How To - Cope with Airport Delays

Nothing throws a wrench into your travel plans quite like airport delays. And there's no shortage of reasons why your flight might be late: unpredictable weather, technical glitches, airport security problems, congested airways etc etc.

Whether flying saucers or snowstorms are keeping you grounded, it's important to know how to protect yourself in the event of a flight delay. First, you need a backup plan. Make sure you have options, like a hotel reservation or an alternative flight, in case you're stranded. Second, you need to know your rights as a passenger. Airlines aren't required by law to compensate passengers for delayed or cancelled flights, and each carrier has its own policy on this. Read (or at least have access to) your airline's contract of carriage in case of emergency.
For more on what rights you have as a flier, check out your passenger rights.

Let's get on to what you can do about it if (hopefully not "when") an airport delay happens to you. Here are a few tips to help you cope in the event of software switches, storms or other airport problems.

1. Watch the weather.
When it comes to the weather, you don't need to be Michael Fish to know when a storm might affect your travel. If you are flying in winter, there's no excuse not to know at least a couple days ahead of time that your flight could be threatened. Particularly in the case of a winter storm, weather forecasting is pretty reliable 48 - 72 hours out. Summer storms can be less predictable, as thundercloud formation can occur fairly quickly. But forewarned is forearmed, and it's not like you need to look for red skies in the morning of your travel these days to know that you might have a problem.

2. Consider getting a hotel reservation.
Some hotels don't charge your card until you show up at the front desk, so you can usually safely book a room and cancel if your flight does take off reasonably on time. Make sure to ask about cancellation policies to be on the safe side when you call.

If you're stuck in an airport without easy Internet access, a good tactic is to have on hand the phone number of your preferred booking website. When using this tactic, check out airport hotels first. Look for off-airport hotels that offer shuttle service to the airport so you can ditch your rental car or otherwise count on a ride to the airport without too much trouble or expense.

3. Pre-program your mobile phone.
You don't need an elephant's memory to be able to call a reservation site, a hotel, your airline or any travel service outfit; you just need to program these numbers into your mobile phone before your trip starts. Save the contact number for your airline (use the frequent flier program phone number if you have elite status of any kind, as the service is better), reservation sites, car rental companies that permit drop-offs near you, and your travel agent if you have ever used one -- even if the agent didn't book you into your current jam, he or she might be able to get you out of it.

4. Know your options.
If it looks like things might get ugly, make sure you know some of the alternative flights on other airlines; if this is too much to remember, just try to remember on which airlines the best flights are available. This way, when 100,000 people are on hold, you're on the phone with another airline figuring out whether they will honour your tickets and can book you onto the next flight. If you know a few flights on a couple of airlines within a few hours of your original flight, you're way ahead of the game when you try to transfer your ticket to another airline. Ultimately you'll have to get your original airline to sign off on the transfer, but at least you'll get to the airline desk armed with information and maybe even a tentative reservation on the other airline.

A good way to do these searches is to use one of the Skyscanner sites The best of these allow you to adjust several parameters on the fly, including airlines displayed (in case your original airline will grant exchanges only on select airlines), flight times (so you can see flights close to your original departure time first, then expand from there) and alternate airports (perhaps you can get within a reasonable drive of your original airport). You can also filter results by the duration of your itinerary, in case you are looking at absurd routes, connections or layovers on some of your results. These sites can offer a very fluid and customisable view of what is available to you airline by airline, hour by hour, airport by airport.

5. Check the airline website.
In the past, airline call centres have been utterly crippled by the high call volume that happens when there are masses of flight delays. Most airlines have figured out that the Web is a much better way to distribute information, and will have alerts, updates and sometimes even suggestions on how to proceed.

6. Call ahead to the airline.
This is likely to be your least effective tactic, as in all but the most extreme cases (and sometimes not even then), the airlines won't tell you that your plane is delayed even when the entire airport is about to shut down. This is because the airlines fare better if you show up and sleep on the floor than they do if they let you stay in your hotel room an extra day.

And of course always have the correct Travel Insurance Policy that covers airport delays and cancellations.

Happy traveling

For more information on airport delays like us on Facebook

Flying with your pets

Thinking of flying with your pets? If you're planning a trip with your best friend then you need to know how much it'll cost and that your animal will be transported safely and in comfort.

Prices and details may change so contact the individual airlines for any changes in their prices, rules and regulations. 

