Worried About Flight Cancellations? These Tips Can Help You Prepare

Tips That Can Help You Prepare in Case of Flight Cancellation
Widespread flight cancellations recently cost Southwest Airlines upwards of $75 million dollars, but their customers took the biggest hit. Some reports saw Southwest flyers stranded away from home for three days or longer. All the while, these unprepared customers were stuck covering the cost of additional hotel stays plus meals, rental cars and plenty more.

If you’re worried this could happen to you someday, there are some steps you can take to ease the pain of being stranded in another city.

Pay with the Right Credit Card
One of the most important steps you can take is paying for your airfare with a credit card that covers trip delays, cancellations or interruptions, says John Taylor Garner, CEO of Card Curator.

Garner notes that these cards don’t make rebooking flights any easier, Instead, they simply help reimburse you for out-of-pocket costs caused by flight cancellations or interruptions, including clothing you have to buy, food, drink, electronics, lodging and more.

Earn Elite Status with Airlines
Garner also says it can help to have elite status with frequent flyer programs when your flight is canceled. For example, you might fly enough to earn elite status with the American AAdvantage program, Delta SkyMiles or United MileagePlus.

“This will allow you to skip the wait times on the call centers to help you rebook flights and have fees waived as well, which can generally make your life easier,” he says.

Check Options with Your Airline’s Mobile App
If you are at the airport when you find out your flight is delayed or canceled, you may feel inclined to get into a customer service line as quickly as you can. However, it may be wiser (and faster) to check with your airline’s mobile app first. Once you log in, you may be able to quickly and easily rebook on another available flight without having to speak with someone at the airline.

Wait in Line to Talk with a Representative
If you don’t see any options on your airline’s mobile app and you’re still at the airport, you can also head to the nearest customer service line for your airline. A representative should be able to explain your rebooking options to you, including a new reservation on a flight at a later time or on another day altogether.

Know Your Rights
If your flight flies into or out of the United States and it’s canceled by the airline, you should know you’re legally entitled to a refund per the U.S. Department of Transportation. This is true regardless of the reason your flight was canceled, so don’t take a credit toward a future flight if you would prefer to have your money back instead.

Have a Backup Plan
No matter where or when you’re planning to travel, it always helps to have a backup plan in mind just in case something goes wrong. For example, you may be able to pick up another flight faster if you have access to more than one airport for your departure or your flight home. It can also help you get back on the road faster if you have some flexibility with your travel dates.

Ask for Reimbursement
If an airline cancels your flight and you are stuck in the airport for several hours or a few days, they will usually take steps to make your time as comfortable as possible. For example, many airlines will offer vouchers for a stay in an airport hotel and three meals per day. Make sure you ask which perks you’re eligible for and take advantage when you can.

Hop On Social Media
If you’re struggling to speak with a customer service agent about your canceled flight, getting active on social media can help. For example, many airlines are very responsive if you contact them via Twitter or send them a message using Facebook Messenger. By reaching out with a tweet or a direct message, you may get rebooked on a new flight faster than you would otherwise.

Ask to Fly Another Airline
If your flight is canceled and your airline doesn’t have any open seats on upcoming flights, you may be able to get rebooked on one of their alliance partner airlines. If those airlines lack available seats, you can always ask to be rebooked with an entirely different airline as well. This strategy won’t always work, but it never hurts to ask.

Avoid Small Carriers
One way to increase your chances of being stranded after a flight cancellation involves booking with one of the smaller discount airlines, and particularly with an airline that isn’t part of an alliance. Carriers like Allegiant and Frontier often fly to various destinations just a few times per week, so a cancellation can leave you stuck in your travel destination for days until you can pick up a new flight home.

Buy Travel Insurance
You can help reduce the financial impact of a flight cancellation by purchasing a travel insurance plan from a company like World Nomads or Allianz. With coverage for flight interruptions, cancellations and delays in place, you can be reimbursed for charges like hotel bookings, meals and transportation.

Keep Your Receipts
If you ultimately purchase a travel insurance plan and your flight is canceled or delayed by several hours, make sure to keep receipts for any lodging, meals and any incidental travel expenses you incur. You’ll need your receipts as well as proof of your canceled flight in order to successfully receive reimbursement for your claim.

Stay Organized
Any time you travel, staying organized can be immensely helpful. However, this is especially true if your flight is canceled or delayed. By having all your travel plans and receipts in one place (preferably a dedicated folder you bring on each trip), you can easily access your travel receipts, itinerary numbers and reservations details when you need them.

Be Proactive
A flight cancellation may also be way easier to deal with when you know about it ahead of time. If you know a huge winter storm is coming the day you plan to travel, for example, you can check to see if your flight is delayed or canceled before you even head to the airport. If you think your flight could be canceled, it’s also smart to start looking at alternative flights you may be able to move to.

Join an Airport Lounge Program
An airport lounge can help you escape the noisy airport for some quiet time when your flight is delayed or canceled and you’re waiting on a resolution. Most airport lounges offer a more comfortable place to relax and unwind, but they also offer food, drink and wifi. While you can pay for a one-time entry into certain airport lounges, some credit cards offer airport lounge membership as a cardholder perk.

Book with Airline Miles
If you book a flight with airline miles and your flight is canceled, you can easily get your miles back and use them to book another flight. Due to the pandemic, most airlines have also loosened up their cancellation and rebooking policies as well. This means you can proactively cancel your flight and get your miles back right away if you think your flight will be canceled and you prefer to change plans instead.

Keep Extra Airline Miles to Burn
While booking with miles can make canceling your flight and rebooking another one a breeze, it never hurts to have unused airline miles with several different frequent flyer programs. Doing so will make it easier to consider several alternative flights in the event of a cancellation. If you only have one type of airline currency and that airline doesn’t have any available seats for the flight you want, you’re out of luck.

Avoid Checking Bags When You Can
Finally, Garner suggests trying to only use carry-on luggage so you don’t have to wait in the airport for baggage claim to give you your bags back. This tip can be a lifesaver if you have a layover and you find that your flight home is canceled or delayed, or if you find out your flight is canceled after you have already checked in. By sticking with carry-on luggage only, you can leave when you’re ready.