What Should I Do When My Flight Gets Cancelled?

Dear Lifehacker,
I'll be traveling a lot for the holidays, but I've had some pretty bad experiences in the past with flights getting delayed or cancelled. I've followed your guide to stress-free travel, but what can I do when the unexpected happens and my flight gets cancelled?

Sincerely,
Terrified Traveler

This post was originally published on December 12th, 2012. With a big storm coming on one of the biggest travel days of the year—tomorrow—we figured this was worth brushing up on.

Dear Terrified,
You're not alone. We've all been there at least once, and the more you travel, the more you're bound to run into the occasional cancellation or delay—especially if you're flying somewhere with harsh weather patterns. Here are a few things you can do to make the best of a bad situation.

Plan Ahead Before You Fly

If you're reading this before you travel (and not after your flight's been cancelled), it's a good idea to always prepare for the worst ahead of time. If you can, try to avoid travel during heavy storms. Fly direct instead of stopping in a city prone to bad weather. Make sure you get through security fast, too, so you don't miss your flight. And whatever you do: don't leave for the airport later just because your flight has been delayed. Things can bounce back.

Most importantly, though: pack light. Rebooking your flight and getting your luggage is going to be a lot harder and slower if you have checked bags. If you need some packing tips, check out our guide to packing everything in your carry-on. There's no reason you can't fit everything into a few small bags, especially for a shorter trip.

Call the Airline Right Away

When your flight gets cancelled, drop everything and call your airline. Don't follow the airline's directions and get in line, hoping for the best—pick up your phone, open up TripIt (where you can easily store all your flight information, including the airline's number) and call the airline. You'll essentially skip the line people waiting to rebook. Check out our post on the subject for more info.

Get Some Compensation (If You Can)

When you're bumped a flight involuntarily, the U.S. Department of Transportation says you have a right to a little compensation. If you're delayed or cancelled, though, it's more up to the airlines. Some will reimburse you for connecting flights or help you rebook, while others will provide meals and hotels if your delay is long enough. Check out this table at FareCompare to see what your airline's cancellation policy is, and make sure you make the most of it—often, you'll have to ask before you get anything from them.

Get a Hotel Without Any Fuss

If all else fails and you can't get a flight out easily, it's time to admit defeat and book a hotel while you plan your next move. Hotel Tonight is a great app for iOS and Android that'll not only help you find nearby hotels with open rooms, but even help nab you a deal and let you book right from your phone. Hopefully, it can take a little bit of pain out of the hellish day you've just had, and get you sleeping in a bed ready for your next attempt at getting home.

Sincerely,
Lifehacker

Images from Nicemonkey (Shutterstock), astudio (Shutterstock), Sonya, Curran Kelleher, and Michael Duxbury.