<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by BarryO:
Yea, isn't it exiting when the co-pilots allowed to practice their landing skills? 
'was flying into PDX one night on an AA MD-80. 'noticed we were approaching the little-used runway, that's usually only used when the winds are funny. I thought, "man, this guys coming in at a strange approach angle, awfully steep". Sure enough, before we land, we pull up, and start climbing east toward Mt. Hood. After going east for a few mintues and gaining altitude, we do a 180 and make a normal approach at the main runway, the one that runs parallel to the Columbia.
I don't think most pax noticed, but when I commented to the FA in F, she said, "yes, they aborted the landing".</font>
A lot of times the pilots just get bad vectors. Things don't work out perfectly when being vectored for an approach sometimes. I have had ATC vector me through final approach course or cut me in right at the outer marker on an ILS in my little Cessna. Also due to traffic further out airliners may be cut in close.
There is nothing wrong with going around. If a pilot feels the need to go around, it's a lot safer than making a landing in that situation. As I've been told many times in classes and lessons in the aircraft and sims, if you don't think you can make the landing (any doubt in your mind) go around and make another pass at it.