More than any other worry, flight delays are overwhelmingly the top cause of stress for road warriors who are just trying to get to that important meeting on time.

Fully 87 percent of respondents to a survey conducted by WorldMate Inc., a provider of travel services for mobile devices, said flight delays cause the most headaches--far more than lost luggage and security line tie-ups.

There is good reason for this concern. The Federal Aviation Administration reported that more than 27 percent of flights were delayed in the first half of 2007, due in large part to overbooking, inclement weather and security concerns. Since most travelers find out about flight delays at the ticket counter, they have little recourse other than to wait it out after finding a good book and an empty chair at the gate. WorldMate CEO Nadav Gur said, "Travelers are held hostage to a certain extent by lack of information and resources when flying from city to city, country to country."

Other points of stress for frequent business travelers are losing their printed itineraries, packing inappropriately for the weather at their destination city and concern about missing meetings due to time zone changes.

Blame it on the stress! Sometimes road warriors flaunt the company rules and upgrade to first class. Since such actions must be justified to be reimbursed, the excuse...er, reason, needs to be a good one. GetThere, an online business travel technology provider, collected the top 10 excuses business travelers gave for upgrading to first class, getting that extra big rental car or spending more on the hotel. Read and enjoy!

Top 10 Travel Excuses
1. "I upgraded to first class because I can’t afford the drinks in coach."

2. "Do you know who I am? If you did you would not ask me why I travel first class."

3. "I had to rent a full size car in order to carry my golf clubs."

4. "I am allergic to peanuts and that is all they serve in coach, so I had to upgrade to first where they have almonds."

5. "I had to stay an extra day because I can't fly with a hangover."

6. "My dog is booked in the climate control hold on the flight and I need to sit in first class so I can hear him bark so I know he's OK."

7. "Isn't Boston on the way to LAX?" (Passenger lived in Las Vegas and wanted extra mileage points by flying to Los Angeles by way of Boston.)

8. "I have a doctor's note that states I have to fly first class."

9. "I'm claustrophobic, so I need to fly first class in order to get off the plane first."

10. "I accidentally booked a flight to Paris, France instead of Paris, Texas."

--From the Editors at Netscape