At the end of September I had a "simple" PIT-PHL flight that was canceled late enough that the next direct flight was starting the process of boarding, so only about 25% of my flight was able to get on. I was rebooked through DCA. Flight to DCA was delayed, so I missed the connecting flight to PHL. Finally get a DCA-PHL flight, it's called down the escalator, I am actually sitting on the bus and they pull me off. They had people with international connections that had to be on that flight, so I got bumped. Finally make it to PHL and I have no idea where my checked bag might be. I'm in Terminal F...my bag is in Terminal A. Since the baggage claim people are obviously at baggage claim, I'm now outside of security and have to walk outside in the rain all the way down to Terminal A. It is now 10pm. Terminal A is a ghost town - not a single person in the entire check-in or TSA area. So I walk down to Terminal B, track down security and they help me find my checked luggage. Total time to get from PIT to PHL: 12 hours.

I understand that crap happens, but it should never take you as long to fly somewhere direct as it could take to drive to that location AND BACK (and part way back again).