15 Best Tips for Surviving Flight Cancellations

Whether you’re traveling for work or pleasure, flight cancellations can wreak havoc on your plans. In light of the recent IT outage that affected thousands of flights and caused massive Delta Airlines flight cancellations at my home airport of Atlanta, I thought I’d share a few tips about dealing with flight cancellations.

I barely missed this recent incident, arriving at an already chaotic Hartsfield Jackson International Airport at 11:30 pm on the day before, from Puerto Rico, to lines of travelers with missed connections because of stormy weather conditions.

However, last month, traveling from Atlanta to Maui, Hawaii, my LAX (Los Angeles) to OGG (Kahului) leg was cancelled due to a mechanical issue. What ensued, while not anything like the IT failure, was stressful and disappointing, causing us to miss an entire 24 hours of a long-awaited Hawaii workcation.

Also recently, my daughter was delayed for 36 hours returning home to Nevada from Atlanta on what was supposed to be a quick layover in Dallas. That was really my, and her, first encounter with a cancellation where you’re basically at the airline’s mercy.

These two experiences taught me a lot about delays and flight cancellations. And even though it might seem silly to prepare for something that could happen, it’s that one time when you weren’t prepared that will get you.

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Why Flight Cancellations Happen

The Federal Aviation Administration estimates there are 45,000 flights with nearly 3 million passengers a day just in the United States. With such a high volume of flights, disruptions are inevitable. Weather conditions, mechanical problems, and passenger disruptions and yes software or system glitches – are all factors that can lead to flight cancellations.

As you probably know, when you book a plane ticket with an airline you agree to a Contract of Carriage. That contract outlines the rights, duties, and liabilities of both parties. In very, very simple terms it states that the airline will get you to your destination and if they don’t then they are obligated to make it right or make it up to you.

All that’s well and good but that contract doesn’t help much when you’re sitting at the airport watching a mechanical team pull the cowling off the starboard engine of the plane that’s supposed to fly you across the Pacific to a tiny dot of an island.

Preparing for Flight Cancellations

Depending on the circumstances, passengers are generally eligible for some sort of compensation but they won’t be handing out cash in the airport, immediately. While you certainly have the right to follow-up with the airline later, it’s what you can do in the meantime that helps you survive a flight cancellation. Here’s my suggestions.

1. Know What the Airlines Offers

Most people don’t take the time to read a contract of carriage, but the U.S. Department of Transportation, who oversees the airlines, has. And they’ve put together an easier to understand dashboard with, in their words, the “services that U.S. airlines provide to mitigate passenger inconveniences when the cause of a cancellation or delay was due to circumstances within the airline’s control”.

Mechanical issues fall under controllable cancellations. So, before you book your next ticket, head over to their website and take a look at what airlines are prepared to offer for flight cancellations and other situations. You’ll be better equipped to ask for a hotel room or meal vouchers if the airline has a history of offering those type services or amenities.

2. Book Flights With the Legacy Airlines

This tip isn’t to throw shade at Frontier or Spirit. Those airlines have their place. I happen to love Frontier and their fun animal livery. But if it’s an important event I’m trying to get to or a I have to be back at work on a certain day situation, then I don’t fly Frontier.

The reason being is Frontier has a limited fleet. Most of their planes are in use all the time. If you happen to get stuck because of a delay or cancellation, you will be there until their next flight out. If that airport isn’t one of their home bases, it could be a day or more until the next flight.

The chances of them bringing a plane from somewhere else are slim to none. How do I know? Because my daughter was on a Frontier flight when she spent those 36 hours in Dallas. And they offered little guidance and help. The only option was to wait on Frontier.

Good thing she has an understanding job and boss. Some people do not. Ultimately, Frontier secured her a hotel room and gave her a meal voucher, which was helpful but the whole experience was stressful. Larger airlines, like Delta, are better equipped to to handle issues better when they arise. But Lori, isn’t it Delta who had the most problems recently?

Yes, they are. However, I would rather talk to, and follow up, with Delta any day over Frontier. (I can’t speak to Spirit because I have never flown with them). Delta has a super customer service department and, frankly, Frontier does not. Most everything with them is done via chat.

The point is, if you need to be somewhere and don’t have the luxury of time or to wait, then book with the legacy carriers – Delta, American, United (I had a really bad experience with United and will not fly with them but others love them) and even Southwest.

For my flight to Maui, Delta automatically rebooked me on an another flight the next morning when our plane was not cleared to fly. And the only other cancellation I’ve ever had with Delta, they brought an entirely different airplane to fly all the passengers to Atlanta.

If you do decide to fly Frontier or Spirit, or another low cost carrier, my advice is book a direct flight, early in the morning. That way you have the rest of the day to get on another flight if yours cancels. If a direct flight is not an option and the only flights have a layover, then choose a layover in a city that’s one of the airline’s home bases. You’ll have more options available to you for alternate flights in case of a cancellation.

