Have you ever missed a flight?

After sharing my experience of being the subject of the last boarding call here http://v-flyer.com/forum/index.php?f=21&t=286389&rb_v=viewtopic , and some discussion recently on a similar subject (mainly being the last to board from the CH), I thought I'd ask the question as to whether any of you have actually missed a flight.

We hear about, and have probably experienced, overbooked flights, and know that the airlines "bank" on some of us missing the flight/not turning up, so I'm presuming that this does happen a fair bit.

Personally I haven't missed one (other than the odd connection, but that's not quite the same), as I am one of those people that are always there with hours to spare. Just for fun, please do share your experience

Yes, when I was 12 the oil filter fell off the car on the way to faro airport and I missed the flight. I blamed my mother for getting work done on the car on the cheap!
Luckily I was flying BA and they moved me to the later flight. Back then there were 2 flights out of faro to LHR! Now I think there's just one flight to and from LGW.

In 2002 on a family trip to Florida (me, wife, sister, br-in-law, 2 nieces, and mum (72 at time))....

Queuing to check in, get near front, "Mum - where's your passport", to which my mum gets out her previous passport with the corner clipped off. Rather than the nice new one bought for this trip.

Cue some panic - nieces crying. Got a friend to get the correct passport and couriered it down to LGW from Nottinghamshire.

Virgin were excellent - put us on the second Orlando flight of the day to start with. But with about 40 mins to go they said we had to check in or cancel. So the other 5 went and I was left with my mum, my wallet, my passport, and my mum's luggage.
Irony was the plane sat an hour after boarding.

Once we got the passport - taxi back to the hotel we had spent the night before in, and then a looong night waiting to try again the next day.

Got out the next day - but somewhat stressfull.

Kudos to Virgin - they helped a lot and didn't charge us anything for our mistake.

I came close last year when I misread my itinerary and took the landing time as the boarding time.
Fortunately it was a short flight and I actually made the gate before boarding.
But no, never missed one.
Dick D

Stagsfan, your post brought back some memories for me! I had almost forgotten about my own "near-miss" experience.

On one of the first holidays Mr W and I took together, to Switzerland, we were going from Birmingham at the time (where his family is from). By the time we were ready to get the train at New Street to the airport, my very casual "got your passport" question resulted in some frantic searching on Mr W's part. Judging by the look on his face I knew he wasn't messing about

Thankfully, as I said, I like to leave plenty of time before getting to airports so we had a bit of time. His mom had to leave work, rush back home, and pick up the passport and deliver it to us at the train station. Bless her! As it turned out Mr W took his passport out of his bag before he left, together with the Swiss francs, too, as he was re-packing his bag.

Waiting for the passport was quite an uncomfortable time. As it was one of our first trips together, there was a lot of "you should go anyway" "No I'll wait for you" sort of talk -- was pretty awkward...

My now mother in law was brilliant, and reached us in time so that we made the flight ok. But that was my closest experience to missing a flight. Thinking back it was kind of funny, but Mr W sure sweat a lot at the time!

Have a had a few mishaps
3rd and Final Call whilst in the Bathroom and another boarding as the door closes due to someone in our group wanting to buy some flip flops.
However more interesting have been my 2 deplaned incidents, one accidental and one deliberate.

1) Gulf Air London to Middle East (Doha?) leg 1 of a trip to Delhi (1996). Plane makes an unscheduled stop somewhere near to Doha, The lady next to me gets up to go to the toilet and I assume we have arrived at Doha. I get off to the plane and walk over to the terminal building. Once in the terminal building I start to worry that I have made a mistake, there are no signs or information regarding my next flight and I appear to be in a building with a lot of military. Luckily I was able to get back on the plane but not before being transported back to the plane in an old school army jeep with a machine gun and 2 soldiers. Quiet cool actually.

