mduell

Thanks for owning it instead of ranting here about UA departing early to screw customers.

CMK10

You're welcome, I am a firm believer in taking responsibility and this is one of those times I just have to stand up and say it's my screw up. This was a 100% preventable mistake and I decided a drink and a pair of socks I needed were a priority over being on time.

DELee

Hope they were/are good socks

David

CMK10

They better be, they cost me $19.50 at the Brooks Brothers

FortFun

I do find it mildly surprising that missing a flight due to trying to squeeze in a drink is a rare occurrence for you.

SS255

I had a 4-hour layover in EWR after a redeye in July. I took a shower and lounged at the UC until about 10 minutes prior to boarding time. I had been monitoring the inbound flight, so I even debated giving myself that much time. I arrived at the gate 5 minutes before the posted boarding time, to find it completely deserted, save for the GA. This was one of the Q200 gates, I should mention.

I asked the GA if I was at the right gate, and he confirmed it. He said "Better hurry up. We're trying to get you out of here before the weather moves in." The doors closed a few minutes later, and we took off about 20 minutes early. (The return flight to EWR on that aircraft got cancelled.)

Lesson learned: NEVER underestimate the instability of a Q200 departure time in either direction....ESPECIALLY when EWR is part of the equation.

Thanks for the chuckle! Glad you weren't inconvenienced too badly for your faux pas.

IAH-OIL-TRASH

Well maybe your barstools at the AC are still warm and you can get that self-respect and dignity restored w/ a couple of stiff ones...

wxguy

You need to find a good attorney. Oh, wait...

gaobest

You're not an idiot, you're just human.
Now go and kick back a bit before next flight.
:-)

PBAudit

Earlier this year, I missed my first flight due to my negligence. I was flying LAS/SFO and thought my flight left at 2:30 pm. Instead, I was on a 1:40 pm flight. I was having lunch with my cousin, telling him I had plenty of time. He was taking me to the airport.

About 1 pm I checked to see if there was any delays and realized that I was on the earlier flight. Needless to say, we quickly ran out of the casino restaurant, and made it to the airport in about 10-12 minutes. Made it through Security and I was going to make it with about 5-8 minutes to spare.

I was on train to Security, and realized that I lost my driver's license. Do I go back on the train to Security to see if they still had my license, or get on the flight and try to get a replacement drivers license at home. I decided to go back, talked to Security and looked around the floor where I would have dropped it. I couldn't find it, and was resigned to going to the DMV to get a replacement.

Just as I was getting back on the train, I heard a page to check with the Information Desk. I got off the train, and went to Information and got back my license. I made it to the gate 12 minutes before departure, and thought I was OK. I forgot United moved the departure cutoff from 10 minutes to 15 minutes, and my seat was given away.

I was very civil to the Gate Agent, as I was the only one to blame. The GA put me on standby for later flights, but unfortunately, they all went out full. So I spent about 7 hours I spent going to/from the United Club without success.

About 6 pm, I saw I was confirmed on a late night connection LAX/LAX/SFO. When I went to board the LAS/LAX flight, I saw and talked to the GA. She told me that she "forced" my reservation onto this flight. Obviously I was very appreciative.

The_Bouncer

Well, over a million miles and I have never missed a flight.

The closest I came was at ORK a few years back. I was on an afternoon Ryanair run over to either BHX or MAN (which probably cost me a tenner, but which would have cost several hundred to replace at short notice).

My dad and uncle decided there was plenty of time for a run out somewhere in the morning, so took off in my uncle's van, taking with them the keys for my dad's rental car (inside which was locked all of my luggage, including my passport).

Well, my dad and uncle got a bit side-tracked (probably in a pub), as did my step-brother and I (most definitely in a pub).

An hour and a bit before take-off, I suddenly realised that I was supposed to be at an airport, getting on a plane. The problem was, my passport and all my stuff were in the locked car, for which we had no keys, and all of us were three sheets to the wind.

My brother somehow managed to get my stuff out of the car (how, I don't know and don't want to know) and we swiftly arranged transport (read: dodgy unlicenced taxi).

€50 and a white-knuckle ride later, I scampered up to the check-in desk, just as the clerk was preparing to close off the check-in. 30 seconds later and I would have been on my own.

halls120

Don't feel bad. Last week I was sitting in the LH lounge at FRA enjoying the food and wine when I happened to look at the clock and realized I had 20 mins to make my flight - after sitting in the lounge for 3 hours. Luckily I made it, but all I could think about as I ran to the gate is "you idiot, you might miss your flight home after being gone for 3 weeks."

venomtrilogy

Unfortunately, I have a story for this thread.

Early on in my solo travel days I went ORD-FRA-GOT. I was not aware of the concept of bus gates at FRA. So when I didn't see a plane out front of the GOT gate, I figured it was delayed. I sat down and kept an eye outside seeing planes come and go from neighboring gates.

Time of departure came and went. The board changed to another destination. I walked up to the GA asking what happened to my GOT flight. She looked at me puzzled, "It... just left." I was shocked. "What? How?" She asked who I was and said she'd made a last-call announcement for me. I hadn't heard it. In fact, I hadn't even seen anyone go through for boarding. She put me on the next flight 5 hours later.

I haven't missed a flight since.

CCIE_Flyer

Missed a flight once by forgetting my passport at home (no idea all these years later why I'd removed it from my travel bag). Rebooked the following day, don't recall any impact to upgrade situation.

Nearly missed a flight ex-LHR once by setting my watch wrong (remember when we used those instead of phones to tell time?!). Fortunately was GS, they sent an agent into the lounge softly calling my name. Rapidly carted me to the door of a waiting 747 (or was it a 777?), closed it behind me, and handed me a glass of bubbly. I'll never forget it.

AndyPatterson

Had a coworker miss a transcon redeye because he fell asleep sitting down waiting for the flight and slept through the announcements. He did get out the next morning.

Ever since then, I've remained standing when waiting for redeye flights, to ensure that I don't fall asleep at the airport!