Stuck on a plane? It never hurts to complain to the airline. Plus, tips on tipping and car rentals.

Regarding “Stuck on a PIane at LAX,� by Catharine Hamm, July 24: I was stuck on a runway at LAX for almost two hours on an American Airlines plane after returning in June from Quito, Ecuador.

When I got home, I emailed American a complaint, and the airline compensated me with 5,000 miles for my frequent-flier account.

I didn’t know if I would be compensated or if American would even reply, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.

Kathleen Battersby, Culver City

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I just read the response to “Stuck on a Plane at LAX.� The two paragraphs about friends picking you up at LAX were the most entertaining journalism I have read in many months, but unfortunately so true.

My question: Why not utilize the surrounding regional airports more, especially Ontario, which has unused gates and parking lots that are mostly empty?

Ken Scofield, Redlands

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I marvel that every week Hamm can write a well-researched On the Spot column that does not make one’s eyes glaze over.

In her July 24 column, the visuals of Southwest getting a “smack on the behind� and the Department of Transportation “shaking its finger� produced a chuckle.

As for “trifecta of tardiness,� I will steal that phrase for my annual holiday letter and cite three reasons for missing — yet again — the Christmas deadline.

Is this plagiarism?

Carol Clark, Los Feliz

Tips on tipping

Regarding tipping: I have tried to follow the guidelines from previous L.A. Times articles [“Tips on Tipping,� by Catharine Hamm, June 26] and also information found on the Internet.

Some guidelines say waiters in Spain are well paid and do not care about tipping. In October, I ate at a restaurant a block from La Rambla in Barcelona, Spain, and the waiter stared at me when I was counting my 3.50 euros in change after paying for a 16.50 euro bill.

It was awkward. We looked at each other. I left 1.50 euros.

As for the currency used for tipping, I often use U.S. dollars. Who does not like U.S. dollars? Just don’t leave change. I left a couple dollars in change at a hotel once, and the maid did not take the tip.

Pat Lee, Arcadia

“Eight Basic Tips for Travelers� on rental cars [June 12, “On the Spot,� by Catharine Hamm) didn’t mention that some credit cards don’t offer protection if the rental car contract is for more than 15 days. It also suggested that people rent an exotic, but failed to mention that those may not be covered by credit card collision damage waivers.

I use a travel search engine to figure out pricing, but I try to make the reservation with the rental car company. On returning the car, make sure you get a receipt. You might want to record that the car was returned in proper condition.

As for prepaid cars, I would do that only if I were certain I was going. Non-prepaid car reservations don’t require a credit card, so it’s easy to book and cancel and rebook if need be.

Lachlan Cooke, Seattle