2) Las Vegas to Merced (2007). I think it was a flight with Mesa early in the morning. I was travelling with the Other Half who does not know how to travel light. The first flight was cancelled due to a problem with the plane and we were told that we would now fly at 11am. Gets to 10.45am and I ask at the gate when the plane is expected in, they tell me it has arrived already and will be boarding shortly. The plane was so small that you could not see it from the terminal unless you stood right by the window. (It was a Beechcraft 1900). Final boarded on to the plane, seating is 1+1 with 3 seats at the back like a bus. The cockpit is separated from the cabin by some batwing doors. Starting to feel a little nervous and uncomfortable already due to the small size and darkness in the cabin. At this stage the Captain and a member of the Ground Crew get into a heated argument about the weight of the plane, Ground Crew basically ordering the Captain to go and to not be silly and worry about the weight. The pilot wants to get the bags out of the hold (a little compartment at the back of the plane) and have them weighed (again?). At this stage I look over at my Wife. No discussion needed by the look on her face, we are getting off this plane! Get up and tell the Captain we want off and we deplane and go to the back of the plane to have a chat with him and identify our bags. Explained to him we are not fans of small planes and worried about the weight issue. Captain wished us well, however the bags had to go through the usual baggage claim, which added an extra 2 hours. Eventually hired a SUV (normal cars would not take our luggage) and a very long and tiring 10 hours later we arrived in Yosemeti. Still believe to this day that the plane would have struggled to get over the mountains!

[mitchja]

I've only have had 1 near-miss. A few years ago I was flying VS from LHR to SFO (was to be my first LHR VS Clubhouse experience; the old LHR Clubhouse). I was flying down from MAN the same day using BMI. Whilst the BMI aircraft was at MAN (it was the first flight of the day), some of the BMI crew weren't so new crew had to be called in. We ended up being delayed about 2 hours leaving MAN.

I just made the VS flight as I was last to check-in at LHR and I had to run to the gate once I'd negotiated LHR security (it was before the Upper Class wing was opened). Of course I missed the Clubhouse experience as well

From that point on I made the decision that if I am connecting through LHR, for any flight before mid-day, I now fly down the day before and over-night at LHR somewhere.

Not sure it's a good idea writing this today as I'm doing the exact route tomorrow (though all on VS but on 2 separate PNR's). The MAN flight to LHR departs at 06:55 and the SFO flight departs LHR at 13:00 so fingers crossed

These stories have made me sweat just reading them! I was once six hours early for a flight from MAN to LCA. I'll be early for my own funeral.

WPIL - what an experience! I'd have been terrified!

[honey lamb]

Well I missed a connecting flight last year in Dubai because the incoming flight was 30 minutes late but it worked out well as I was then routed via LHR on the A380 and onward to my home airport of Cork instead of Dublin.

My best one though, is when I completely forgot about a flight. It had been suggested that some V-flyers meet at a travel exhibition in London. I booked the flights, but on the day completely forgot about it until after the departure time! Too late to do anything.

The good bit though was that it was a Ryanair cheapie at €5 each way so there was only a teeny tiny dint to my pocket.

I've been sat in traffic on the M25 when my flight to Jersey left from Gatwick

I've been sat in traffic on the M25 when my flight to Jersey left from Gatwick

Oh the M25 is dreadful at times, isn't it!

@HL - subconciously you clearly didn't want to meet up with the v-flyers €5 each way is incredibly cheap though.

@Stagsfan again - I'm surprised that there's no additional charge on "changing" the flight. That's great that VS looked after you. I wonder what the policy is in situations like this? If the subsequent flights had seats anyway then would most airlines be happy to let you onto them without charge?

I also missed a flight to the Channel Islands, due to fog, traffic & poor planning on my part. I arrived at Southampton airport just in time to watch what I presumed was my flight take off.
For many months after I was called Orville by my lovely sympathetic friends & family- I wish I could fly but I can't .....

I once missed a VS flight back from JFK by one whole day. in the days before OLCI and when it was all paper tickets, my office PA had booked flights incorrectly (my story and I'm sticking by it ) I turned up to check in only to be told "your flight left yesterday sir". Slight red faces all round, seem to remember I had to pay $70 to get on the flight I had expected to be on.

No matter how much flying I do, I still have frequent dreams in the run up to long haul flights that I will miss the flight. With the clubhouse to tempt me now, I am always there in PLENTY of time though.

