Ten Worst Air Travel Stories of '08

4. Trapped on the Tarmac: Wait a minute, is this still going on?!

Yes, it is. You still (sometimes) hear the cries of penned up passengers calling out for "Food! Water!! Clean restrooms!!!" Like on that Delta flight last July, when passengers were stuck on the tarmac for seven hours. Unfortunately, Congress never could get together to enact a real passengers' bill of rights. Maybe they thought the airlines would never allow this to happen again.

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Don't Forget: They were wrong. It did happen again, in Ontario, Calif., just this month, as folks sat on the tarmac for nine hours.

5. Bye, Bye, Airlines: Now you see them, now you don't.

Remember Aloha, ATA, Maxjet and more? These are just a few of the airlines that went out of business this year, sometimes stranding their passengers with worthless tickets. Analysts couldn't decide if this was a healthy "survival of the fittest" process, or an ill omen of things to come.

Don't Forget: This epic "going out of business" sale may not be over yet.

6. Frequent Flier Flop: What do you mean, I can't get an upgrade?

While airlines were raising prices, some were also stealthily raising the number of miles it would take to get upgrades and trips. Some even dumped the 500-mile minimum rule.

Don't Forget: Being an "elite" frequent flier can still be worth it -- if only to avoid those loathsome bag fees.

7. Saturday Night Stay-Over Fever: As welcome as a disco resurgence.

We thought we were done with this years ago, but it's baaaack! I speak, of course, of the "stay over a Saturday night" rule, or the requirement that you stay at a destination a certain number of days to get the cheapest fares. It's just another way for the airlines to make that cash register ring a little louder.

Don't Forget: Road warriors could do the Saturday night routine, and have spouses join them with the money they save. But most, it seems, would much rather spend the weekend at home.