The other option is to use a regulated pet transport company such as Home and Pet Transport

Aer Lingus

Pets must be booked to travel with Aer Lingus Cargo. Animals presented for transport at passenger check-in won’t be accepted under any circumstances.

Air France

Pets must be transported by freight if the animal and its container weigh more than 75kg, or if it is traveling to a country that authorises animal transport only by freight. A dog or cat weighing 8kg-75kg must be transported in the hold. There is a limit of three animals per passenger. With prior approval from Air France's Customer Service department, you may transport in the cabin if your dogs or cat weighing less than 8kg (including the transport bag or container). Guide dogs are authorised regardless of their weight:

Flights within France: 20€

Flights within Europe: 75€

All other flights: 200€

British Airways

British Airways does not allow pets to travel in the cabin, except recognised assistance dogs, which can travel with the owner free of charge in the cabin. All other pets must travel as cargo in the hold - this includes emotional assistance animals. Animals are handled by BA's sister company, IAG World Cargo. Fees and required pet carrier size depends on the animal, so passengers are advised to get in contact with the airline prior to the flight.

EasyJet

The carriage of live animals, including pets, insects, reptiles, or any other form of livestock is forbidden anywhere on any easyJet aircraft. Exceptions are made for guide dogs or assistance dogs..

Ryanair

No live animals are permitted to fly in the cargo hold of a Ryanair aircraft. Similarly, the airline does not generally permit live animals to fly in the cabin. Exceptions are made, however, for guide dogs or assistance animals. The dogs must have a pet passport or an official veterinary health certificate if their country of origin does not provide passports. Due to restrictions, guide/assistant dogs are not allowed on flights to or from Morocco, or flights to/from Israel.

Thomson

You can ask for your pet to be carried on most Thomson Airways flights. Passengers should complete the booking form at AIA Pets, where fee information is available for your specific animal. If you're travelling to Europe, your pet will just need a pet passport. Pets will be stored in the cargo, and all travel boxes must be fitted with a water container.

Turkish Airlines

Pets are not included in the free baggage allowance and incur a fee. Fees start at $35, and depend on whether the animal is being stored in the hold or cabin.  It is charged per kilo, and based on how many 'zones' travelled through.

Virgin Atlantic

The cost of taking your pet can vary, depending on the length, width, height and weight of your pet, plus its container. Pets are also eligible for air miles with the Flying Paws scheme. Only cats and dogs are allowed onto Virgin Atlantic flights. Call Virgin Atlantic's dedicated team for pricing.

Vueling/Iberia

How do we define a pet?

Any animal on the list of animals permitted on board and which can be carried in an approved pet carrier that is not rigid and that is the following size: 45x39x21 cm and no heavier than 8 kg with the pet inside.

Please also bear in mind that travelling with a pet is not the same as travelling with an assistance dog. If you are travelling with the latter, all the information you need is explained in the section on Assistance Dogs.

Animals permitted on board:

Dogs
Cats
Birds (excluding birds of prey)
Fish
Turtles/tortoises

Animals not allowed: rodents, lagomorphs (e.g. rabbits), mustelids (e.g. ferrets), farm animals, birds of prey and reptiles.

Booking and check-in when flying with Pets

To include your pet in the booking, you must select the Basic Fare and book the service during the purchase in the Customise Your Flight section.

Due to the special conditions of your booking, on the day of your flight you must go to the check-in desks to have a seat allocated that suits your needs and get your boarding pass.

Domestic Flights 40.00

International and Canary Islands 50.00

Security control

The pet carrier must go through the scanner along with its leash and food, while your pet must go through the walk-through metal-detector either in your arms or walking.

In-flight

You must store the pet carrier with your pet inside on the floor, between your legs or under the seat in front. You must not take your pet out of the pet carrier until you have disembarked.

Animals whose special characteristics (unpleasant smell, poor health, inadequate hygiene or violent behaviour) may cause distress or danger to fellow passengers and crew will not be allowed

Remember...

Each passenger can travel with one pet and only 2 pets are allowed per flight.

This service is only available for flights operated by Vueling and Iberia.

It must travel with a passport issued by a veterinary surgeon certifying that the dog has been vaccinated for rabies between 30 days and 12 months before the flight.

You can carry food for your pet inside your hand luggage.

You must not take your pet out of the pet carrier until you have disembarked.

Important: This service is not available for flights to/from the United Kingdom or Ireland.

Under no circumstances will animals be carried in the plane's cargo hold.

Like us on Facebook