[OfficeArrow]

Halloween's around the corner and all the ghouls and goblins will be out in force. We'd like to pay tribute the OfficeArrow way: with ghastly business travel nightmares. Share one of your own and you could win some treats - not tricks - from OA sponsor, RollCall Business Conferencing.
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[khook]

Let's see...returning to Harrisburg PA from New Orleans LA at the end of the IAAP Convention this summer. Waiting for the shuttle at the hotel; it was 15 minutes late and we were all getting antsy. When it arrived, the driver said the original bus that was to pick us up was in an accident on the way back to the hotel from the airport.

So, we're delivered to the airport on time. I get in the Delta line to check in and check bags. Delta's computer has no record of my ticket. OH NO! I talk to at least 2 Delta agents, and they look for me 6 different ways in their computer. They determine that, because I flew down on Continental and had changed that flight, that Delta got all confused and dumped me. They send me to Continental. A very nice young lady eventually found me in their computer and reinstated my Delta reservation. So, back I go to Delta to check in, check bag and get boarding pass...I'm on my way, right? No such luck! The TSA agent who checked my ID highlighted "SSSS" on the bottom of my boarding pass; apparently that means I was the lucky winner of a full security search! So, they dump my carry-ons, wand me from head to foot, and pat me down. I survived that, and finally made it to the gate. Not 5 minutes after the plane starts to board, the airport is hit by a torrential thunderstorm and they stop boarding. That passes after about 30 minutes and we're boarded and ready to go.

Arrive in Atlanta, and walk at least a mile from incoming gate to departure gate. Get something to eat and wait patiently. Flight is delayed; no reason given. After about 45 minutes, the gate agent announces that our plane has a flat tire, and they'll need to call a special maintenance crew to replace it.

We were probably 2 hours late getting out of Atlanta. In the meantime, my husband is waiting patiently at HIA, where the delays on the flight from Atlanta were NEVER POSTED! Thank goodness for cell phones - I was able to keep him posted (at least up till the time we finally got on the plane!)

WHEW!

[Mihaki]

As the EA to a high-profile company president, my boss often traveled by private jet. Each trip required that I either have a rental car or a car service in position waiting for him at his destination. All ground transportation (especially rental cars) had to be booked by the jet service provider in which we had fractional ownership of our aircraft. Part of the standard operating procedure with the jet service would be to verify with them 24 hours in advance every aspect of the pending trip (departure time, catering, ground transport, etc.) and to provide me with a flight manifest.

The boss's flight was to Hamilton, NEW YORK (which is located about an hour away from both Utica and Syracuse NY) with a rental SUV to be in position upon arrival. Everything was verified with me by the jet service, especially the SUV rental, and all was ready to go.

The manifest confirmed that the rental car would be in Hamilton, NEW YORK.

Imagine the horror of receiving a call from the boss asking me - "Where's my car?" I called the jet service and asked them the same question. I was put on hold for what felt like FOREVER - to finally have the lead coordinator of our flight team inform me that a mistake was made and that the car reservation was actually made for Hamilton, ALABAMA!!!

All of team leader's apologizing could not fix the fact that a new member to the flight team errored by not correctly selecting the correct state in the reservation system - and there was nothing in the flight plan to give me a heads up to this horrendous error.

I choked on the words when I had to inform my boss, who then verbally took my head off over the phone because of my "incompetence" (because any type of mistake in my position was not an option). In his eyes, it was all my fault. All the rep from the jet service could keep saying was "we would like to make this up to you". But how do you make up for a breakdown in trust - I trusted them to do their job right and they let me (and my boss down).

Within 20 minutes I was able to find a local rental car agency that went out of their way to drive out to deliver to my boss a rental car for his getaway weekend - but the damage was done. After 7 years of service to this person, this one nightmare (not of my doing) was thrown back at me over and over again by him until I decided to leave the company for greener pastures.

[Jodith]

Before I tell this story, I want to state out right....this wasn't me. I did not do this *laughs*.

I was working for a multi-national software company, and our executives traveled frequently to Asia. One of our executives was due to give the keynote address at a big software conference in China. His executive assistant didn't have a great deal of experience, and didn't realize that you needed to take the date line into consideration when traveling to Asia. When she handed the tickets to her executive a few days before his flight, he realized that he wouldn't arrive at the conference until about 2 hours after his speech. At that point, of course, it was much too late to be able to change his flight. So the conference had to reschedule his speech.

A few months later, the same executive was supposed to go to South Korea. South Korea requires that you have your visa at least 30 days prior to entering the country. A couple of days before the 30 day deadline to have the visa in hand, our international travel agent called the assistant in question and asked why she hadn't yet filled out the visa application the travel agent had sent to her. The assistant replied, I kid you not, "I didn't think we needed a visa, because we use American Express". The travel agent, after she finished laughing, explained about travel visas, and got the application finished and walked through so at least this trip got to go off right in the end.

I always use these stories when explaining to a new assistant why she needs to learn as much as possible about making travel arrangements.

[deana79]

Jodith, that is hysterical!!! "It didn't think we needed a visa . . . " PRICELESS!

I little over a year ago, I was flying internationally with a connection in Miami. On our trip out, our first flight was slightly late. When we got to Miami, we had less than 10 minutes to get from one terminal to another about what seemed to be about 5 miles away in the mist of construction . . . on foot! There were signs posted along the way displaying "how far" you were from the terminal. Half way through our marathon run through Miami International airport, we saw a sign that read "Gate XX - 15 minutes away." Luckily the flight crew were aware of the delay with our flight and there must have been others on board that flight because they ended up holding the flight for us, which I am sure is very uncommon.

