| How to Cope with Flight Delays and Cancellations Nov 20th 2012, 02:00 Even when air travel goes according to plan, it's a stressful enough experience. It's even more stressful when unexpected delays, interruptions and cancellations occur due to weather, mechanical malfunctions, strikes or other reasons beyond your control. Yet, this is the reality of air travel and by remaining calm, flexible and patient when such turbulence impacts you, you can build a constructive response that will help you to both keep your cool and get good results to get you on your way again as soon as possible. Before leaving home - Check the status of your flight before you leave for the airport. You can call the airline or check your flight status online. If you notice delays online, you can contact the airline directly for more information.
- Monitor the weather. If weather is bad, all flights into your destination or out of your airport will be affected. In particular, icy conditions, stormy weather and extreme weather events are of most concern.
- Along with the weather, be aware of other natural problems. If a volcano has gone off somewhere along your destined flight path, the airplane cannot travel through the volcanic ash particulates. This type of delay can last for days, and possibly even weeks.
- Keep all of your travel information easily accessible when you leave for the airport. You will need to be able to access confirmation numbers, flight numbers, and any phone numbers for your travel agent or people who are waiting for your flight arrival. Having these in one handy place that is easy to find will cut down on worries about losing vital information.
On learning of a flight delay - Try to find out how long of a delay is expected. This will help you evaluate how your travel plans will be affected. Depending on the expected length of delay, you may need to return home or, if you're in transit or in another state or country, you may need to consider making alternative accommodation arrangements.
- Determine whether any of your connecting flights will be missed. If the first leg of your journey is delayed an hour, you might not make a connecting flight you have scheduled.
- Talk to an airline representative about getting onto another connecting flight if you are concerned you will miss your existing connection.
- Ask about baggage. Airlines have different procedures regarding your checked luggage when flights are delayed or cancelled. You should receive instructions from an agent or customer service representative.
- Consider any children you are traveling with. Babies and small children have feeding and sleeping schedules that may be interrupted. Your own level of coping will be impacted by ensuring that their needs are met quickly and with the minimum of fuss.
- Keep infant formula and baby food in your carry-on luggage so you can adjust how and when you feed the children in your care.
- Feed children while you are waiting out the delay so that they do not get hungry or cranky.
- Find a gift shop that sells snacks, or look for healthy options at restaurants and snack bars near the boarding gate.
- Ask for help if you need it; the attendants will realize your need if you voice it and many will do their best to point you in the right direction of food, toilets, and other basic needs.
- Make yourself comfortable. There is often little you can do when a flight is delayed. See it as an opportunity to catch up on some quiet time, reminding yourself that getting panicked or anxious won't change the bigger reality surrounding you and every other passenger. Try to take the delay in your stride.
- Read a book or a magazine, listen to music or get something to eat while you wait for your delayed flight.
- Call anyone who was planning to pick you up at your arrival airport to let them know of the delay. If friends, family members or business contacts were expecting you at a certain time, let them know your flight has been delayed.
- It's a good idea to ask friends and family to watch the flight details online themselves, for any flight you take. This will help them to realize as quickly as you that you're delayed.
Rerouting - Look for other flight options if your flight is delayed due to mechanical, ongoing natural disaster or airline problems and you really need to get to your destination on time. If you're meant to be at that wedding without fail, see what options there are to go a different way entirely.
- Ask your airline to re-book you onto another flight or endorse your ticket towards another airline. Airlines are not required to do this, but you can always ask.
- Explain why it is so important to get there. "Just because" is never a reason but you will get more sympathy if you can prove that you're actually going to something that won't happen again, like a wedding or a funeral.
Coping with flight cancellations - Stay focused. Delays are hard enough to cope with but cancellations can bring you out in a sweat, worrying about whether or not you'll make your next destination. You will get there, provided you stay focused and attentive. This means doing what you can to reschedule, alerting people at the other end of changes and staying alert for updates.
- Re-book your flight. The airline will likely get you on the next available flight to your destination.
- Talk to your travel agent, if you used one to book your flight. Your agent might have access to more information than you do, and can get you re-booked more quickly.
- Call your travel insurance company if you purchased insurance when you booked your trip. They can help you re-book over the phone.
- Find out if the airline will provide a hotel room, if you are stranded overnight.
- Ask for a refund. If you do not want to have your flight re-booked, the airline can refund you the cost of your ticket.
- Contact people at the other end to alert them to the change of plans. If you had an urgent meeting to make, consider asking to use a business lounge and attending the meeting virtually by Skype or telephone. Make use of technology––it's better than nothing.
Trapped on the plane when it's delayed - Be prepared for a long wait. This is one of the most harrowing experiences an air traveler can experience. The air grows staler, the toilets grow filthier and the food runs out. People's patience grows very thin. In this case, do your best to stay calm and focus on keeping cool and hydrated.
- Fill your water bottle at the first sign of a delay. Drink sparingly but regularly.
- Keep children distracted with games, reading, electronic devices, etc.
- Talk to other passengers about positive things. Acknowledge their stress and feelings but gently remind such people that worrying won't improve the situation. And never underestimate the power of kindness. You might find distraction in relieving others' worries through finding little ways to alleviate their discomfort, like bringing them water or telling them a story. It helps to pass the time!
- Walk around regularly to stretch your legs. Encourage others to do likewise.
- Bring lack of hygiene issues to the attention of the attendants, realizing that they are also subject to the limitations of the facilities.
- Inform the attendant if anybody appears ill, violent or in distress. It might be useful to find the principal attendant to get things dealt with swiftly.
- Stay polite but firm about your situation when released from the airplane. Again, realize that you are among many people who also want resolution of their issues. Be concise, polite and offer to be flexible about connections, etc., where this is possible. If you feel so tired, angry and fed up that you know you'll blow your top, consider returning the following day after sleeping on it, especially when you're in your hometown or have accommodation already sorted.
Your attitude matters - Realize that everyone is suffering from the delay or cancellation too, from the flight crew to every other passenger. When tempers flare and some people consider their needs to be more important than everyone else's, this can set people off arguing and complaining. While it may be difficult, staying calm and polite will win you more responsiveness from those in a position to help you. Air rage is ugly. People are naturally inclined to help those who help them by being friendly, patient and understanding. Use that knowledge for your own benefit.
- Book early flights when you are planning your trips, if possible. Early flights are less likely to be delayed due to other flight delays before them, and you will still have the whole day to re-book if your flight is cancelled. Many organizations require their staff to fly to destinations the night before a meeting in order to avoid such issues as fog or traffic congestion; if your company endorses this approach, make the most of it!
- Remember that airlines are not required to compensate you for flight delays or cancellations, unless you are bumped off an overbooked flight. Some airlines will offer you discounts or extra help in the name of customer service, but it is not legally required. Therefore, it pays to be polite (and insured).
- Try to avoid flying in and out of the world's busiest airports. Delays and cancellations are more likely when a high volume of flights are coming and going. Most airlines will publish their performance statistics. You can also find this information with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
Edit Related wikiHows Edit Sources and Citations |  |
No comments:
Post a Comment