How to deal with flight delays and cancellations

Most of us know that stomach-dropping feeling when looking at the departures board in an airport and seeing the dreaded word “DELAYED” – or, even worse, “CANCELLED”. It’s not an uncommon issue – FlightStats estimate that in the last 30 days there were around 42,024 flight cancellations and a whopping 542,999 delays across the globe. So how can we prepare ourselves for a lengthy stay at the airport?

Avoiding travel stress starts with carefully booking your trip. When organising your flights, especially if it’s long haul, try to give yourself as much time as possible in between flights to avoid missing a connection. You may want to get there as quickly as possible, but nobody wants to end up sprinting from one end of an airport to another because your first flight was delayed. Trust me. Give yourself at least 3 hours.

If you’re getting public transport from the airport to where you’re staying, make sure your tickets are flexible and refundable. I once booked a non-refundable train ticket when coming back from a holiday and, of course, my flight was seriously delayed, and I missed it. Having to shell out £40 for an on-the-day ticket was heartbreaking. In terms of accommodation, try and choose somewhere with a 24-hour reception. If you are unable to do this and know you’re going to be delayed, let the place that you’re staying at know. They may be able to check you in late or give you a refund – although this does depend on the individual hotel policy.

FlightStats estimate that in the last 30 days there were around 42,024 flight cancellations and a whopping 542,999 delays across the globe

Something every traveller should have in their hand luggage is a portable phone charger. The airport may not have many spaces to charge your phone, and if you need to rearrange transport details, your phone is your lifeline. Download an app like FlightRadar to keep an eye on your flight and spot any potential delays. You’ll also want to make sure you have some decent headphones and a good book to keep you from getting bored.

Travel insurance may seem like an extra expense that your mum nags you to get that you don’t need, but it is absolutely worth it. Insurance companies can refund missed flights and provide compensation for delays. Check your policy before you leave and pack the insurance documents in your hand luggage.

For flights within the EU, you are entitled under European law to compensation for delays of over three hours. Outside of the EU, it’s best to check with your insurance company or with the airline itself about what you’re entitled to. When one of my flights was delayed, I received a $50 airline voucher. If your flight is cancelled, the airline will usually find you a seat on the next available flight or refund the ticket. Check the airline policies and, if possible, call them to rearrange your flight to avoid huge queues at the airline desks.

Remember: stay calm, have a plan, and enjoy yourself

It can be extremely stressful to be faced with a delay or a cancellation, particularly if you’re on your own or in a foreign country. The best thing you can do is to try and stay calm and stick to a plan of action. Get on the Wi-Fi, contact your hotel and sort out your transport plans. If you can’t access the internet, text a family member or close friend and get them to do it for you.

Most of all, try to stay positive and see delays or cancellations as just another part of your adventure. Find an information desk at the airport and ask them if there are things you can do or, if the airport has free Wifi, check out the website ‘Sleeping in Airports’. It’s dedicated to providing all the information travellers need to get the most out of airport layovers- including a section on the best places to sleep inside the airport.

You may even get the opportunity to turn your layover into a mini-holiday by doing some sightseeing! A lot of major airports run services where they take people with long layovers on tours of their connecting city- although, you may need to organise a transit visa to do this in some countries. Otherwise, try and use your time in the airport productively – whether that’s grabbing a snooze, researching things to do in your destination, or editing your pics for Instagram. Remember: stay calm, have a plan, and enjoy yourself. Good luck!