Travelling Tips: Dealing with flight delays (2024)

When it comes to flight delays, it can be frustrating to deal with an airline without having any clarity. So, check these travel tips and know your rights when it comes to dealing with flight delays.

Travelling is fun until you have to deal with flight delays. I have had my fair share of late flights due to bad weather, mechanical issues, or even safety concerns.

I was stuck on a tiny British island for 2 days due to stormy weather.

I had to wait for 12 hours at an airport in Thailand, crammed with my bags in a small chair. I know how frustrating it can be.

This has taught me a few things about dealing with flight delays and last-minute flight cancellations and how to do it without causing minimal disruptions to your travel plans. So, here are some pointers to help you deal with flight delays.

What to Do If Your Flight Is Delayed or Cancelled?

If your flight is cancelled due to a security concern, airline customer service can help you understand the full scope of the delay or cancellation. Airline staff can also advise you on times and rerouting options.

For significant delays, you can receive a ticket refund from the airline—and while airlines don’t make it easy to do this, services like AirHelp come in handy.

AirHelp not only gives you quick information on what you’re owed in minutes based on your route, distance, and delay/cancellations, but they also help you claim up to 600 Euros in compensation – in addition to ensuring you have help during disruptions.

Get real-time flight status updates

The easiest way to deal comfortably with flight delays is to not be at the airport when they happen. But how can you do it?

Simply ensure you are getting real-time updates about your flight status. You can download the airline app where you can check the flight status.

Consider opting for messages or emails that will update you about any changes.

It is important to provide the correct contact information and email ID to receive these updates.

You can also Google your flight number with the name of the airline, and updated information will pop up.

When you are already at the airport

If you have already reached the airport well in advance and the airline has announced the flight delay, the best way to get all the necessary information is to talk to the help desk staff.

It will help you get details that may not be mentioned in the announcement or the message.

Depending on the type of flight, if it is delayed 2 to 3 hours or more, airlines are supposed to provide meals and refreshments.

You can check the passenger rights the European Union has defined under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004.

If there is no clear information from the on-ground airline staff, many people resort to asking for help from the official social media channels of the said airline. Posting a request on the official Twitter handle (now X) has worked wonders.

Dealing with an overnight stay

If it looks like you will have to wait overnight for your flight, consider asking for an overnight stay. Several factors impact this option, though.

Many times, airlines do not have to provide a hotel stay, but they will offer it nonetheless.

However, you need to consider a few things before accepting this stay.

If the flight is delayed due to bad weather and the hotel is not on the airport premises, is it safe to travel to the hotel and come back before the flight?

If you are solo travelling or with kids, then check if the hotel offers safe, family-friendly rooms.

Sometimes, it is better to stay at the airport for a few extra hours than go to the far away hotel for an overnight stay.

In that case, ask the staff if there are any sleeping lounges available at the airport premises and if they can help you book a lounge.

Choose wisely – Rebooking, rerouting, or cancelling

If your flight is delayed so much that there is no point in getting on the next flight, you can ask the airline to rebook another flight.

This will usually be done at no cost, but it depends on availability. If you decide to rebook the flight yourself, then check if your travel insurance will cover some of the ticket price.

Sometimes, the airline offers a rerouting option in case of a flight delay. This may mean dealing with longer routes, more travel time, or connecting flights. However, rerouting is helpful when the flight delay is only due to mechanical reasons.

You can also cancel the flight and choose not to wait for the delayed flight. However, this will work only in the case of significant flight delays, not if the flight is late by more than an hour or two.

Refund and compensation

Every airline has a slightly different policy regarding refunds and compensation in case of flight delays.

Usually, if the flight is delayed and you choose to cancel the ticket, the airline will not offer a refund.

But if the delay is significantly longer, you can either ask for a refund or book a new flight and demand compensation.

It is important to talk to customer care support and follow the guidelines, especially when you are travelling on a budget. Keep all your receipts together, as you may need to submit proofs in case of compensation.

If you book a ticket through a third-party website or through a travel agent, you will need to contact them for any assistance. So, always check the flight delay policies or assistance offers on these websites while booking tickets.