Well, how about lost luggage that never showed up?

Years ago, my first trip to Europe, happened to be for business. Checked in one suitcase at SJC on CO. Connected with KLM at LAX for the flight to AMS. Got off at AMS, waited at the carousel until just about everyone else left, and an attendant tapped me on the shoulder and said there's no more. But..., I said, I don't have mine?!

So off to the luggage office, where eventually, they said they found my bag in LAX, and would deliver it to my hotel the next evening. They gave me a small bag with toiletries after I asked.

The next evening, no bag, and called the luggage office. It turns out, that bag in LA was not mine. But, not to worry, they'd located my bag somewhere else. And so it went, every night I'd call, and the bag they had found the day before, was not mine. And, every night, it was washing the one set of clothes I was wearing since then, all stores were closed in the evening, and I was working daytime.

Finally on the last night, they admitted my suitcase was completely lost, and to submit a claim.

It was one of the more painful business trips I've had. The road from the first hotel to the first work site was under construction so the easy "you can't get lost" drive that was described to me back at the office was all detoured for several days. The rental car had a flat tire which was pointed out to me as I left a parking lot on the way to another city (guess it could've been worst if not discovered). The presentation I was to give at the last day was in the lost suitcase.

Returning, during boarding, and just before I handed over my boarding pass, my name was paged and as I went back to the counter, thinking what could be wrong now, I was given a upgrade to F....never knew if I had been singled out due to the lost luggage.