Personal IRROP
#16
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,096
Due to those pop up calendars and due to my trip crossing over the end of the current month and the start of the next one, I ended up booking the return for 20 days BEFORE the outbound.
Luckily I caught the mistake and they just credited the correct flight.
Luckily I caught the mistake and they just credited the correct flight.
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 35,025
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
"(Lesson #1 - Always double check the AM/PM setting on your alarm.)"
That's not the only alarm-clock peril:
"Jerry: (pause) So what happened? The snooze alarm, wasn't it?
Jean-Paul: Man, it wasn't the snooze. Most people think it was the snooze, but no, no snooze.
Jerry: AM/PM.
Jean-Paul: Man, it wasn't the AM/PM. It was the volume.
Jerry: Ah...the volume.
Jean-Paul: Yes, the volume. There was a separate knob for the radio alarm.
Jerry: Ah, separate knob.
Jean-Paul: Yes, separate knob. Why separate knob?! Why separate knob?! (frustrated)
Jerry: Some people like to have the radio alarm a little louder than the radio.
Jean-Paul: Oh, please, man, please!"
"(Lesson #1 - Always double check the AM/PM setting on your alarm.)"
That's not the only alarm-clock peril:
"Jerry: (pause) So what happened? The snooze alarm, wasn't it?
Jean-Paul: Man, it wasn't the snooze. Most people think it was the snooze, but no, no snooze.
Jerry: AM/PM.
Jean-Paul: Man, it wasn't the AM/PM. It was the volume.
Jerry: Ah...the volume.
Jean-Paul: Yes, the volume. There was a separate knob for the radio alarm.
Jerry: Ah, separate knob.
Jean-Paul: Yes, separate knob. Why separate knob?! Why separate knob?! (frustrated)
Jerry: Some people like to have the radio alarm a little louder than the radio.
Jean-Paul: Oh, please, man, please!"
#18




Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: NYS
Programs: Days of Our Lives, General Hospital
Posts: 1,543
One time I was at the gate and missed the boarding call.
To be clear, it was Terminal F at PHL--all USAirways express flights. As is customary in Terminal F, the gate for my flight had been changed four times. As is also customary, announcements for the gate at which one is waiting in Terminal F were nearly inaudible, although boarding calls for Terminal A-West (international flights) came through loud and clear. This always makes me wish I were going to London or Paris or Munich, or pretty much anywhere except where I'm supposed to be going.
I heard the announcement for zone 1. I'm nearly certain that there were no more boarding announcements for my flight, either for other zones or for final boarding. It is possible that I failed to hear announcements that were made, but what I think happened was that, as zone 1 passengers were boarding, all the rest got in line behind them and the GA thought that no further announcement was necessary.
To be clear, it was Terminal F at PHL--all USAirways express flights. As is customary in Terminal F, the gate for my flight had been changed four times. As is also customary, announcements for the gate at which one is waiting in Terminal F were nearly inaudible, although boarding calls for Terminal A-West (international flights) came through loud and clear. This always makes me wish I were going to London or Paris or Munich, or pretty much anywhere except where I'm supposed to be going.
I heard the announcement for zone 1. I'm nearly certain that there were no more boarding announcements for my flight, either for other zones or for final boarding. It is possible that I failed to hear announcements that were made, but what I think happened was that, as zone 1 passengers were boarding, all the rest got in line behind them and the GA thought that no further announcement was necessary.
#19



Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: VPS
Programs: IHG Platinum, Delta SM, Atmos Silver, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 8,168
Wasn't there a story a while back about a European college kid a while back who was aiming for Sydney, NSW, Australia, and almost ended up in Sidney, Montana, USA instead? IIRC, they only really caught the error when he was getting ready to board the tiniest of the RJs in Salt Lake City for the last leg.
#20

Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Orlando, FL, US
Programs: DL-Dirt Medallion;US-Cast Iron Preferred
Posts: 3,617
There is an anecdotal story about a couple on their honeymoon who boarded a flight to Panama City, Florida instead of their intended destination in Panama. They arrived in Florida immediately before the airport was shut down due to an approaching hurricane. "For better or for worse..."
I've had a couple of hotel mishaps, (wrong month once, wrong hotel another), but haven't screwed up a flight yet.
Did cause someone else a little heartburn though. Over 20 years ago, my boss and I were at a conference in Mountain View, CA. San Jose was closer, but we had booked our flights to SFO because it was a lot cheaper. On the last day, we offered a ride to the airport to another attendee we had met since he didn't have a rental car and we were all flying DL. We never thought to ask which airport he was flying from. As we got near SFO, he said he didn't remember the airport being that far, turns out he was flying from San Jose. At this point, we didn't have near enough time to drive back to San Jose so he was going to have to take his chances at SFO. Of course, this was in the pre-cellphone days, so no way to try to deal with this from the road. We dropped him off at the counter before returning our rental car and wished him luck. It ended up working out ok, while he originally had a connection, DL switched him for free to a non-stop getting in around 9:00pm vs. the after midnight arrival he had scheduled.
#21




Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Traveling the World
Posts: 6,140
I luckily never had an IRROP. I have two alarms at least my bedroom, cellphone and even Iphone alarm all set to go off within a minute or so.
The night before I confirm that the flight is on time and have my boarding pass ready to go.
I love reading how you get the two airports mixed up in Houston. Here is how I remember them I did not vote for George Bush so it must be a Hobby to be a Democrat lol(:
In New York Newark and New York sounds the same. As a kid when my Dad booked us to New York La Guardia I thought he meant Newark.
The night before I confirm that the flight is on time and have my boarding pass ready to go.
I love reading how you get the two airports mixed up in Houston. Here is how I remember them I did not vote for George Bush so it must be a Hobby to be a Democrat lol(:
In New York Newark and New York sounds the same. As a kid when my Dad booked us to New York La Guardia I thought he meant Newark.
#22




Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Traveling the World
Posts: 6,140
Reminds me of a family who English was not their native language who was going to Paris France from Houston IAH. They boarded the flight to Paris Texas and were the last to board. I would have loved to see the outcome(: The monitors said Paris TX. The family thought TX was just a code for the international airport(CDG Terminal).
Haha. One better. T/A booked tickets for a group of 5 and were on my flight into MLB. They were commenting on how strange it was that they were booked on Delta and not AA, but didn't question it as they saw the screen saying Melbourne.
Once airborne, the enroute weather was terrible, which meant the F/As were sitting down the entire time. They made the announcement apologizing that they would be unable to complete their service due to the weather, blah blah, but it's only a 50 minute flight down there. They heard the time enroute and that elicited a collective F/A call button from the group scattered in the back.
Felt bad for those folks somewhat, as they were nowhere near where they wanted to go, but I really wanted to ask them, "well didn't you look at your itinerary?"
Once airborne, the enroute weather was terrible, which meant the F/As were sitting down the entire time. They made the announcement apologizing that they would be unable to complete their service due to the weather, blah blah, but it's only a 50 minute flight down there. They heard the time enroute and that elicited a collective F/A call button from the group scattered in the back.
Felt bad for those folks somewhat, as they were nowhere near where they wanted to go, but I really wanted to ask them, "well didn't you look at your itinerary?"
#23
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA GLD, Marriott PLT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,900
Showed up the the airport on the wrong day one time
This was when I was travelling to Los Angeles very regularly. I showed up to LAX for my normal flight home on Thursday. Machine could not find reservation. Went to AAgent. She saw I had a reservation for FRIDAY. I thought that was odd, then remembered I had booked a FRIDAY return instead of my more normal Thursday return. I can't really recall why I booked a Friday return. I was booking flights a few weeks in advance. I had some reason for doing it, but then sorta forgot about that trip being an "odd" one.
They managed to get me on the flight I wanted. No muss. Not much fuss. Only had to pay a change fee. They waived fare difference fees. Being PLT has it's AAdvantages.
This was when I was travelling to Los Angeles very regularly. I showed up to LAX for my normal flight home on Thursday. Machine could not find reservation. Went to AAgent. She saw I had a reservation for FRIDAY. I thought that was odd, then remembered I had booked a FRIDAY return instead of my more normal Thursday return. I can't really recall why I booked a Friday return. I was booking flights a few weeks in advance. I had some reason for doing it, but then sorta forgot about that trip being an "odd" one.
They managed to get me on the flight I wanted. No muss. Not much fuss. Only had to pay a change fee. They waived fare difference fees. Being PLT has it's AAdvantages.
#24
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA GLD, Marriott PLT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,900
Reminds me of a family who English was not their native language who was going to Paris France from Houston IAH. They boarded the flight to Paris Texas and were the last to board. I would have loved to see the outcome(: The monitors said Paris TX. The family thought TX was just a code for the international airport(CDG Terminal).
#25


Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: STL
Programs: WN, DL, AA; Hyatt or Wyndham
Posts: 1,105
I once checked in at DCA and checked my luggage, and had boarding pass in hand, with 2.5 hours to spare. Last flight of the day back to MCI.
Having that much time, I strolled out of the airport and took the Metro to get a bite...came back to the airport, sauntered through security, got to the gate with 10 minutes to spare.
"I'm sorry, sir, we've already closed the door. We were paging you."
Paging me when? I never heard a thing. (Of course, most of the time I was not in the airport). And I can see the plane STILL ATTACHED TO THE JETBRIDGE. Can't you just let me on?
"I'm sorry sir, we cannot open the door again once we have closed it."
Sheesh. I had to get a hotel and take the first flight in the morning.
Having that much time, I strolled out of the airport and took the Metro to get a bite...came back to the airport, sauntered through security, got to the gate with 10 minutes to spare.
"I'm sorry, sir, we've already closed the door. We were paging you."
Paging me when? I never heard a thing. (Of course, most of the time I was not in the airport). And I can see the plane STILL ATTACHED TO THE JETBRIDGE. Can't you just let me on?
"I'm sorry sir, we cannot open the door again once we have closed it."
Sheesh. I had to get a hotel and take the first flight in the morning.
#26




Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Canberra, ACT, Australia
Programs: QP Life, AA Nothing, QF Bronze
Posts: 946
Reminds me of a family who English was not their native language who was going to Paris France from Houston IAH. They boarded the flight to Paris Texas and were the last to board. I would have loved to see the outcome(: The monitors said Paris TX. The family thought TX was just a code for the international airport(CDG Terminal).
For that matter, how did you learn of the incident? You say you "would have loved to see the outcome" but somehow you know that they "thought TX was just a code for the international airport(CDG Terminal)."
Sounds apocryphal to me.
Last edited by Alan in CBR; Sep 24, 2012 at 6:31 pm
#27
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 24
I screwed up the pop-up calendars on a trip to Mexico City a few years ago. When I got to the airport for my return flight, I wasn't booked. With the language barrier and the early morning grogginess, it took quite a while before the agent and I figured out that I was booked to return on that date THE NEXT MONTH. We got it straightened out, but not easily.
#28
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Staffordshire UK
Programs: Mucci, BA Silver, HON, EK Gold
Posts: 242
We had a PA who had a recurring habit of arranging a car to meet me off overnight TATL flights booked for the day of departure, not arrival.
Then again she did once book me a no-change no refund ticket LHR-PHX-STL(?)-MEM because it was 20 cheaper than LHR-ORD-MEM. Now I know that would be a dream ticket for some FTers, but really .....
Then again she did once book me a no-change no refund ticket LHR-PHX-STL(?)-MEM because it was 20 cheaper than LHR-ORD-MEM. Now I know that would be a dream ticket for some FTers, but really .....
#29



Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: Just a peon
Posts: 4,569
We had a PA who had a recurring habit of arranging a car to meet me off overnight TATL flights booked for the day of departure, not arrival.
Then again she did once book me a no-change no refund ticket LHR-PHX-STL(?)-MEM because it was 20 cheaper than LHR-ORD-MEM. Now I know that would be a dream ticket for some FTers, but really .....
Then again she did once book me a no-change no refund ticket LHR-PHX-STL(?)-MEM because it was 20 cheaper than LHR-ORD-MEM. Now I know that would be a dream ticket for some FTers, but really .....
#30
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend




Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 102,617
In the days of paper tickets, I had a late morning return from IND but apparently I mistook the flight number for the departure time when checking my ticket. I had a leisurely drive to the airport, filled the tank and returned my rental car, but then noticed that my flight wasn't listed on the airport monitor. When I arrived at the check in counter to ask about the cancellation/delay, the flight was gone: Flight #1150 at 1015 am or something similar.

