Whats the longest you have been stuck at an airport?

2 hours delay (first time flying) I got there 2 hours early haha. 

Years ago, 12 hours straight, a bummer in the true sense of the word. And to think that was a headphone-less trip

19 hours at Seattle Airport last month.  My flight from Japan was delayed due to a bathroom issue causing me to miss my connecting flight to Michigan.  I got a couple meal vouchers out of it at least, but it was a really bad experience.  I've had longer ones, but was given hotel vouchers so they don't count.  I guess that either I'm not a lucky traveller or travelling so much has caused the odds to catch up. 

Years ago, we used to travel to India through Bangkok. One time, our schedule of flights was such that the flight arriving in Bangkok would arrive about an hour after the flight leaving for India would already have left. As a result, my family (Mother, Father, Sister and me), and my friend's family (same configuration), spent roughly 24 hours at the airport because with the airline schedule, we had to wait for the plane to fly to India, land, turnaround, fly back to Bangkok, land, disembark and let the cleanup crews do there thing (both in India, and Bangkok), before we were allowed to board.

The most was two hours.  It would be better to stuck in a big airport than a small one.

Longest (unscheduled) was Narita 3 or 4 years ago.  Landed just as a typhoon was hitting the mainland.  Flew in from Frankfurt on the way home to NZ.  Ours was the last plane to be allowed to land.  We were stuck in Japan for 24 hours until typhoon gone and we could be rescheduled.  Only spent 8 hours at the actual airport though.  We were Business Class - so they made room for us at a hotel next to airport.  Bonus was being able to see some temples etc the next day before we had to get back to the airport.

Regularly spend 5-7 hours at airports waiting for connections (NZ to Europe) - usually via Singapore.  Not bad though - nice airport and the lounges are good.  For me it's a regular occurrence - but as long as I have my iPod, amp and IEMs, (plus a good book) it's not too bad.

I have a much worst experience - late 2000 when I took a flight to U.S. to continue my undergrad study, we stopped at Amsterdam airport for an one hour break, after we boarded the same 747 that took us there, the air plant moved out to the tarmac and just sat there. The pilot told us one of the engine was broken and they were waiting for a single replacement part to come in from a storage almost 100km away So we waited for 3~4 hours on an almost full air plant with minimum air conditioning. They could have told us to wait at the airport, but instead we had to wait in the plant because that was more convenient for them. That really, really sucked.

Not nice - but good at least that they recognised the error before you were airborne!

Had something similar coming out of Frankfurt on a 747 bound for Singapore - must be about 6 years ago.  Later flight out - I guess about 8-9pm (memory a bit hazy).  We boarded - but plane sat at the gate for about 30 minutes, then the pilot came on the intercom & explained that they were just waiting for a fuel top-up.  About 45 minutes later, they eventually completed the top up, and we started taxiing to the runway.  Just short of the runway, the engines cycled down, and we pulled off to the side.  Sat there for about 15 minutes, and then the pilot said there was a group of passengers who wanted to get off.  Many groans from all over the plane - we just wanted to get airborne (13 hour flight - we just wanted to move).  Anyway - they taxiied back to the gate - and we duly waited while they disembarked 6 passengers.  We were then told that there would be a further wait while their luggage had to be taken off.

By now it was getting late and we'd been in the plane about 2-3 hours.

Eventually main doors closed again - engines cycle up, then cycle down again.  Next news that there appears to be a fault, and they are checking it out.  45 minutes later we are told that they are disembarking all passengers, and preparing a replacement aircraft.

We get back to a deserted gate - now after midnight - no food, no coffee - just 400-500  bewildered tired passengers.

Replacement 747 gets there an hour later, and we eventually board and get airborne sometime around 2am.

Here's the kicker - I caught up with one of the passengers who got off earlier (while we were waiting for second aircraft).  They were told to wait and eventually they reboarded and flew out with us.  The reason that they insisted they get off was because they were sitting immediately behind the main wing and noticed fuel gushing out of the wing while we were taxiing.  We were really lucky they noticed - if not, we would have been airborne on a fully loaded jumbo with a potentially catastrophic problem.

Anyway - we got there eventually - very late - but at least in one piece.  Thanks to the Aussies that had their wits about them!

8 hours.

They couldn't close the door on my first flight, so ofcourse I missed my transfer.

I've actually had problems like that the last 4 times I've been traveling.