Regardless of whether you travel regularly or not, there’s a good chance that you’ll end up experiencing a flight delay or cancellation at some point in your life. Unfortunately, though our airlines are currently more innovative, and well-organised than ever, they’re not immune to the everyday issues that can cause all of us a little trouble. Anything from a technology issue, to a strike, or even a sudden thunderstorm could leave your flight grounded.
There may be nothing that you can do to eliminate your chances of suffering from a flight delay or cancellation completely. However, the good news is that there are steps you can take to make sure that you come through the experience with as little stress as possible. Here are our top tips.

Travel Light and keep your Info Handy

First up, although there are some trips that you’ll need to pack heavily for – a month-long vacation with the whole family or a gap year for example, but there are other journeys that you can take with less weight on your back. Not only will travelling light make your experience more comfortable but it could make it easier to hop onto the next available flight faster when yours is cancelled.
Ultimately, the airline reps are going to place people who don’t have baggage to find on flights first because they’re less hassle to deal with. Keep all your belongings in one place and you’ll be ready to go at a moment’s notice. Make sure you have all your flight information at hand too so that you can offer up your details in an instant.

Switch on Your Smartphone

Most of us go everywhere with our technology these days so making sure you have your smartphone with you for your next flight shouldn’t be too much of a hassle. However, it’s worth making sure that you have an extra battery pack or charger handy just in case you’re held up.
When you’re hit by a flight delay or cancellation a phone comes in handy by making sure that you’re not stuck in a long line of other people who are complaining about the same thing as you. Get in touch with the airline reps in a different way- by calling their number, or reaching out on social media instead. Some air companies will even have their own apps that you can download and use to get faster customer service.

Know Your Rights

In the UK and across Europe if the flight delay or cancellation you suffer from was caused by something that the airline could control, and it lasts longer than three hours then you should be eligible for some compensation. The best thing you can do is find out as much as you can about your airline’s compensation policy by checking out their website – you can even read up before your flight if it helps.
Additionally, make sure that you keep hold of all the information you might need to make a claim when you get back home – including the names of the people you speak to and any receipts for food or drinks you buy in the airport.

Research Your Options

If you’re going to be on your phone anyway, then you might as well use the time you have to learn as much as you can about what’s going on with your flight. Find out why your plane has been grounded, and whether the cause is going to impact any of the other airlines that come to your airport. If the reason for your cancellation or delay is something that has nothing to do with the weather or something similar then you might be able to find an alternative flight with another airline.
If you can’t wait around for your airline rep to find a solution for you then you can always present the option you have found to them and see whether they can help you out with it.

Keep Your Mind Occupied and Calm
Finally, if your flight has been delayed or cancelled it’s important not to let it ruin your entire trip. One little hiccup doesn’t spell disaster. Take the extra time you have to relax, explore the airport, or even make some new friends by talking to someone in the same situation as you. If you’re travelling a long way and you’re exhausted you could even catch up on some shut-eye if you can find a safe place to rest.
Keeping yourself calm and entertained will also mean that you’re less likely to throw a tantrum and ruin your chances of getting a quick solution to your problem too.