I flew YVR-EWR in 2010.

From YVR (sometimes) you clear US immigration prior to boarding and land in NYC as a domestic flight.

I cleared Canadian immigration no problem, but the US lot pulled me aside and kept me so long - more than two hours - I missed my flight (the last one of the day).

No reason given. No apology. No offer to help re-book my flight. Just, "you're free to leave now."

Luckily the people at Air Canada were used to it. They re-booked me on the flight for the next morning and even took pity on me (I must have looked shell-shocked from all the questioning), putting me up in a local airport hotel.

I've been nervous of flights which clear US immigration prior to boarding ever since!

Nylon, that's awful, but I'm glad you were looked after by Air Canada.

MrDoob, no wonder you have those dreams! Bad office PA eh?

Based on the stories that have come out of this thread, I am pleasantly surprised by how

Speaking of immigration, once after the first sector of an indirect flight back to LHR, I got chatting to a lovely lady on the plane so that naturally I followed her out. It was only at my turn at immigration, after queuing for about 10 minutes, I was not allowed out (thankfully I was still on a non-EU passport at the time! otherwise would've happily wandered out to the city) as I still had a flight to catch for the onward journey rather than heading out to Copenhagen! Had to do the walk of shame in front of loads of people who were still queuing. I pay more attention nowadays in trying not to sneak out of the airport before I get to the destination...

@Stagsfan again - I'm surprised that there's no additional charge on "changing" the flight. That's great that VS looked after you. I wonder what the policy is in situations like this? If the subsequent flights had seats anyway then would most airlines be happy to let you onto them without charge?

This was in 2002 so maybe Virgin were a little more relaxed. it may also have been that we initially moved from the early flight to the later flight - so maybe that helped them with loads. But you are right - my mum and I went out a day late for no extra charge (although I deserved a medal like a dustbin lid).

I did think of one more tale where I missed a holiday. Well not quite but on a fly-drive to New England I forgot my driving license. Long story short 15 night trip became 5 day Boston city break.

I've never missed one (except in nightmares!) but I did nearly miss a flight in SEA, I think. It was delayed and put back to a certain time -- and then without making any announcement they brought it forward again. Those at the gate were herded onto the plane. Those who'd gone for a walk, like me, had no idea, and it was pure luck that I passed by the gate and noticed that it was about to go.

In 2002 on a family trip to Florida (me, wife, sister, br-in-law, 2 nieces, and mum (72 at time))....

Queuing to check in, get near front, "Mum - where's your passport", to which my mum gets out her previous passport with the corner clipped off. Rather than the nice new one bought for this trip.

Cue some panic - nieces crying. Got a friend to get the correct passport and couriered it down to LGW from Nottinghamshire.

Virgin were excellent - put us on the second Orlando flight of the day to start with. But with about 40 mins to go they said we had to check in or cancel. So the other 5 went and I was left with my mum, my wallet, my passport, and my mum's luggage.
Irony was the plane sat an hour after boarding.

Once we got the passport - taxi back to the hotel we had spent the night before in, and then a looong night waiting to try again the next day.

Got out the next day - but somewhat stressfull.

Kudos to Virgin - they helped a lot and didn't charge us anything for our mistake.

I had a similar experience with first Vegas trip in 2007, at 7am at Gatwick and was asked where my visa was. "I thought I didn't need a visa" and got the reply: "You do if you don't have a machine readable passport". I mean, how the hell would you be able to tell? I'd been travelling on passport for 9 years. It was issued from Brussels when I lived in Belgium.

The rest checked in, I stuck my luggage in storage, and got train into Victoria. It took 10 minutes to process my application, and I was standing at 9:10am with a receipt for a new passport. Took 2 hours to print it though, so by 12 the flight was gone, but I had a new passport in my hand. Checked into an airport hotel and headed next day.

Virgin checked me in without blinking the next day, and even gave me a free emergency exit seat in economy (told not to mention this to the paying passengers. Got to Vegas one day late. Probably why I still fly virgin by default....

