Solutions for Cancelled Flights

During the holiday seasons, people travel all over the country to visit family or have a great vacation break. This is also the time when most flight cancellations happen because of winter weather. As Lindsey Stone, who has traveled all over the U.S. will tell you, there are some things you can do when you are stuck besides sitting on your luggage and complaining.

Join the Queue

If you’re going to sit, at least get in line to talk to the gate agent. If the line is miles long, you may want to consider paying the $40 or $50 to get access to a VIP lounge. There you’ll get quicker help from the agents stationed in the lounge.

Use Your Phone

If you decide to wait in line, you can use your phone to search for backup flights. You should start by calling your airline. You may get a booking before you reach the gate. When you do reach the gate agent, you may have several options to suggest. The agent will be happy because you have saved him or her time. If you don’t have any success on your airline, look for flights from any airline.

Change Your Destination

This doesn’t mean you go to a different city. Obviously, your destination is where you family is or where you have hotel bookings. However, many cities both large and small have several airports that are a convenient distance away. If you are willing to change your destination airport, you may find another flight quicker. The opposite is also true. You may be flying from Los Angeles, but if you consider flying from Long Beach or Burbank, you’ll have a better chance of getting another flight. Of course, this will only work if the other airport is not also affected by the weather. You may need to change your timings and arrive at your destination later than you wanted, but it is much better than waiting in an airport while your holiday slips away.

Consider Ground Transport

Today, airlines pack their planes. There aren’t a lot of empty seats that you can hope to get. You wanted to avoid the bus or train in order to save time, but now this type of transportation may be quicker than waiting for a flight or at least the same. If the roads are clear, and your destination is close by, you can rent a car. If you’re in the freezing north and are heading to the sunny south, the bus may be your best option. If you think fast, ground transportation may get you there sooner.

Whatever you choose to do when you find yourself stranded in an airport, you’ll be ahead of the game if you only have carry-on luggage. You may need to run a mile to another gate and leave your checked luggage who knows where. If you have presents to take, consider sending them by mail one or two weeks before and don’t worry that they will end up in some lost luggage destination.

It always feels better to be taking action to help your situation. At least you will have done all you can to get going. Sitting and complaining will just ruin your fun even when you get to your destination and start telling everyone about it.