Be careful out there! Readers' travel nightmares

Intimate apparel everywhere!
While traveling, we had a couple layovers on our way to our final destination. In Seattle from my viewpoint I was able to see our luggage being loaded and that it was still in one piece. 

However when we went through San Fransico, apparently TSA needed to re-inspect my luggage. Whoever was inspecting my luggage was in such a hurry they zipped their buttons off their "uniform" in my luggage thus breaking my zipper. I know for a fact those were not my buttons, because who in God's name would wear silver dollar-size, red tacky buttons! 

When we landed in Texas my luggage came down the ramp and was everywhere. And I mean everywhere. It is incredibly embarrassing to gather up all your intimate items, especially when you are on your honeymoon. My husband had to go climbing up on the ramp to retrieve the rest of my personal items, because apparently no one has heard of duct tape or personally delivering the bag.

This luggage was brand new, so brand new that I even had my receipt for it in my purse. When talking to TSA at the airport they claimed it wasn't their fault and that I should file a report.  So I filed a report, documenting all the details and submitted pictures. After months of arguing and talking to the next manager or supervisor, nothing was ever resolved. ... Thanks to TSA I had to buy new luggage the morning my cruise ship was leaving just so I could continue to travel!

Now before I travel I thoroughly inspect all my luggage and I have even gone so far to take pictures before, so that way they next time my luggage will hopefully be able to be replaced. I also include a polite note on the top of my personal items saying I know that you are only doing your job and that you must work quickly but to please respect my property. I've even used to recycle the TSA fliers in my luggage making it appear I had already been searched.  Honestly I think its an uphill battle, but this is what America and the world has come to today. Sad.
— Jill Summers, Spokane, Wash.

Sopping wet on a trans-Atlantic flight
When returning from overseas after a tour of duty in England, my wife, two toddlers in diapers and myself were delayed in Germany. A 1:00 p.m. flight to DFW had mechanical problems and we were advised that we would leave by 5:00 p.m. At 7:00 p.m., they advised that we would not leave until the next day so they started the process to put us up in hotels around the area. We finally got to the hotel around 10:00 p.m. Put the kids to bed, as we had no luggage, (already on the plane) my wife hand washed our clothes and hung them up around the hotel room. We finally got to bed about midnight. At 1:30 a.m. the phone rang and they told us the plane was ready to leave and to be outside of the hotel within 30 minutes. Needless to say we got the kids up, put on wet clothes and headed to the airport. By the time we got to DFW, we were a mess.
— Mike Lewis, Dallas

Give me a break!
On board American Air Lines, Flight 1632 on Nov. 15. I boarded the plan in Phoenix heading for DFW (home). When the plane landed in Phoenix they started working on landing gear problems.  So why were we loaded on the plane to sit for 2 1/2 hours at the terminal — not even out on the runway? You bet I wanted the landing gear fixed no matter how long it took. But it was not necessary to load passengers prior to be problem being resolved.  Give me a break American!

Also, I have a luggage lock that is FAA approved. So why was my suitcase pried open? There was no note left inside my luggage to indicate it had been search by the baggage handlers, so I'm not sure if someone just rummaged through it and not finding what they wanted just sent it on. Nothing was missing, but it should not have been pried open!

I've always preferred to fly American but no more.
— Bob Trainham, Euless, Texas

You can't get there from here
Traffic in and around Seattle is so bad that most of us say "you can't get there from here."   There have been Tens of millions spent "exploring" transportation options, but so far nothing is happening. We are hampered by the bodies of water around us, but there has to be a solution. Perhaps they should put a moratorium on all the building of homes and other buildings. We are more like rats in a maze than people with lives.
— Janie Shervey, North Bend, Wash.

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