Many of us will have been there. The frustration of arriving at a foreign airport primed for seven days in the sun but, despite the memory of negotiating a mile-long check-in queue at a UK airport still fresh in the memory, your luggage fails to arrive with you.
Or worse, you arrive back to the grey drizzle of this fair land and, having jostled with your fellow passengers for a trolley, no bags emerge on the carousel.
But spare a thought for Team Sky rider and New Zealand sprinter Greg Henderson who emerged bleary eyed in Australia for the forthcoming World Championships with no bags – and no bikes.
“What do you know. All six bags didn’t arrive,” said Henderson on his Twitter feed on Thursday. “That’s weird I had such faith in British Airways. Honestly worst airline award has to go them.”
Saturday came and Henderson added: “Still no bags. No bikes. At least I’ll be Freddy fresh legs for [the] worlds.”
The 33-year-old, who withdrew from the Commonwealth Games, finally received his Pinarello Dogma racing bike (pictured) today but not quite in the condition he expected – with the men’s road race due to take place on Sunday.
“Forks are gonners,” he said. “Training bike still missing in action. Charlie’s [Henderson’s daughter] stroller and my suitcase still missing in action.”
Just shows it’s not all glitz and glamour as a pro cyclist…