What is the longest you've ever been delayed in your travels?

[MichaelCorfman]

This past week CAC Amsterdam turned into the longest I've ever been away on a trip to a gaming conference.

I flew to Amsterdam Monday evening, 12 April 2010, and expected to arrive back home six days later on Sunday afternoon, 18 April 2010. But with the eruption of a volcano in Iceland, and the closure of most European airports for several days, my flight back home certainly did not go as planned.

After my first flight back on Sunday was cancelled, I was able to rebook a flight back the following Wednesday. But that flight was cancelled too, and the next flight I could book was the following Monday. Then Lisa, back in the office, was able to do some magic and get my flight moved up earlier so I was able to return Friday evening. So I left Amsterdam five days and a number of hours later than I had originally anticipated.

I've been delayed on flights before. Almost everyone has. Snow, fog, late incoming plane, equipment problems - all those have certainly happened to me. But a volcano, not something I had expected.

How about you? What is your best story about travel delays? Tell us how long you've been delayed on a trip in the poll, and fill in the details in a post. Maybe a plane, maybe a train. Misery loves company.

Michael

[Renee]

My partner lived in Melbourne for the first 14 months of our relationship so I was flying down there every second weekend.

Without fail there was a delay every weekend... And the flight would be delayed on my way down there and rarely on the way back.

One time I was flying with Tiger because it was cheap and I was supposed to land in Melbourne around 7.00pm and go to a birthday party. Instead I landed in Melbourne around 10.30 and had to miss out.. Wasn't impressed... But that's not the worst I suppose..

The good thing about delays on international flights is that they can "make up time"... Domestic flights are not so lucky

[GPWA Aaron]

My wife and I had our flight for our honeymoon from Philadelphia to Seattle (we drove down the West Coast to San Francisco, stopping to see the sights along the way) delayed for a little less than a day.

You'd think we would have been upset - who wants their marriage to begin with a delayed honeymoon? But in reality we were so tired from the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding, the wedding and reception, and Sunday brunch the day after, that we actually welcomed the free night in the Philadelphia Airport Marriott!

We fell asleep around 9 p.m. and got some much needed rest before enjoying a great honeymoon.

[HBKKH]

Delayed one night in Columbus, Ohio USA. Surprisingly good night

[pjotter]

Also delayed 6 days due to the vulcanic ashes.

[eaton2003]

My worst ever flying experience was a return trip to Costa Rica from Newcastle, England. I left at 4am from Newcastle after next to no sleep and flew to Amsterdam at 6am (short flight with a four hours layover) and then continued on to Mexico (about 11 hours flight). In Mexico I had a two hour layover and then got on my plane to continue to Costa Rica (3 hour flight).

Upon approaching Costa Rica at 9pm in the evening (by now about 24 hours of travelling) the weather turned for the worse and it was extremely stormy outside as well as quite dark as expected at that time in the evening. The plane continued it's approach until at the last minute we pulled up doing executing a missed approach. The silence onboard the plane was awary and actually quite a scary experience as we did not know whether we were going to crash or not. The flight finally levelled off at cruising altitude and the Captain informed us that we will fly on to Guatemala (about an hours flight away). We landed in Guatemala where we were not granted immigration clearance so we all had to stay on the plane while they refuelled us and wait two hours. The plane then was granted clearance for take off and the pilot decided to return to Mexico which was about another 2 hours flying. We landed in mexico at 3-30am in the morning and were left to sleep next to the gate on the chairs until 6am when they decided to continue the flight on to Costa Rica.

We landed at 10am the next day and I had to work at 11am. Was not a fun day and something I would never like to repeat.

[Nandakishore]

I was once delayed for two days many years ago while flying to Delhi from Munich with my wife. About 20 minutes before landing in Delhi, our plane was diverted to Karachi because of fog. The fog was still persisting on the next day. We flew back two days later. We both enjoyed the unexpected two day halt in Karachi, our first in Pakistan. I can only remember that Karachi was a nice city then. Now it has become a focus of terrorist attacks, what a pity!

[Simmo!]

One time I was flying with Tiger

Noooo...stop! You can sell that story!

[ElaineGardiner]

6 days stranded in Amsterdam because of the Volcanic Ash. It would of been a lot worse though, although i think this guy says it all...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34mHZgP9vkc

Oh how proud i am to be Scottish . We seem to be breeding airports legends...anyone remember John Smetton, the guy who punch the terrorist at Glasgow airport in '07?

[Beth_IA]

I was living in Florida when in October 2005 a hurricane (Hurricane Wilma, I think) came through and disrupted my plane from Ohio back to Florida. I ended up being in Atlanta for 2 days but thankfully, a friend from university lived there and offered a couch to sleep on

[TRADEVA]

Pretty sure my combined waiting times at the doctors far exceeds combined departure waiting times.

eaton2003's story is sounds pretty damn harsh, i guess its one of those moments.

[bonusbeast]

I was delayed about 8 hours in Vegas one time, at least there were slots to play!