"I'm never shopping THERE again!" Share your story!

[knitwicca]

I have tried packing for shorter trips (three weeks) with only carry-on.

The last trip was five weeks and was going to include the Georgia Renaissance Festival - I flew Southwest and got two "free" checked bags, one of which was nothing but garb...

Coming back, I was on AirTran, but apparently since I made the reservation through Southwest (possibly an erroneous assumption - but I was not charged & that seemed the least illogical assumption) - I managed to check one for free.  The other was a rolling carry-on that I've used before on Southwest & my second carry-on was a messenger bag with a padded laptop compartment and a relatively roomy book bag compartment for meds, a small wallet-on-a-string, jewelry, and an ereader or two (battery life was not up to the early check in, the wait in the terminal, the flight, and the shuttle from the Atlanta airport to where I was going - easier to take a spare - no way to charge them on the plane).

I used to be in a long-distance relationship. The first time the guy and I took a trip together, he paid for my airline tickets and picked me up at the airport. (he had driven 6 hours the previous day)  When I arrived at the destination airport, he was waiting at the baggage claim. I told him "I don't have any checked bags".  He looked at me, raised an eyebrow and asked "Do you really have a weeks worth of clothes and stuff in a backpack?" 
Not only did I have everything I needed (including blow dryer and curling iron) but purchased a few t-shirts as souvenirs for my grandsons which fit into the backpack with no problem.

Said guy was quite impressed.

[ScubaGirl]

I've had just enough bad experiences flying with a large enough variety of airlines that, at this point, I'm not going to make any claims about how I'll never fly a particular one again.

In the end, they all stink for one reason or another, because the system of air travel overall just stinks. Flights are all overbooked or delayed or whatever. They all misplace or delay luggage, even when you've checked to make sure the destination airport code is correct. They all run on such tight schedules that even a small delay can throw the whole schedule off. They all have pretty poor customer service, horrible refund policies, and just in general are a headache to deal with.

Given all that, I pretty much just assume that checked luggage has a 50/50 chance of actually showing up at my destination at the same time as me, things will very likely be removed from my bag, security will be a pain to get through, the flight itself will be (at best) an exercise in endurance, and there won't be any food or entertainment available to speak of unless I bring it myself. Basically, I expect the whole experience to be awful, so that when bad stuff inevitably happens I am at least somewhat prepared to deal with it. I am also, at that point, pleasantly surprised if the worst thing that happens while I'm traveling that I'm bored and cramped from not enough space.

Yes, there is a lot of truth in this.

[Shalamar]

My husband and I aren't handy in the least, and therefore little maintenance jobs around the house often go undone for a while until they've piled up.  I figured that it was a good time to call the local Handyman Connection number - we've used them before, and their work has been okay - not stellar, but not terrible, either.  And the price is usually not too bad.

The guy came out last Thursday to give us an estimate.  We were asking for the following things to be replaced:  two screens on windows, two outside vents, and a drop-ceiling tile in the rec room.  Also, some painting touch-ups.  We'd supply the paint, they'd buy all other materials and charge us accordingly.

The estimate was $1,050.00.     Not only did that seem an outrageous amount, but he didn't break it down by item, either - just "Yup, for all that, it'll cost $1,050.00."  I e-mailed the company afterwards and asked for an itemized estimate.  They never got back to me. 

We've now hired a guy through Kijiji who has a good reputation.  His estimate is for $100 plus materials.  Goodbye, Handyman Connection!

[medowynd]

I have traveled to Europe, Asia and Africa, always with a carryon bag.  My husband took two bags to Korea and I had a rolling bag.  Seoul has lots of hills, he did a fair amount of complaining about the weight of the bags.  I hand wash every evening and wear travel clothes.  I always have room for souvenirs.  The only time my bag has been checked, when there was no overhead room left on the flight.

[jedikaiti]

I have tried packing for shorter trips (three weeks) with only carry-on.

The last trip was five weeks and was going to include the Georgia Renaissance Festival - I flew Southwest and got two "free" checked bags, one of which was nothing but garb...

Coming back, I was on AirTran, but apparently since I made the reservation through Southwest (possibly an erroneous assumption - but I was not charged & that seemed the least illogical assumption) - I managed to check one for free.  The other was a rolling carry-on that I've used before on Southwest & my second carry-on was a messenger bag with a padded laptop compartment and a relatively roomy book bag compartment for meds, a small wallet-on-a-string, jewelry, and an ereader or two (battery life was not up to the early check in, the wait in the terminal, the flight, and the shuttle from the Atlanta airport to where I was going - easier to take a spare - no way to charge them on the plane).

I used to be in a long-distance relationship. The first time the guy and I took a trip together, he paid for my airline tickets and picked me up at the airport. (he had driven 6 hours the previous day)  When I arrived at the destination airport, he was waiting at the baggage claim. I told him "I don't have any checked bags".  He looked at me, raised an eyebrow and asked "Do you really have a weeks worth of clothes and stuff in a backpack?" 
Not only did I have everything I needed (including blow dryer and curling iron) but purchased a few t-shirts as souvenirs for my grandsons which fit into the backpack with no problem.

Said guy was quite impressed.

