There are very few things in life that are as frustrating as dealing with a delayed or canceled flight. Unfortunately, this is an inevitable part of travel, but it doesn’t have to ruin your trip! Below are some helpful tips that all savvy travelers should know for handling flight mishaps.

KEEP YOUR COOL!!!

This is probably the MOST important tip I can give. People already tend to be on edge when they reach the airport. When you throw a delay, misconnection or cancellation into the mix, people display a whole new level of crazy. Let me assure you that losing your cool will get you NOWHERE! It may be tempting to scream at the agent telling you there are no flights available for days, but trust me, yelling at them will do you NO GOOD! Stay calm, be patient, and recognize that as stressful and horrible as your situation is, they have dealt with hundreds of others before you with the same sob story. It’s not that they’re heartless, it’s just that they are limited in how they can actually help you. If there are simply no seats available on other flights, their hands are tied. So yelling and screaming will only make them less likely to want to assist you. Stand out in a good way and politely explain the details of your situation and calmly ask what your options are. You (and the agent) will be happy you did!

USE AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY

If you’re dealing with a delayed or cancelled flight, there are likely many other folks in the same boat and many of them are probably going to the same destination as you. This means that seats on future flights will fill up quick! If you chose to stand in line at your airline’s help desk you’re doing yourself a disservice and limiting your options for rebooking. Instead, get on the phone with customer service while you wait! It’s possible you’ll get through to someone on the phone before the agent at the airport ever gets around to helping you. Also, it’s 2015 people! Most airlines have apps that are not only useful for checking in and changing seats, but for rebooking as well. If you haven’t already downloaded your airline’s app, do it NOW! You can also take to twitter! Many airlines have agents dedicated to assisting passenger via twitter. Just tweet your confirmation number and a brief description of your problem…doesn’t get much easier!

SELF HELP

Although your airline will have designated agents to assist you, it never hurts to be proactive.  Before you speak to an agent in person or on the phone, try to have a few ideas for alternate routes. If your final destination is an obscure location (like Pellston, Michigan…um what?), chances are there will be limited flights available. Consider flying into a neighboring airport. While most agents are skilled at considering all re-routing options, it never hurts to have a few other ideas in mind that they may not have thought of. Depending on the reason for your delay or cancellation, you may be able to transfer to another airline. Do a little research while you’re waiting to see what flights are available on other airlines. Just keep in mind, if your delay or cancellation was caused by weather, your airline may be more reluctant to transfer you because chances are other airlines will be experiencing problems as well.

CONSIDER ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION

You obviously bought a plane ticket with the intention of flying to your destination, but sometimes you may need to look to alternate modes of transportation.  Depending on the distance to your destination, you may be better off just renting a car or taking a bus or train. The airlines will not likely pay for this, but save your receipts just in case. If you’re desperate to reach your destination, this may be your best bet.

ASK FOR VOUCHERS

We’ve all heard the phrase ‘closed mouths don’t get fed’.  Well, at the airport closed mouths don’t get vouchers.  It is no secret that airlines charge for just about everything. The days of receiving a free flight, frequent flyer miles, a hotel or food vouchers for being inconvenienced are long gone. But depending on the reason for your delay or cancellation, you may be entitled to a hotel and it never hurts to ask (nicely) for food vouchers especially if you’re traveling with little ones.

HAVE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS

As I mentioned above, the likelihood of you receiving extensive compensation is rare these days. Typically, if your flight is delayed or canceled because of weather related issues, you’re probably SOL unless you’re a frequent flyer. If it was caused by a mechanical or crew issue, you may be provided with a hotel if they are no more flights available that day. Just keep in mind, the airlines’ bottom line is to increase revenue. That goal gets disrupted when the company starts giving away freebies. Exceptions can be made depending on the particular situation. But generally, the airline will avoid providing any “extras” if they can avoid it.

 

TALK TO MULTIPLE AGENTS

If you don’t get the answer you like from an agent, try speaking with someone else. It shouldn’t be this way, but the truth is some agents are simply nicer and more accommodating than others. Many airlines give agents some discretion when it comes to dealing with passengers. Just don’t push it!. Be polite and pleasant and know that if you yell at one agent then try to sweet talk another, chances are there is already a note in your record that you’re a jerk!

FORGO YOUR FLIGHT FOR TRAVEL CREDIT

In some instances, it may be more time and cost efficient to simply cancel your trip and use the unused portion of your ticket towards a future flight. Just be aware that if you purchase your ticket through a third party rather than directly with the airline, you may limit yourself when it comes to making changes to your ticket. Just keep in mind that most airlines charge a change fee and you’ll also have to pay for any difference in fare.  But if you have flexible travel plans, or just had a quick trip planned, this is a good option to consider. Good luck and happy wending!

What are your suggestions for dealing with flight mishaps? Share your comments below!

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