down the slide safely. At this point I considered renting a car and driving the rest of the way home; but what fun would that be. The best thing was that during all of this, somehow my luggage made it home safely before me. Sometime you should ask me about my trip to Peru or the time my boyfriend (a pilot) and I flew to Florida without working lights in the cock-pit at night.

[karissa]

I flew into Portsmouth VA, and went to a few concerts with friends. We had an absolute ball! but the day that I was supposed to catch my flight I somehow got the time i was supposed to get in, with my actually departure time. So when I get to the airport, there are no more flights until later that evening. I sat at the airport for 8 hours! If anyone has ever been there, it is not a big airport so there is nothing to do. I was so tired, and all I wanted to do was sleep but it was freezing in there. I finally took clothes out of my carry on and placed them on top of my as blankets. That didn't work. So resorted to eating the rest of the time. I think i ate 3 meals during that wait! I was so bored, I was so tired and couldnt sleep or relax. I was so mad at myself that I had to BUY a new place ticket home. I was also completely searched when going in, since I had changed my flight so late. I did have a very funny conversation with the agent that did the search of my bag! It isn't a horrendous story, I have actually been pretty lucky in traveling.

[mohammad abuhassan]

Delta air force is the worst airline you ever think about .i came from jordan to newyork airport ,and i was flying with royal jordanina for 13 hours and it was good but i had no idea that i have to change my flight and go with delta airline .it was almost three hours of horror and frightening it was raining and cloudy it was windy the airoplane was shaking and rottating like puppy toys i almost read the whole bible and i pray good .beside i closed my eyes for the whole time the worst thing is that the pilot was flying high he suppose to go lower or down alittle bit to avoid wind gust but he kept going and even faster than before i swear i shit in my pants .befor we land about five minutes i was still scared and when he land i was scared i am not gonna make it

[Richard Lorenc]

Traveled to Sri Lanka via United. Flight uneventful, chaos after deplaning at Bandaranaike at 1am. Security at highest level due to Tamil Tiger movements. Six separate security checks before the terminal exit. My hosts were waiting 2 miles from the terminal in a designated area. Transportation provided by a mosquito filled bus. A 90 minute wait for passengers before departing. Dog tired, we headed to the Ramada Kalutara passing military check-points. Upon arrival, we were turned away, again due to the Tamil Tigers. We maneuvered various checkpoints toward Colombo and were accepted for check-in at the Hilton at 5;30am!

[Karren Kilian]

A few years ago I went to Kentucky to visit a friend. The day after I got there I broke my ankle. My foot was so swollen I couldn't do much of anything the whole week I was there (but I refused to go home early).
We just made the most of the week, and unfortunately I was never able to really do much sight seeing.
When I got home I went to my doctor, had surgery on my ankle and was out of work for the rest of that summer and was able to hook up with my friend in Pennsylvania for a better vacation after I got my cast off.

[Karren Kilian]

After an awesome 10 day trip to Alaska, the flight home was less than ideal.
As we were heading for Chicago we were told we were being re-routed to a different airport to (hopefully) wait out a storm over Chicago.
We were cleared to fly out almost 3 hours later (I was worried about connecting flight to Boston from Chicago, but figured I would make it if all flights were being grounded).
Well, when we got to Chicago all planes were still grounded and the next available flight I could get home was 2 days later.
That would have been ok if I had been alone, but I was a flight companion for a man with special needs who had just spent his 10 days in Alaska with his brother while I got to go see the sights with family that I have living there).
There was no way I could spend 2 nights in the airport on cots with him so I spent hours trying to find a way home, even conisdered renting a car and driving the 900 miles home, or taking a bus. Unfortunately neither of those worked out so we got hotel rooms for the night and managed to get a flight out the next afternoon from the other Chicago airport, on a completely different airline.
While going through security the man I was with set off the metal detector and they asked him to step over to the side - his response was "NO".
I started to go with him but was told "Ma'am, you need to stay over there".
I tried to explain that he was special needs and that it would go better if I was there with him but they have their rules and regulations they must follow so I stepped back out of the way while they tried to get him to submit to a wand search and pat down. His answer to all of that was still "NO".
After a couple minutes of this I heard "Ma'am, could you come help us with him please?"
Once I was there he submitted to the search and pat down, the offending belt buckle was allowed through security and we got to the plane with just minutes to spare.

[Dr Laurie]

It took me 40 hours to get to Solomon Islands from Utah. When I arrived in Sydney, my luggage did not arrive. I was told by the airline they would forward my bags to me. I had flown Business Class, my luggage was not even put on the plane...so much for priority bag tags.

The problem was, from Sydney I flew to Brisbane, had a 8 hour layover before catching my flight to the Solomon Islands. There were only 2 flights a week to SI - thus I was going in on one & then returning on the next flight out. So my luggage would have come in - on the flight I was flying out.

I was in SI to conduct some training with professionals.

So my next challenge was - when I arrived into Brisbane, fortunately, some friends were picking me up, to take me to dinner. I arrived into Brisbane on a Sunday afternoon; all the stores close early on Sundays. I had 1 hour to buy clothes - shoes etc...so I would have something to wear in SI. I could not be very choosey - I found a couple outfits, that would get my by.

I then picked up my suitcase in Sydney on my way home...so much for world travels...

[Evelyn]

In March 2008 I took a business trip to Amman, Jordan, went through London and Vienna though since I dropped my mom and two daughters off in Vienna. Well, we landed in LHR the day Terminal 5 opened. I noticed that our flight to Vienna was delayed by about three hours, and was trying to catch the earlier flight, only to be told that my luggage would not make it...it didn't make it for about eight weeks! About 50,000 pieces of luggage were held up at LHR. We finally arrived in Vienna at about 1 am with no luggage. Since I had to travel on to Amman with no clothes (especially suits), I had to postpone my flight to Jordan by one day, and now couldn't get a direct flight any longer. After spending one day in Amman, I had to return to Vienna for an emergency, leaving on a 3 am flight with no direct connection...and still no luggage until weeks after we got back home.

[Travel Insurance]

Worst experience was in Bangkok where the cab driver turned off his meter without me knowing and then charging me 50 USD for a 30 mins trip! I had to pay as he became very offensive.

[limousine service in Parsippany nj]

went to florence italy and while waiting for the train, got robbed, while reporting to the carabinieri, got left behind by the train and had to wait for hours before next one arrived. never got back the stuff we lost and was sad by the time we got to venice

[Access Control Gate]

When I was heading to LA. I was already on the airport and my flight is about an hour when I noticed I left my ticket! Simply junk foods of mind!

I bought lots of junk foods that the reason why I forgot my ticket! That day was so horrible!

My flight was cancelled!

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[Cape Town]

Oh my, I am surprised at the number of individuals who experienced these worst travel experiences. I can also think of one, but I guess the contest has already ended, so better not share it, I guess. :)
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