3. Purchase Your Tickets With Credit Cards That Offer Benefits

While a good interest rate is important, credit cards that come with useful travel perks like trip insurance, lounge access and concierge services are your best friend when you have a flight cancellation or delay. Having the luxury of passing the time in a comfortable chair with food, drinks and better wifi is priceless in this stressful situation.

There are a variety of credit cards out there that include those bonuses. And while it’s really nice to have a American Express Platinum, cards with no, or low, annual fees are also helpful. Chase and Capital One offer cards with pretty epic benefits like travel insurance, which covers a variety of situations like trip delays, trip interruption, and yes, even flight cancellations when you purchase your ticket with that card.

The entry level Capital One VentureOne Rewards card has no annual fee and their next tier Venture card has a $95 annual fee. Additionally, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card has an annual fee of just $95 and comes with a whole list of freebies.

Of course, all credit cards differ in what they provide so you’ll need to read the fine print and investigate which one, or two, is right for you. The Points Guy and NerdWallet are excellent websites for comparing credit card benefits.

4. Travel With More Than One Credit Card

Speaking of credit cards, I’m always a bit surprised to hear people say they travel with only one credit card. Okay but what will you do when for some unknown reason that one card doesn’t work? I’ve had that happen. More than once. In fact, we’ve probably all had that happen.

When returning from vacation after maxing out your credit card – no shame, we’ve all been there – and unexpected expenses, like flight cancellations arise, how will you cover them? Having an extra emergency credit card for situations like this is invaluable, and helps manage the crisis until you can recover your losses from the airline or travel insurance.

I also recommend carrying multiple brands of credit cards. While not usually an issue here in the United States, some cards are less commonly accepted in other countries. For example, American Express and Discover are not as widely accepted in other places.

5. Join the Airline’s Loyalty Program

Joining an airline’s loyalty program can also be useful when faced with flight cancellations and delays. It gives you a bit more clout. When the airline looks at your account and sees that you’ve been a loyal customer, and flyer, then that goes a long way in getting better support.

It might not get you to your destination quicker because let’s face it, a customer service rep hundreds of miles away can only do so much, but besides enhanced customer service, joining and being loyal to an airline comes with other benefits like priority check-in, priority boarding, and upgrades just to mention a few. Those are all good things.

6. Use the Airline’s App

Short of staying in touch with gate agents and airline personnel, the best way to stay up-to-date with flight changes and possible flight cancellations, or delays, is by utilizing the airline’s app. All airline apps, that I know of, have the option to receive push notifications, and even texts, as soon as updated info is available.

Signing up for these alerts possibly mean you’ll find out what’s going on before airline workers know. And that can be really helpful in getting things done quickly or moving on to the next phase of a cancellation instead of just sitting around waiting and not knowing what’s happening.

7. Download a Flight App

A flight app not associated with the airline is also very helpful to have when traveling. Not only can you check things like airport delays and weather but you can check the conditions at the airport where that plane is coming from and track the inbound airplane.

If you discover your inbound plane is delayed, or even cancelled, then you’ll know right away to start preparing of a flight schedule change. This is crucial in rebooking and getting help asap. FlightAware is a great free resource and I’ve read good things about Flighty. (Only available for iOS.)

8. Call the Airline Directly

Once it’s confirmed that your flight is indeed cancelled, you have a couple of choices. You can let the airline handle everything, or you can try and rebook your own flight. When cancellations occur, airlines typically attempt to rebook you on the next available flight.

If the next flight is full, the situation becomes more challenging. While some airlines may rebook you on partner airlines, others, like Frontier, don’t offer this option because they don’t have partners.

For instance, with my Maui flight, Delta rescheduled our flight for the next morning and attempted to repair the plane. When they weren’t successful, they booked us on an existing flight to Honolulu, with a connecting flight from Honolulu to Maui on Hawaiian Airlines, their partner.

It wasn’t necessary to speak with anyone. Delta handled everything but still gave me the option to make changes, or get a refund. Although, I wasn’t thrilled with a added stop, taking what they offered meant getting to Maui quicker than some of the other passengers who were rebooked on much later flights.

Everything worked out as good as it could have in this scenario without me doing anything. That’s not always case so there’s nothing that says you can’t proactively call the airline to see your options and get a head start on a new flight. Especially if there’s a long line at the help desk. Another tip: make sure you have the airline’s number saved to your contacts.

9. Book Your Own Accommodations

Just as you can proactively rebook your flights you can also take charge of your hotel accommodations. If a flight is canceled due to mechanical issues, the airline might offer to book a hotel for you. However, this often involves waiting for them to make arrangements and staying in whichever hotel they choose.

If you prefer not to wait, you may book your own accommodations and then request a refund. It’s important to remember that reimbursement policies vary by airline, so check the specific airline’s policy. Hold onto all the receipts and documentation related to your expenses so you can submit them when following-up with customer service. Some airlines don’t even require a call. Delta has a reimbursement form right on their website.

