One year, I am on vacation at a large gaming convention in Indianapolis. The convention goes well, but when it comes time to fly home, I arrive at the airport and am informed that the flight is delayed due to engine trouble. Due to how busy the airport is, there aren’t going to be any alternative flights available until at least the next evening. So I and the other passengers on that flight wait. And wait. And wait some more.

Finally, more than two hours after my connecting flight in Denver has already left, my flight to Denver makes it to Indianapolis. Naturally, this means that we don’t get to Denver until late at night, and the airline puts us up in complimentary hotel rooms. They also give us little travel bags with toothbrushes, toothpaste, and other basic personal hygiene items.

Since I try to avoid checking through luggage, I still have all my stuff and proceed to toss the travel bag into my suitcase and forget about it.

The next morning, I am shuttled back to Denver International Airport. Things go smoothly until it is my turn to go through TSA screening. The screener scans my bags and then pulls my suitcase off the line.

Screener: “You were on that flight that was delayed from Indianapolis last night, weren’t you?”

Me: “Yes, how could you tell?”

He opens my suitcase, pulls out the travel bag, and removes the toothpaste.

Screener: “It’s just over the maximum size limit. I’ve been pulling these out all morning.”

He then waved me through, minus the toothpaste.

When I finally made it to my destination, I made sure to let the airline’s representative know about the issue with the toothpaste. I also was given a travel voucher over the flight delay; I know now that they should have given a cash refund. It turned out to have so many restrictions on what and how it could be used that it would have actually cost me more money trying to get the “discount” than just booking my seats regularly did. I made a habit of avoiding booking flights on that airline after that.

Among the passengers traveling on my flight are several uniformed members of the military. The gate agents have already called for people who need extra time to board the plane, but no one else has been allowed on yet, including the first-class passengers.

Gate Agent: “At this time, we would like to invite our customers traveling in uniform to board through the priority lane.”

A passenger who is clearly not a member of the military shoves his way into the priority lane.

Gate Agent: “I’m sorry, sir, but I haven’t called for your cabin yet. If you’ll just step to the side for one moment—”

Passenger #1: “This is bulls***! I bought this ticket first-class so I could be the first one on, and you’re letting this economy class scum on before me!”

Gate Agent: “Sir, they are members of our country’s armed services; we just want to—”

Passenger #1: “And look at those big, honking bags they’re carrying. How are the rest of us supposed to put anything in the overhead bins?!”

A well-dressed older passenger steps forward.

Passenger #2: “Listen up, because I’m only going to say this once. These are the men and women who are fighting day and night to defend our country. They’re carrying those large bags because they are traveling to attend basic training. After that, they are going to spend several months in Afghanistan, risking their lives to protect other Americans — including jerks like you. When was the last time you voluntarily put your life on the line?”

He turns to the gate agent.

Passenger #2: “I have a first-class ticket. Could you please switch me to the economy cabin and give my seat to one of these soldiers?”

Soldier: “Sir, that’s very kind of you, but really—”

Passenger #2: “No.”

He offers a perfect military salute.

Passenger #2: “I was in the army in Vietnam. I know the sacrifices you all are making. Thank you for your service, and God bless you and your families.”

The nasty passenger walked off in a huff but didn’t say a word for the rest of the flight. The gate agents gave the nice gentleman’s seat to one of the soldiers and offered vacant first-class seats to some of the others. To that amazing guest: you restored my faith in humanity when I thought I just might lose it. And I thank you for your own service to our nation.

I take my five-year-old niece to visit my home in Sweden, since my family isn’t from there. The trip has been wonderful, and now I’m with her at the airport so that we can travel back to my home country.

We’re looking out the window at airplanes taking off when I ask my niece a question.

Me: “Where do you think this airplane is headed to?”

Niece: “Africa!”

Me: “Oh, where in Africa do you think it will land?”

Niece: “At another airport!”

I mean, she wasn’t technically wrong.

After clearing security at the airport, my family decides to stop at a sandwich shop on the way to our gate. My brother orders first and then goes to stand outside while the rest of us place our orders. While my mom is paying, my brother comes running back in.

Brother: “Guys, they’re calling us!”

Confused, we double-check our boarding passes and confirm that boarding isn’t even scheduled to start for another fifteen minutes. Figuring it must just be a message they need to give us, we keep waiting for our sandwiches. As they come up, we hear this.

Announcement: “[Our Last Name], party of five, please come to [gate] immediately for boarding.”

We grab our food and run through the terminal like something out of a movie, telling each other to hurry up, tripping on our luggage, barely holding on to our pillows, headphones, and other accessories. We’re almost there when we hear this.

Announcement: “[Our Last Name], party of five, this is your last call for boarding at [gate].”

Everything to this point has taken place over less than five minutes of time. As we board the flight, we notice a few fellow passengers glaring at us as if we had held up the entire plane, but as the plane is taxiing away, a flight attendant announces this.

Flight Attendant: “Okay, we want to thank everyone for boarding so quickly. Now we are able to leave fifteen minutes ahead of schedule!”

Upon landing in the next city, we sat on the tarmac for half an hour. The pilot informed us that this was because there were no available gates and we had to wait for our scheduled turn.

I move overseas several times during my teenage years, going between parents and relatives in other countries that require extremely long flights with multiple layovers. I am at least sixteen at this time, so not quite an unaccompanied minor, but I am still a sickly, somewhat small teenager with two gigantic suitcases filled with my entire life’s belongings.

I’m waiting at the baggage carousel, packed in with over a hundred people, struggling to claim my bag and make my next flight. I catch sight of my bag.

Me: “Aha!”

I lunge through to grasp in, only able to grab it with one hand. However, I underestimate the weight of the bag and my own footing as the bag keeps going, bringing me along with it! Like a wave, I plow into the people next to me, screaming, “I’m sorry! Help!” and trying to plant my feet to no avail.

The people are surprised, off-balance, but thankfully laughing at the spectacle instead of getting mad.

Man: “Here you go, miss!”

He effortlessly lifts my bag off and away from the carousel, and I sprawl after it on the floor.

Me: “Thank you so much. I’m so sorry!”

Man: *Laughing* “Why didn’t you let go or ask for help?”

Me: “Um, I panicked?”

The rest of the crowd was giggling and checking up on me, offering me a hand up or help with my other bag. I felt terrible at the time but I’m glad I can look back and laugh at what a hilarious travel failure I used to be!