No matter how prepared you are, how much traveling you have done or how early you get to the airport, you cannot control everything. There are often factors beyond your control, like the time the plane departs. As often as you are told to get to the airport well early, not every flight is on-time. There are minor delays, for just a couple of hours, or longer-term delays that keep you stuck at the airport for quite some time. It’s good to know what to do in these types of situations.
Check Your App
Most airlines have an app now-a-days, that you have likely checked-in on and have used as your boarding pass. This app will be updated with your boarding time. When you get delayed, you can use the app to contact support, where you can find out if it’s a rolling delay or the circumstances on why the delay has happened. Rolling delays are delays that happen over and over again, for small amounts of time, adding up to a bigger time. Knowing the cause of the delay and if it’s going to be one that continues can help you better decide what to do with your time at the airport. Often gate workers do not have the full scope on why a plane is delayed, so it’s best to contact support.
Speak to a Travel Agent
If it’s been over an hour and you are still stuck, you should go to a gate and see if you can change your flight or find an alternative way to travel, especially if it is taking ages. There are often a lot of different reasons for why a flight would be delayed, but if it’s an issue with the plane itself, there are normally alternative routes that can help you make your destination without having such a big ordeal.
Know What Your Entitled to
When it comes to longer delays, you could be entitled to compensation. The first bit of compensation there is, is often a food voucher. These vouchers aren’t ever worth much and can only be used at the airport, but it’s a good way to waste time while you grab a coffee. Exactly what you get for a delayed flight depends on a lot of factors like what type of flight it is and what country you are in. There are websites like AirHelp that you can use to check flight delay compensation, so that you have a better understanding on what you are entitled to. If the flight is cancelled overnight, you might be entitled to vouchers for hotels, food, and even travel to and from the airport. It’s really down to the polices and your insurance if you have any.
Wait it Out
Sometimes, the best thing to do is to stay by the gate and wait it out. The board above your gate will often have the updated time on it, so you will be able to keep track of any changes and announcements by not going too far. If you are able to grab a seat with a charging plug, it’s good to keep your devices charged while you wait, as you don’t know how long you will be there. Hopefully, you’ll get on your flight in no-time!