Being a member of a hotel loyalty program is also beneficial in this situations. Big hotel brands like Marriott or Hilton offer plenty of extras like upgrades, welcome gifts, free shuttles and late check-outs. They will even assist in locating a hotel if you have difficulty finding a room. Another bonus is these brands usually have restaurants on-site. One less thing to worry about after a long day of travel.

10. Stash Snacks and a Water Bottle in Your Bag

There will be times when none of these strategies work and you might not have access to a lounge, a nice hotel or even food. It seems my daughter had everything go wrong when she was stuck those 36 hours at DFW. She arrived just as the airport restaurants were closing on her late night flight. Even though Frontier handed out meal vouchers, there was no where to use them.

A protein bar, some nuts or crackers, would have come in handy. Now, she never flies without some kind of snack or food with her. After her experience, even when flying an airline that passes out snacks, I pack a snack box. That way, no matter what, I’ve got something to eat. Of course, lounges can be helpful for grabbing a meal or snack but they aren’t always open either.

Also, carrying a water bottle is smart, too. First of all, it helps you stay hydrated but bringing a refillable water bottle also saves you money, as airport bottled water is pricey. Then you can fill your bottle as many times as you want to for free. Most airports now have hydration stations and water fountains.

11. Have Cash on Hand

Even though it feels like we live in an almost cashless society sometimes, having some cash on hand for incidentals is another helpful thing you can do to prepare for a flight cancellation. Not only is cash essential for small purchases and tips but having cash might be the difference in being comfortable or not.

Imagine my daughter, unable to use her meal vouchers at the airport, arriving to her hotel, and finding cash only vending machines when she had no cash. Like I said, her luck really ran out that trip. If you ever find yourself in a similar cancellation situation and don’t have cash with, consider locating an ATM in the airport. just in case.

12. Pack Essentials in a Carry-On or Personal Item

Another possibility with flight cancellations is that you might not have access to your luggage. At LAX, we sat on the plane at the gate until we were instructed to get off. By that time, all the checked bags were on the plane since we had been ready to push back for the flight.

No one had access to their checked bags. Packing a few key items like toiletries and underwear in your carry-on or personal item can make a huge difference in how comfortable you are that night and the next day. Such a small but helpful thing to do if you are concerned about flight delays or cancellations.

SouthernerSays: Always carry important things like medication, travel documents and your wallet in your carry-on or personal item.

13. Know the Airport Layout

Another good thing you can do to prepare for flight cancellations is know a bit about the layout of the airport you are traveling through. That way if worse comes to worse, and you have to stay at the airport for a long period of time, you can find a more peaceful place to pass the time.

I saw videos of passengers in Atlanta who chose to wait out the cancellations in the rain forest-themed hallway between Terminals A and B in. This area of Hartsfield Jackson is known for its soothing sounds and low lighting and is a better area for resting than the bright lights and crowds of the terminal waiting areas.

14. Purchase Travel Insurance

While all the tips and suggestions here can certainly help mitigate some of the issues that arise from flight cancellations, the ultimate solution for covering any financial losses associated with cancellations – unfortunately it doesn’t help with the time lost – is by purchasing travel insurance with trip protection.

Travel insurance is really to only way to make sure you are protected no matter which airline you’re flying. Their rules and what they are willing to offer won’t matter because you’ll be covered by a third-party with benefits based on the policy you purchase and not based on what’s within the airline’s control or not. Your lost or delayed bags are even covered too.

More than just trip protection, travel insurance policies can to include health insurance too if you purchase that kind of policy. I always recommend verifying what your regular health insurance covers when you travel out of your home area and go from there. Even if you do have some coverage away from home , most health insurance won’t cover services like medical evacuations or air ambulance costs, both which can cost thousands of dollars.

To find the best policy for you there are plenty of websites out there that will sift through many different companies and help compare coverage. Travelinsurance.com and InsureMyTrip.com are two of my favorites sites for general travel. Long term travelers or digital nomads might look into World Nomads or SafetyWing for their needs.

15. Contact the Department of Transportation

Lastly, the airlines fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Transportation. If you feel that your rights have been violated, or if you’re dissatisfied with the outcome and the airline’s response to your cancellation, or delay, then you have the option to file a complaint with the department.

Notifying the department that oversees such an integral part of travel in the United States can prompt an investigation and hopefully lead to policy changes that more effectively address issues that affect travelers. In light of the over 3,000 complaints received, the DOT has already launched an investigation into Delta for this most recent incident.

A Final Word About Flight Cancellations

Flight cancellations are no fun but you can make them a tad easier to deal with by using these strategies. Will these tips help in a major crisis like the recent IT outage? Maybe. All I can say is the better equipped you are the better off you’ll be. Putting the same kind of effort into preparing for flight cancellations that you put into trip planning and your travel safety can help minimize stress and allow you to make quick decisions when your travel plans are disrupted.