I was only 20 or so years old. Qantas LAX to SYD, got there just before checkin closed (this was before the internet). The flight had been overbooked, and they got me into F on the next flight that left 20 minutes later but stopped in AUK, adding 5 hours to my total time. I didn't mind..it was incredible and I was grateful for it on that 14 hour haul. It was also F from AUK to SYD. Lucky break I guess.

I sure did miss it on my way back to LAX though, in coach.