The days before the Eurostar owned the route (1999), there was about 3 different flights from Brussels to Birmingham, and I flew every two weeks (Sabina, BMI and BA). Indeed, BA had two, one at 6pm ish and one at 9pm ish. Every week they had a note at checkin offering 100-120 quid (the price of the return flight), for taking the later plane (I had no particular lack of money to take up this offer).

However, I turned up one week, checked in my usual 3 hours early (I like a couple of beers before flying). I go through and they're calling my flight, a whole hour before flying. So I get to the gate 5 minutes late (the travellator makes Brussels a quick airport), and I'm told off by the person on check in that I should have been there early (it was 55 minutes before departure, I've see Virgin call this for long haul, but not be last calling), because "You are on Standby". They tutted and put me into a business class.

Now, I'm not particularly sure how I ended up on "standby" (I'm still unclear on what it actually is, I thought it was something you did with a flexible ticket, not checked in on a flight, and chancing your arm). But being virtually first to check into a flight bought 2 weeks before, made me think "Well, I'll never fly BA again". I haven't.

I'll be flying long haul with one of the credit card companion reward tickets next year, but it will have been 16 years since BA got my business. I'd be interested on opinions on the mechanics of this one though...

Virgin checked me in without blinking the next day, and even gave me a free emergency exit seat in economy (told not to mention this to the paying passengers. Got to Vegas one day late. Probably why I still fly virgin by default....

Thumbs up to the customer service. At times like that it must have meant even more than usual.

So I get to the gate 5 minutes late (the travellator makes Brussels a quick airport), and I'm told off by the person on check in that I should have been there early (it was 55 minutes before departure, I've see Virgin call this for long haul, but not be last calling), because "You are on Standby". They tutted and put me into a business class.

Now, I'm not particularly sure how I ended up on "standby" (I'm still unclear on what it actually is, I thought it was something you did with a flexible ticket, not checked in on a flight, and chancing your arm). But being virtually first to check into a flight bought 2 weeks before, made me think "Well, I'll never fly BA again". I haven't.

I'll be flying long haul with one of the credit card companion reward tickets next year, but it will have been 16 years since BA got my business. I'd be interested on opinions on the mechanics of this one though...

How very strange! You would have thought that someone at check in would let you know that 1) you are on standby (whatever that means) and 2) to get to the gate early.

I missed my first every flight yesterday! Delayed for 2.5 hours at MCO so missed my LGW connection (thanks BA). Got bussed over to LCY and home that way. Epic trip report is coming!

My nearest miss before that was FlyBe at Manchester, stuck in traffic on the M6, threw the car keys at Avis ("take them") ran into the terminal, did a shameless bit of queue jumping thru the very busy security, my name was being called as I was putting my belt back on then I ran full speed to the gate jumping thru the closing aircraft doors Indiana Jones style. I went from car to airborne in 15 minutes.

Oh no, Fuzzy14, I'm sorry to hear that! Looking forward to the TR though.

I have had a horrible experience with a missed connection with AF before (which is why I've vowed never to fly with them again) - the first plane was delayed from LHR to CDG, and although we got to CDG with a few minutes to spare, the second long haul couldn't wait so we watched it take off.

This was to fly from CDG to PEK, and after queuing for 2 hours, the alternatives I was offered was 1) to wait for the next direct one which is in 3 days time (and they will not help me with a temporary visa at the border so I'd have to sleep in the airport), or 2) to fly all the way to the south of China, where I pick up my luggage (did it follow me? of course not), and then "hopefully" get me onto the next plane from there back to Pek. After filling in missing luggage forms, a lot of the "queue jumping" that you mentioned when we got to our intermediate destination, and running as well as taking a transit vehicle (which I'm not even sure if it's destined for pax), I managed to get on the final sector and got to PEK over 24 hours later...

and what did AF offer me after going back and forth with complaints? No explanation of the reasons and 10k Flying Blue miles, with which you cannot even buy a mug.

Anyway, rant over, just as I thought I had got over it (the reason why I didn't mention it in my first post). Other than missed connections, it looks like traffic is one of the common themes coming out of here.