If you've taken an airplane flight recently, you, as so many others may have suffered delays, missed connections, long line, lost luggage or near starvation. Have you complained and received nothing in return? Maybe it's the way you complained that did you in.

Telling an airline you'll never fly them again gives the company no reason to win you back.

So write to Customer Service, not the airline's President. Make your letter short, direct and include the specific flight you were on as well as your reservation and frequent flyer numbers.

Tell the airline what you want from them. Don't ask them what they're going to do for you.

And be sure the punishment fits the crime. If it was a routing delay due to weather, don't expect to be upgraded the next time you fly. But if a mechanical problem forced you to find lodging for the night and miss a business meeting the next day, ask for a free ticket.

You may have to write a second letter if you receive no response. And if you really have a case, there's always small claims court.