12 ways to cope with travel delays,cancellations and other travel related issues

By: Susan Sherren for Couture Trips
Published: April 11, 2022 4:22 PM

Coping with travel delays and glitches seems to be commonplace now. The headlines are full of delay notifications due to airline and airport staff shortages, weather-related events, or the growing pains of relaunching the travel industry post-Covid. We have brainstormed and would like to suggest the following ways to cope during this transition time.

1. Fly non-stop; fewer connections mean fewer opportunities for a glitch or delay.

2. Arrive early enough to troubleshoot a delay or cancellation at the airport—3 hours minimum for international travel and 2 hours for domestic.

3. Fly with reputable airlines- avoid budget airlines during this readjustment phase.

4. Schedule a potential flight delay into your itinerary. For example, arrive at your cruise departure city early and take the sites in a day or two before cruising. There are endless ways to explore a city even if you think you know everything about it. This strategy will take the stress out of a tight itinerary time frame.

5. Purchase travel insurance- it's a must these days with so much uncertainty.

6. Stay flexible- leaving your home has inherent risks.

7. Use your manners- try and be kind and considerate even in the face of stress and disappointment. I passed out Starbucks gift cards to the airline staff on a recent flight to London, and the reaction was so amazing. The airline staff relayed that me most of the abuse issues occur on US domestic flights. The staff treated me like gold- so give a little and fly international!

8. Use an ASTA-certified and experienced travel consultant. We place all our clients on a flight tracker during air travel days, and  we can make changes to smooth things out when we see a  potential cancellation or glitch.

9. Travel with just a carry-on and keep all valuables and medication with you.

10. Have a backup plan, and don't plan a meeting or work-related events on either side of your vacation. It will give you a cushion in case of a delay or disaster.

11. Be patient- over time, the affects the pandemic had on the travel industry will work themselves out.

12. Evaluate the risk-benefit ratio for yourself. Please take responsibility for your decisions, whether you  decide to travel or not.

 Hang in there travel issues will resolve with time. Be patient and realize the travel industry was devastated during the pandemic. It takes time to re-boot the entire travel industry. Don't give up, and hope that the future is even brighter for you and the travel industry as whole.
*Note these are only suggestions and observations from our perspective. 

Contact Us For A Complimentary Consultation