To make matters worse, on the way home we also connected in Miami. If anyone has ever gone through customs at Miami International, you will know what a NIGHTMARE it is. Our first flight into the country was delayed ("surprise, surprise") and by the time we claimed our luggage, went through customs and went to recheck our bags, we were told we unable to make our connection by minutes as you have to be checked in 45 minutes before the flight takes off. AND that was the last flight to Boston out of Miami that night. After making arraingments for a flight the next day, and waiting 1.5 hours for the shuttle to the hotel (we ended up taking a cab) we got to the hotel. The lobby appeared nice (foundation, marble floors, lounge), but it soon felt like something out of the Twilight Zone. It took 7 minutes for the elevator (the hotel was only 3 floors). The rooms were gross. The mattresses were practically on the floor, the carpets were stained with god only knows what and there was a weird humming coming from the vents. After bringing our bags to our rooms, we decided to grab something to eat from the hotel resturant. At 11:30 at night, the place was packed with families and random people. By then time I shut my eyes that night, it was time to wake up and catch my flight home.

[kcee56]

My spook-tacular travel happened over 4 years ago when my husband and I were traveling from Philadephia to Phoenix to visit my son and daughter-in-law over the holidays. We boarded our flight from Philadelphia to Phoenix on December 24th and upon arriving in Phoenix around 5:00 p.m. were learned that none of our luggage was on the plane. Seeing that this was Christmas Eve and none of the stores were open we were unable to purchase anything to wear. We spend Christmas day in the same clothes we wore the day before (we were able to wash them at my son's house). The next day we called the airport only to learn that none of the luggage made the flight from Philadelphia to Phoenix as the baggage handlers had not showed up for work and no one was advised of this. All of the luggage was left standing on the tarmac at the airport. My son and husband kept going to the airport everyday to check to see if our luggage had arrived as they could get no where on the telephone with anyone. Our luggage never showed up until the day before we were leaving to return home which was a week later. We had to purchase all new clothers to wear and personal hygiene items for the week and were never reimbursed for any of them. They also offered no type of compensation for their mistakes. Needless to say, we will never be flying with them again.

Karen

[tatyangel]

This happened eleven years ago... I work outside of US and went home two weeks for my sister's wedding, the trip up went fine but on the evening I was suppose to get back, a tornado warning hit the town, and I had to call my boss to tell him that I couldn't leave because of a tornado. Since I work in a small country where they don't have such problems and I was very young, he thought I was making up a story and fired me on the spot. When I finally got home with pictures of the tornado, he gave me my job back, but it was the most stresful flight I had ever had.

Two years later, my other sister gets married and again, I go to visit them, when I was supposed to take my plane, it had a flat and I lost my connection, this time I call again and didn't lose my job, since he had internet and could verify the delay on the flight. Needless to say I dont work there any more and everytime I have fly for vacation I make sure I get home with two days in advance, just in case my flight has a problem.

[kimberlytaylor]

My worst travel nightmare? Hands down that would have to be the time I found myself up against a brick wall with an assault rifle in my back and a roteweiler in my crotch!! Let me explain...

It was my first trip abroad as the new International Accounts Manager of a supplement company. I was in my early 20's and very proud of my new found position. My first stop on the international circut was Columbia and Venezuela. Let me mention, that my spanish was limited to ordering beers and seeking a bathroom respectively. My boss, who was, how do we say this...eccentric to say the least decided to go with me.

Upon landing in Columbia we drove past the bar, which was next to our hotel, where the police were in the middle of cleaning up a grizzly murder scene. Turns out that the night before the Columbian soccer player that actually scored an "own" goal against him team while playing the USA had been killed reportedly by Pablo Escobar's (aka Drug Lord) men. Seems Pablo was quite a soccer fan. I'm beginning to get a bad vibe....

After settling in we were taken to dinner by our very gracious hostess. Wanting to impress her new suppliers she took us to the finest resturant in all of Columbia...guess who owned it...yes that's right, Pablo himself! Half way through the salad course the police burst in and "request" that everyone stand up against the wall with their face on the brick (not quite sure what was said as I didn't hear anyone order a beer or ask where the bathroom was). They then slowly search each and every patron with an assault rifle pointed duly at your back. Apparently they were looking for explosives and therefore the dogs were there to sniff you from head to toe. I was paralyzed with fear...flash backs of shooting scenes from Scarface were running through my head, I thought I was going to pass out...and then over all the noise I hear my boss yell...hey get the camera and take my picture!!!

After surviving the search and a weeks stay in the otherwise beautiful country it was time to leave. We were the last flight out that day before the airport was shut down due to a military coup!!! And yes, I have been back many times since, though I can still only order 2 beers and ask where the bathroom is!

[Ilona]

Wow, Kimberly, and I thought I had an eventful trip when I was on a plane earlier this week, in front of a hefty gentlemen who snored the entire trip. Let me preface this with the fact that I am tall, so my head is higher than the seat back. After a very turbulent flight, and through Quite Comfort headphones, listening to the not so sweet slumber of the gentleman who seemed to be on top of me, we landed in a very windy Atlanta on one wheel. The impact of the landing woke the snoring passenger from his slumber, only to snort and, simply put, spit in my hair. I tried in the airport bathroom to pat my hair with soap and water, but of course spent the rest of the day in meetings disgusted by the awful experience. Still, not quite the Columbian nightmare, but a gross experience nonetheless.