How do You Handle Delayed or Cancelled Flights?

The granddaddy of all air travel nightmares are flight delays or cancellations. Airlines have hundreds of aircraft and they could just easily send another one if your flight gets delayed or cancelled. But travelers on budget airlines or those flying out of smaller airports find themselves facing that cold reality.

Cancellations due to pilot behaviour are thankfully rare. The most common reasons for flights to face long delays or cancellations due to mechanical issues or weather. An unscheduled change to your flight is a horrifying start to your trip. You will have to spend the night at the airport if that happens, all dressed up with nowhere to go. But getting angry at a very harried and likely overworked and overstressed airline employee is just toxic; yelling at the airline agent would not help you at all.

There are many circumstances out of your control. But there are things you can actually control. There are a few ways to salvage your leisure vacation or business trip. If you want to reap good results, here are our tips for handling delayed or cancelled flights:

1. Contact the airline immediately.

Savvy travellers do this in these situations. Do this while you're in line at the airport before waiting to talk with a customer service rep or gate agent. Sometimes only handlers are at the ticket counters and not actual employees. They can't make decisions regarding putting you on another plane. Call the airline directly.

2. Reimbursement

Check for reimbursement of any hotel costs incurred due to their error such as vouchers and meal payments.

3. Know your rights.

The weather might not be good or maybe your flight is overbooked. You should be able to claim your rights: from getting refunded for all your food and beverages to getting a hotel or some alternative transportation.

4. Avoid checking your luggage.

If you're traveling light and let the gate agents know you're compliant to a cross-terminal sprint, you'll (a) be seen as flexible/easy to accommodate to and (b) you'll likely be given an alternative. An airline rep will sometimes avoid someone with checked bags because they are more complicated. No one wants to risk finding out your bags are in another city after getting you to your destination.

5. Book a flight at another airline.

Grab a full refund from the budget flight and apply it to the difference on a last-minute ticket to another airline. Play the field by booking a last-minute flight online if you need to be in your destination immediately. Simply book on Google Flights. Book directly through the airline's website if you are in a hurry.

6. Be polite.

Being polite gives you a bonus too, so you'll have to charm your way with words. Don't take it out on the flight crew. Shouting at an airline employee or being rude is never acceptable. They don't deserve to be yelled at. Smile and try to be funny. Be sensitive to their feelings.

We hope we reduced your problems.