Q: I left a call at the front desk of my hotel for 6 am, so I could get a taxi to the airport for an 8 am flight. The call never happened. I woke up at 7 am, but checking out and getting a cab was already useless.

It cost me extra money to book another flight and I missed an important business meeting. I asked the hotel chain to reimburse me for the trouble and extra expense. I was turned down. What can I do about it?

Jay P., Orlando FL

A: Absolutely nothing! No matter what, you’re responsible to make your flight, not poor service at the hotel. We travel often, and always carry two battery-operated mini-alarm clocks with us. We set one for get-up time and the other to ring 20 minutes later.

Don’t depend on the plug-in alarm clock usually on the night table next to your hotel bed. Too often, it doesn’t work at all or the last guest set it to ring at 2 am, and will blast you out of a deep sleep at the wrong time.

Q: We hate people who stuff big bags into the overhead, making it impossible for passengers with legally-sized carry-ons to get theirs in. We can’t blame them for trying to avoid the high baggage fees, but what’s the alternative when you fly with a lot of stuff?

J.P., Honolulu HI

A: The best way to keep from being an overhead hog is to travel with one carry-on plus an over-the-shoulder tote or small backpack. Put the big bag in the overhead and stash the other under your seat. As for getting overhead space before someone else does, book your flight so that you’re in your seat as early as possible, before others start hogging the space. Of course, this won’t do you any good if you’re making a connecting flight and most of the passengers are already aboard.

Q: On my last flight with American Airlines, the airport was mobbed, and my flight was delayed by weather, I had to hang around in the crowded sitting area for five hours. The desk clerk suggested an AA One-Day Pass to its chi-chi Admirals Club. The cost is a bit steep, $50. Is it worth it?

Q: What do you do when another guest with a key card comes into your hotel room? It happened to us at one of the ritziest resorts in Las Vegas. Check-out time was 11 am, but we called and received an OK to stay until 12 noon.

A desk clerk didn’t get the message, issued a key and sent a couple up at a little after 11. We’re still mad, but is there anything we can do about it not happening again?

A: The simplest solution is that whenever you’re in the room, keep the deadbolt latched. If the key card opens the lock, the door would still be blocked. Another suggestion if your room is invaded is to make a big fuss.

Wanna do something snarky? Business travelers we know who experience that all-too-frequent embarrassment or other example of bad hotel service, always do a dramatic anger performance that would make Greta Garbo jealous. Result: They get a free stay next time, and are usually upgraded to a suite.