I remember reading an article about a woman who liked to travel, and often took advantage of last-minute deals. In one case, she travelled to another country for 3 weeks with only her carry-on bag and a personal bag - the customs guy was *amazed*. He asked if that was really all she'd brought for 3 whole weeks and she listed what she'd packed and stated that she thought it would be more than adequate. He asked her to marry him.
[/threadjack]

At this point, I figure airlines are like telecoms - there isn't really one that's without a long list of folks who don't like it, it's very much a YMMV* thing. In some locations they're awesome, in some they're awful, and some folks have never had a problem with Company X, while others have had nothing but problems with them.

*YMMV = Your Mileage May Vary, an old bit of spokenreallyfast fine print from US car commercials/print ads where they brag about gas mileage.

[Shalamar]

My husband and I had lunch at a very popular French-themed food truck yesterday.  I ordered a sandwich that was supposed to have crispy bacon as well as a pork belly.  Alas, I didn't realize that pork belly = fat.  Lots and lots of fat.  I was repulsed (I absolutely cannot stand fat on meat - it makes me sick.)  The bacon was limp and unappetizing, too.  There was a long lineup, so I didn't go back to complain (I should have, though, I know).   My husband ended up eating the sandwich and said it wasn't good at all.  (He loves all food, so if he doesn't like something, you know it's not good.)

I posted a negative review on UrbanSpoon as well as e-mailing the restaurant.  The reply from the owner basically said "You should have said something (true), it's your own fault for not knowing that pork bellies have a lot of fat (also true), a review like yours hurts our business, and your spewing vitriol over the Internet reflects badly on you."  Oookay.    I went back and edited my review because some parts of it were unnecessarily harsh (I wrote it when I was still fighting nausea from the sight of all that fat).

Definitely won't be back!

[Goosey]

I do think blaming the food truck because you got what you ordered is inappropriate.

[Harriet Jones]

I do think blaming the food truck because you got what you ordered is inappropriate.

She could at least complain that the bacon wasn't crispy...

[Goosey]

I do think blaming the food truck because you got what you ordered is inappropriate.

She could at least complain that the bacon wasn't crispy...

Yeah, I would focus on the quality of the cooked food, not the content. Since, they provided the right content, she just didn't like it.

[gramma dishes]

I do think blaming the food truck because you got what you ordered is inappropriate.

She could at least complain that the bacon wasn't crispy...

Yeah, I would focus on the quality of the cooked food, not the content. Since, they provided the right content, she just didn't like it.

But her husband (who loves ALL food) didn't like it either.  My suspicion is that if the bacon was limp and undercooked, the rest of the food was probably not well prepared either.

[Shalamar]

Yeah, if I had the chance to have a do-over, I would go to the owner and say "This isn't what I expected, can I get something else?".  I accept my share of the blame. 

I honestly wonder if the cook was having an off-moment when he made my food.  Everyone else who has had that sandwich has loved it.

[Goosey]

I do think blaming the food truck because you got what you ordered is inappropriate.

She could at least complain that the bacon wasn't crispy...

Yeah, I would focus on the quality of the cooked food, not the content. Since, they provided the right content, she just didn't like it.

But her husband (who loves ALL food) didn't like it either.  My suspicion is that if the bacon was limp and undercooked, the rest of the food was probably not well prepared either.

Right, I'm not saying it wasn't. I'm saying the fact that it contained a food that specifically mentioned in the ingredients should have been left out entirely - not just stated less harshly.

Her real complaint (that the bacon was undercooked) was lost in her complaint about the fat. It's unfair to complain about the pork bellies being in a pork belly sandwich. To go on about how ill it made her feel was even worse. Anything else is fair game.

Yeah, if I had the chance to have a do-over, I would go to the owner and say "This isn't what I expected, can I get something else?".  I accept my share of the blame. 

I honestly wonder if the cook was having an off-moment when he made my food.  Everyone else who has had that sandwich has loved it.

That's strange! You must be right about the off-moment

[Jocelyn]

But her husband (who loves ALL food) didn't like it either.  My suspicion is that if the bacon was limp and undercooked, the rest of the food was probably not well prepared either.

Strange as it may seem to us crispy bacon people, there ARE people who believe that bacon should be flexible when cooked.
But I'm a little mystified how anyone would conclude that 'pork belly' would be lean meat.

[Shalamar]

I blame Trading Places.  No, hear me out, I'm serious!    When Billy Ray (Eddie Murphy) was being taught about pork bellies, he was told that they were used to make bacon.  Therefore, I was expecting lots of bacon - with fat, sure, but not the jiggly gelatinous kind that I got.  (Urp.)  The fact that it was called Death By Bacon cemented that belief. 

Strange as it may seem to us crispy bacon people, there ARE people who believe that bacon should be flexible when cooked.

Heh, my husband is one of them.    Actually, though, the description said "crispy bacon", and this was not.

[magicdomino]

But her husband (who loves ALL food) didn't like it either.  My suspicion is that if the bacon was limp and undercooked, the rest of the food was probably not well prepared either.

Strange as it may seem to us crispy bacon people, there ARE people who believe that bacon should be flexible when cooked.
But I'm a little mystified how anyone would conclude that 'pork belly' would be lean meat.

I suspect a lot of people don't realize that pork belly is the same cut as American bacon but without the salt and smoke --  which makes it a little pointless in my humble opinion.     Shalamar probably thought it would be closer to a pork chop or a country-style rib.  (Quick, what part of the pig do country-style ribs come from?      )

I just read Shalamar's update.  Nope, pork bellies have all the fat and none of the good stuff.  I don't understand the appeal, myself.