What are some flying standby horror stories?

One horror story could be constantly getting bumped from standby flights due to overbooking. Passengers end up waiting for hours or even days at the airport, missing important appointments or events. It's a nightmare when you've planned your trip around a standby flight only to be left stranded.

I know someone who was flying standby on a long - haul flight. They had planned their trip well in advance, but when they got to the airport, they were told that they might not get on the flight for at least two days. The airline provided very little information about when a seat might become available. As they waited, they ran out of the necessary medications they needed for the long flight. It was a really difficult situation for them.

Sure. One standby horror story is about a plane on standby during a storm. The passengers were waiting nervously on the tarmac. All of a sudden, there was a huge lightning strike near the plane. The lights inside flickered and some people heard strange noises from the wings. Everyone was terrified, fearing that something bad was about to happen.

The uncertainty. When you're in a standby situation, not knowing what will happen next can be terrifying. For example, in a standby for a rescue operation, you don't know if help will arrive in time.

Once I was on a standby flight. I got to the airport super early, like 4 am. I was all excited to get on the flight. But they kept delaying the standby list announcements. Finally, when they did, I was number 20 on the list and there were only 5 seats available. It was so frustrating. I ended up having to wait another 5 hours for the next possible standby chance.

Book early. If you can avoid standby and get a confirmed ticket, that's the best way. This way you have a guaranteed seat and won't have to worry about being bumped or left behind.

I heard of a case where the airline lost a passenger's luggage which had all their important documents and medications. They had to go through a lot of hassle to get things sorted at their destination. It took days to get their luggage back, if at all. And the airline wasn't very helpful initially, just giving them the run - around.

One flying horror story could be about a plane suddenly losing altitude during a storm. The passengers were terrified as the plane shook violently and things were flying around in the cabin. It seemed like every second could be their last.

Poor in - flight service can be a horror story too. For instance, flight attendants being rude or unresponsive. There are cases where passengers needed assistance but the crew was nowhere to be found. Also, mechanical problems during the flight are quite scary. You hear strange noises from the plane and worry about your safety. It can be a very nerve - wracking experience.

Strange and unexplained phenomena are also common. Like seeing strange lights or apparitions during the flight. This adds an element of mystery and fear as there's no immediate explanation for what's happening.