How to Survive Flight Delays

Flight delays are unpleasant. Flight cancellations are worse. There's no good way to make them pleasant, so instead, it may be best to figure out how to make the best of a bad situation.

If your flight is canceled, everyone lines up at the counter to get rebooked on another flight. This seems logical, but it's actually not the most efficient way to go, as the line can last for hours, with everyone becoming progressively more cranky and difficult to deal with. The easier way to rebook your flight is to call the airline customer service number.

AirTran 800-247-8726 or 678-254-7999

Alaska Airlines 800-252-7522

American Airlines 800-433-7300

Delta 888-750-3284

Frontier 800-432-1359

JetBlue 800-538-2583

SouthWest 800-435-9792

US Airways 800-428-4322

United Airlines 800-864-8331

Virgin America 877-359-8474

Another way to try to rebook is by going online. If your flight is just delayed, on the other hand, there is not much to do but wait. If your delay causes you to miss a connection, you may have to rebook that, but if you are just waiting on the weather there is little that can be done.

Be Prepared Before Leaving Home

There is never any guarantee a flight will be on time, even if you check with them before going to the airport, so it is best to pack a contingency package. Airport food is expensive, so bringing a snack is a good idea. The best snacks are things that are not affected by heat, such as granola bars or crackers. Also carry an empty water bottle. There are always plenty of water fountains to fill up your bottle once you've cleared security. Another thing to pack is something to read. For those with a kindle, this is easy enough. For those who have to carry actual books, an easy read that is entertaining and light, so it will keep you occupied while you wait. And wait.

Don't Be Afraid to Ask

Ask the airline employees for vouchers. If you get hungry or thirsty, you will be very glad to have them. There is no guarantee they will give them out, but being a friendly and cooperative passenger does not hurt your chances.

When you're waiting, just having information is helpful, and frequently it is hard to understand or the updates come when you went to get food. Ask the employees for updates. They are usually friendly and tell you if they know anything. Following the airline on twitter can also provide useful information and updates.

Pack Light, but Well

It can be tempting to over pack, and there are two options to consider. Checking your luggage has its own problems, but if you think there is a possibility of a delay, it is a good idea. Having to carry heavy bags around the airport every time you want to stretch your legs is not pleasant. At the same time, it is a good idea to have some spare items, like a tooth brush and comfortable clothes.

Walk Around

Sitting in an airport chair is not comfortable under good circumstances, and during a delay it can get much worse. To avoid back pain and other soreness that comes with sitting in a chair for hours, make sure to get up and walk around frequently.

Bring Music and Stay In Touch

Music can be helpful when the noise of the airport gets stressful. Bring an mp3 player to drown out all the white noise. It can do the same thing when you finally board your flight. It is also important to stay in touch with the people at your destination. Whether it is family or a hotel reservation desk, you do not want to arrive and find your ride isn't there or that there is a problem with your reservation because you arrived so late.