Top 5 Tips for Dealing with a Flight Delay

No-one enjoys flight delays and cancellations.

A short delay can be a huge inconvenience, even if you’re just heading on a family holiday. A longer delay can mean that your initial plans get ruined, or your business trip ends up completely delayed.

As annoying as flight delays can be, they also happen more often than you’d think. As convenient as air travel is these days – it’s anything but perfect. Problems with staffing, technology, and even the weather can all affect your chances of taking off without delay. The best thing you can do if you’re faced with a problem is to handle it as rationally as possible.

Here are just a few top tips for handling a flight delay with as little stress as possible.

1.     Find Out What You’re Entitled to

First, while some smaller delays that can’t be blamed on the airport are something that you’ll just have to deal with, there are other situations wherein you might be eligible for compensation. Flight delay compensation is offered to travellers who arrive at their destination more than 3 hours after they were due to land. Importantly, you need to arrive 3 hours late, not set off 3 hours after schedule to get your compensation.

The processes that you’ll need to follow to get compensation and the kind of support you’re entitled to can vary depending on the airline. If you’re concerned about flight delays, then it pays to learn about your rights in advance.

2.     Deal with Any Connecting Flights

A flight delay on a direct flight can be a nightmare. However, if you’re taking a connecting flight after your first journey, then you could find that even the smallest delay causes the biggest problems. If you purchased a single ticket to get you to your destination, then the airline should be able to place you on the next available flight going to your destination.

However, many travellers are using multiple booking sites to reduce the cost of their travel these days. If that was the case for you, then you’ll need to make sure that you can still get to your second flight on time, or you’ll need to contact the second airline and let them know about the situation.

3.     Look After Yourself and Your Family

One of the most important things that you can do when your flight is delayed – besides looking for compensation – is to keep you and your loved ones as comfortable as possible. While flight delays are never going to be a walk in the park, they don’t have to be terrible either. Consider asking your airline whether they can give you a free ticket to the airport lounge. There you can relax with some comfortable seating and a free Wi-Fi connection.

At the same time, consider grabbing something to eat or a quick drink to keep everyone happy while you wait. It’s worth speaking to the airline again here to see whether they can offer you meal coupons as part of your compensation.

4.     Keep Your Mind Occupied

In a stressful situation like a flight delay, it’s important not to let yourself get overwhelmed by feelings of disappointment and stress. While delays aren’t fun, they aren’t the worst thing that can happen either. Try making the most out of the situation by researching your vacation destination in advance and coming up with a detailed travel itinerary.

Alternatively, you can look for other ways to have fun while you wait. Read a book or play some games with the kids. Explore the stores available in your airport or try talking to a family in a similar situation to you.

5.     Stay Positive

Finally, remember that a flight delay isn’t the end of the world – or the end of your trip. You will eventually get to your destination, and with a little luck, you should be compensated for the time you’ve wasted, provided that the delay was the airline’s fault, and that it lasted longer than three hours. Try to remain positive and relax as much as you can.

At the same time, remember to treat the agents at the check-in desk and the airline representatives in your area with respect. It’s not their fault that your flight has been delayed, and they’re there to help address the situation as quickly as possible. Most attendants will be more willing to go above and beyond for the customers that are understanding and patient in a time of crisis.

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