At the start of COVID, I was in Hanoi, but wanted to go to India before going home (it was super cheap). Before that, 2 things had happened:

1. The stupid airline blocked the money (in the credit card) for our flight back and on top also transferred it, which left me without money in Vietnam. Super big pile of shit already.
2. Due to COVID there was zero chance of reaching anyone for support. It took, at the end, another week when we where back for that money to be unblocked.

Then something else happened: They didn't let us on our flight to India (and thus to our flight home). Despite the Indian government saying no restrictions untill 2 days later. I had the website if the Indian ministry right there to show them. (guess how long it took to get that money back, despite the person saying they refund right now: about a year!)

So now we were stuck in Hanoi, without money for a flight back. So I had to call my family for credit card details to pay for a flight. There was essentially no other option. I don't plan to have 3x the amount of money "just in case". I don't travel much, so I assume parts of that are not too rare.