Great stories! I work in TV and miss flights regularly, either due to my own stupidity or my customer needing more time. Here's my best one.

I was at our office in Mason OH (NE Cincy) and had a flight out of CMH. The guy I was working with leaves like CLOCKWORK every day at 4:30. He lives in Indiana so he has quite the drive. So I get the gear I was working on shipped and breath a sigh of relief and start packing up. Wayne comes out of his office "Wow I'm leaving late today." "uh, what time is it?" "5:15." @#$%!!!!

I race for the airport in the Infiniti rental I had... Was going to make it until the highway patrol merges on 5 miles out.

AC flight operated by UA ground staff, no OLCI, flight closed 3 minutes ago. "Sorry sir the information has already been sent to AC's computers" blah blah blah.

I scramble for ANY other flight. Not happening. Did I mention I had a YYZ-LHR the following afternoon? Down to the rental desk, shout "Anyone have a one-way to Toronto?" All laughed but Hertz. Trailblazer with GPS. Drove 8hrs all night to get home. Started laundry and crashed out. Woke up with plenty of time to return rental to YYZ, collect my car, drive it home, and grab a cab back to the airport.

3 minutes from home in my (brand new) car. Moron 2 cars up does a brake stand and a right turn on a ramp. I stop. Mr Infiniti SUV chatting to passenger behind me did not. CRUNCH.

@#$%. @#$%! @#$%! @#$%!

Cops take forever to show up. Glance at time. Missed flight #2. Reward flight to boot.

I show up at the ticket counter and tell my story. Was supposed to connect through YHZ. Agent types and gives me BP, "Here's a J on the direct sir. No charge. We will alert the station at LHR to hand-carry you to arrivals lounge if necessary. Have a nice flight."

An agent met me on the jetway at LHR as promised. Misery was erased hours later with copious amounts of British ale in the pubs.

-Adam