Debbie Bosak: Airlines can ground vacation

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Updated: August 17, 2011 8:41PM

When I began gathering comments for this week’s column about travel nightmares, I expected my lead would be positive.

Normally, I only venture far from home a couple times each year, but past experience has leaned toward the positive. That is, until this summer’s vacation in Boston.

The first part was outstanding — good time spent with a dear friend as we took road trips through all six New England states.

The problem was getting home.

Arriving at Boston Logan International Airport at the proper time, I waited with fellow travelers for our 6:45 p.m. flight. By 6:30, we still weren’t boarding and no plane was in sight.

Maryland, it seemed, was having “weather” that was moving up the East Coast. Unfortunately, our plane, pilot and crew were in Baltimore.

Our perky gate attendant, who appeared to be all of 15, assured us she would give an update in 30 minutes. At 8:30, still waiting for that update, moods began to go south. The line at the service counter grew as voices became louder. Hungry babies cried, bored children whined and elderly travelers visibly drooped.

By 10, with still no word from the airline, Miss Happy Face didn’t look quite as cheery: “You people need to be patient. When I know something, so will you.”

One man opened his laptop in disgust and checked the airline’s website.

“10:56,” he shouted. “This says this flight is scheduled to go out at 10:56.”

Everyone cheered. The little miss frowned.

False alarm; 11:15 and still no plane.

Have you seen a crowd of people start to spontaneously combust into a mob? Cautiously, I moved to a chair on the outer fringes of the gate.

Long story short, a plane and new crew arrived shortly before midnight. We boarded and were in the air by 12:15 a.m., almost six hours late, without so much as a token apology or an offer of a free onboard drink by the airline.

Allow me to share a couple more travel nightmares from our friends.

Kevin Hanley, St. John: “My wife and I got to San Diego, only to find we had left not only the credit card, but our hotel confirmation number at home. Didn’t matter because they couldn’t find a record of our reservation.

“After many phone calls — my dad wired us money until our son could overnight our card — and some serious words with the hotel manager, three hours later, we got a room. It always pays to keep a detailed list and check it twice before leaving home.”

Anna Mendosa, Schererville: “My family was driving back from Minnesota, when traffic on the expressway came to a dead stop. Before we left, my husband asked our teen girls if they needed to use the washroom.

“Oh, dad,” they rolled their eyes.

“There we sat, bumper to bumper without an exit in sight for close to four hours. The girls refused to get out of the car and go by the side of the road, so, by the time we found a facility, they were walking fast with their legs crossed. Not a fun time in that car!”