Nothing throws a huge wrench into your travel experiences quite like being told that your flight is suddenly cancelled or delayed. As unfortunate as it is, there's no shortage of reasons why you might end up without a flight to get you home or take you to your next exotic destination for that matter. Everything from technical glitches, to problems with airport security and unpredictable weather, can leave you stranded.
No matter what's keeping you on the ground, it's important to make sure that you know the details about flight delays, and how you can make the most of your time waiting for an alternative flight. The more prepared you are, the better off you'll be when disaster strikes. unless of course if you are in a fortunate position to hire a private jet from Jettly you will not have these problems, but most of this is a dream situation to be able to hire a jet. However, if you aren't able to hire a private jet, below is a list of things to look out for when preparing for a flight.
Know the Details about Compensation
While delays and cancellations are always going to be stressful experiences, it can help to know that you should be able to claim compensation for the time you lose. If you're stranded in the EU, or you flew from an EU airport, then you should be eligible for some form of compensation provided that your flight was delayed for three hours or longer.
If you're not sure what the policy is with your airline, there's no time like the present to start doing your research. Head online and find out as much as you can about what you need to do to begin the claim process.
Watch the Weather
Unless you're a very lucky person, it's unlikely that you'll be able to predict every potential cancellation and flight delay that might take place. The good news is that you don't need to be a weather expert to know that a storm is coming that may affect your travel. If you're travelling in winter, make sure that you keep track of the weather in the days leading up to your flight to find out whether your trip might be delayed.
Of course, it's worth noting that summer storms are often less predictable, as thunderclouds can start to form pretty quickly. However, the more you track the weather conditions, the more likely you are to notice a problem.
Have your Smartphone Ready
If you're the kind of person who's constantly worrying about things like flight delays and cancellations, then it makes sense to take extra steps to ensure that you're protected against anything that might happen during your travels. Pre-program your phone with a list of numbers you may need to call and sites that you can visit if something goes wrong.
You can also start following the airline's social media feeds for instant updates on delays and travel information when you're on the move. Following airlines on Twitter and Facebook, will also mean that you have another customer service team to reach out to if you need help with your flight plans.
Speak to Someone as Quickly as Possible
If the reason for the delay or cancellation of your flight is outside of your airline's control, then they won't be able to do much about the issue. This also could mean that you're no longer eligible for compensation - depending on the airline's policies. However, even if they can't get rid of the storm that's grounding you, they can at least provide you with as much information as possible about what happens next. Speak to a customer service agent as quickly as possible about what you need to do to get on an alternative flight, how long you might be grounded for, and what you can do to improve your chances of compensation.
If you know it's not the weather that's keeping you from taking to the skies, you can always think about looking for alternative flights online so that you can suggest those options to your airline. This could make it easier for you to get on a different flight when you're in a rush and your agents haven't had a chance to check for seats with other airlines yet.
Remember to Keep your Cool
Finally, although it's helpful to speak to someone as soon as possible when things go wrong with your flight, it can be worth taking a few minutes to calm down if the situation has you stressed and overwhelmed. As upsetting as a flight cancellation or delay might be, it doesn't help anyone to go throwing a tantrum or storming around the terminal. Instead, make sure that you approach service agents with a polite tone, and maintain your calm throughout the conversation.
Most gate agents will go above and beyond to help the passengers that are kind to them during these trying times, but they might not work as hard for a rude customer.
