It's the Holiday season, and for many of us, that means schlepping across the state, country, or planet to spend time with our loved ones. While Holiday Traffic is one thing, Holiday air travel is a whole different (expensive) affair, which often goes astray. Sometimes things happen storms, acts of god, people not setting their alarm and starting a domino effect that sets the whole airline off by a few hours for part of the day - and we need to be prepared when these things happen, so here are 25 Useful Tips For When Airlines Mess Up Your Travel Plans. Feature Image: Shutterstock 25
Find out why your travel plans have been changed.
Source: https://flightaware.com/live/cancelled Odds are you'll know this, but just so we're really clear, you have fewer options if your destination is in the middle of a record breaking ice storm than you do if, say, the airline overbooked your flight.
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Find out if you've been re-booked.
Source: https://www.airhelp.com Image Source: www.pexels.com (public domain) Once you find out that your flight plans have been changed, go online to see if you've been automatically re-booked. Yep, it's a thing some airlines do, particularly if you check in online.
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Call Customer Service
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Source: https://www.airhelp.com If you weren't automatically re-booked online, call customer service. Or heck, do this while you're checking online because everyone else who was on that flight that you're also not on is going to be calling customer service or fighting to speak with the gate attendant / airline representative.
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Be kind.
Source: A decade of customer service Image Source: www.pexels.com (public domain) Always be kind to any and all airline employees, regardless of your situation. They're doing their best to help you. Their job is to help you. They did not create whatever situation it is that changes your plans, and odds are it's just as stressful for them. Be patient, be kind. Screaming or cursing at them is just not okay, ever. We all, though, have the ability to be that person when we're stressed and helpless. So no judgement, just a reminder.
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Read the fine print.
Source: http://atravellersjourney.com/ Read the fine print that comes with your ticket ahead of time, so you're prepared. Most airlines have slightly different policy for when things go wrong and what you can expect. These are usually found on an airline's website under 'Contract of Carriage.'
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Be on time!
Source: http://www.independenttraveler.com/ Image Source: www.pexels.com (public domain) The unspoken rule of flight is kind of like that of a doctor's appointment; if you're thirty seconds late, you may be out of luck for hours, but they can run hours behind, and it's just to be expected. (And yet in both cases we're paying them for their services, hmm...) Should you miss your flight, immediately go to the airline's desk at the airport. They already know you weren't on that flight when the cabin door was closed and will possibly be able to get you on the next flight to your destination. Again, this varies by airline, and they're not OBLIGATED in any way to do so, unless you miss a connecting flight due to your first flight running late, so you may have to pay extra.
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Have the airline track your baggage.
Source : http://www.independenttraveler.com/ Image Source: pixabay.com (public domain) If you miss a connecting flight, have your airline track down your baggage. They may be able to hold it for your until you get to your destination instead of it getting lost in the black hold of 'unclaimed baggage.' This is why you should pack an extra pair of underwear and medications in your carry-on.
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Find out if you are entitled to cash compensation.
Source:http://atravellersjourney.com/ & reddit.com
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Should your travel plans be changed due to overbooking, and you're in the US or EU, you may be entitled to cash compensation from the airline. Yes, really. As well as a meal voucher and hotel room stay, depending on when the airline can get you on another flight. But again, be kind to your gate attendant or customer service rep because they sometimes have power to choose the hotel you get stuck in overnight, and as one person reported on reddit, might even keep you company at dinner.
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Switch airlines.
Source: https://www.airhelp.com Ask your airline if they can get you on a flight with another airline, and what, if any, the cost would be to you. This usually works best if your plans were changed due to fault of the airline mechanical failure, overbooking - as they're required to get you on the next available flight.
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Ask for better accommodations.
Source: https://www.airhelp.com You can also ask (again politely and with all respect) for better accommodations than Jim Bob's Motel 3 if that's what you're offered. The answer may be a firm 'no,' but it's always worth asking.
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Pack irreplaceables on your carry-on.
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Source: http://www.independenttraveler.com/ Lost luggage is absolutely a holiday bummer, particularly if there were gifts in said luggage. If it's truly not able to be found, the amount that the airline is going to pay you is generally far less than the cost of your stuff, and sometimes there are loopholes they can use to get out of paying. The good news is that most 'lost luggage' is found within a day, and they have it sent to your destination or home. Truly lost luggage is rare. BUT, if there's something you absolutely cannot lose - an antique gift, an engagement ring, vital medications - pack it in your carry-on.
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You get what you pay for.
Source: https://www.oyster.com Just expect that at the busiest time of year, if you're flying the cheapest airline possible on a deep discount super coupon code, you're far more likely to be late or miss connections. Some discount airlines had less than 5027Blizzard_Warning_-_Fri-Sat%27_on_the_southbound_outer _loop_of_the_Capital_Beltway_(Interstate_495)_in_McLean,_Fairfax_County,_Virginiacropped.jpg' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>Famartin via wikimedia commons, 23.Aqua Mechanical via Flickr, 21.Damian Gadal via Flickr, 18.401(k) 2012 via Flickr, 17.Michael Gray via Flickr, 16.Famartin via wikimedia commons, 15.Strange Luke via Flickr, 14.Douglas P. Perkins via wikimedia commons, 12.KTo288 via wikimedia commons, 10.Oxfordian Kissuth via wikimedia commons, 7.Jonathan Brodsky via Flickr, 6.Atomic Taco via Flickr, 5.travelingotter via Flickr, 4.Chargespot via wikimedia commons amzn_assoc_placement = 'adunit0'; amzn_assoc_search_bar = 'true'; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = 'mustsee0e3-20'; amzn_assoc_search_bar_position = 'bottom'; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = 'search'; amzn_assoc_ad_type = 'smart'; amzn_assoc_marketplace = 'amazon'; amzn_assoc_region = 'US'; amzn_assoc_title = 'Most Wished For Amazon Products'; amzn_assoc_default_search_phrase = 'Most wished for'; amzn_assoc_default_category = 'All'; amzn_assoc_linkid = '8509c8cc6c280ae4e68838938236225c';
25 Useful Tips For When Airlines Mess Up Your Travel Plans
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