How to handle Flight Delays and Cancellations 

 

Bags packed, passport and vaccine cards in hand. The family sharing their excitement as they drive to the airport. Until you get to the ticket counter. Your flight is cancelled! 

 

Disruption and chaos with missed and cancelled flights has left travelers furious. Summer travel has passengers stranded with cancellations and delays ranging from one to three days, or more. 

 

Here’s some helpful tips to assist you in dealing with flight issues. 

 

Before you leave to the airport: 

• Check your flight status. 

 

• Arrive early, with cancelled flights travelers have been rebooked for another day and airports and lines are long. 

 

• Suitcase Gal tip: if you don’t have your airlines flight app, type in the name of the airline and flight number directly into the Google URL.

 

• Sign up for texts alerts from your airline during travel.

 

 When at the airport: 

• Take a deep breath and make your decision as flights can disappear when thousands of passengers are in the same boat.

 

• Now is the time to put on your multitasking hat. Stand in line for the agent at the counter and call the airline, you may get in touch with the airlines call center before the counter.

 

• Suitcase Gals tip from the points guy: If you have Twitter reach out to the airline from their Twitter page.They may respond. quicker

 

• It makes a difference who arrives first, so don’t get to the airport late. 

 

• Don’t scream at the agent on the phone or desk, its not their fault. Be sympathetic.

 

• Arm yourself with options. Search for routes, times, etc to provide the agent. Especially if you have a connecting flight look at other alternatives.

 

• If you booked your flight through a third party and not directly from the airline you will need to contact them to rebook a cancellation.

 

• If you’re flight is delayed until the next morning, don’t forget to ask the airline to put you up in a hotel and a meal voucher. You don’t know until you ask. 

 

• Suitcase Gals tip: they are not required by law to provide hotel or meal vouchers. If you purchased Travel Insurance keep all your receipts, text messages, and media articles that reference your cancellation or delay to provide for a claim upon return from your trip. 

 

• If your new flight is in 5-6 hours, take a walk around the airport even if you will need to re enter security. Stretch, stroll and breath. 

 

• Have Lounge access with an airline or American Express Centurion Lounge? Take advantage of this to gather your thoughts, grab some food in a relaxed environment and charge your phone. 

 

• Suitcase Gals tip: Don’t forget to pack a portable charger. In situations like this it may come in handy. It’s not always easy to find an open charger station to power up your phone when travelers are stranded. 

 

Returning home from your trip: 

• Save any documentation related to your delay or cancellation

 

• Check your travel insurance policies benefits, if you are not sure still file a claim and upload your supporting documentation 

 

• Check with the credit card used to purchase the trip to see if you have trip insurance benefits. 

 

We don’t wish this upon our travelers, but in today’s world you are more prone to delays and cancellations. If you experience any inconveniences that alter your trip itinerary, have patience and react quickly. Don’t spend wasted time blaming your Travel Advisor, the Desk Agent or Call Center Agent. It’s not their fault.

 

Everyone is on your side! It’s better to be armed with information. Safe travels. 

 

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