I'll bet we all have stories about disastrous trips. Here is a note from a colleage that I got this morning involving NW - and others (it takes a village...)

"Well, its nearly midnight, and I'm in Chicago..doubletree hotel.
LIT-MEM-CMH never happened
4:20p flight from LIT, at 4pm no NWA agent was at the gate. I suspected a problem, and my road warrier system went on..I called NWA they said its now a 5:40 depart..which means I miss my connecting flight..still no one at gate. I knew of an AA flight at 5:30, but she couldnt book it...so I went back through security to the NWA ticket counter..he said, yes go on AA.
I got snagged at TSA because the idiot didnt give me a valid b-pass...after several phone calls, they let me go through. At AA gate, she says...the NWA guy didnt actually book you....and the ORD-CMH was full...
to end this story, I did get to ORD and the plane in ORD had an oil leak and got cancelled...for the next flight ..i missed it by one seat..
so i'm booked on the 11:30a tomorrow.
see you at the office aound 2...the nwa folks at Gate 12 are real idiots..I plan to complain and make sure I get my DL points."

It might be cathartic to share similar (or worse)experiences. Mabye we should have a contest on the worst flight experience...