I’m a travel expert – here are the best ways to deal with a delayed flight

HOLIDAYMAKERS trying to get abroad this year have faced huge chaos at airports, resulting in delayed and cancelled flights.

With those problems expected to continue throughout the summer, travel experts at Airport Parking Reservations have put together their top tips on what to do if a flight is delayed.

Invest in travel insurance

As delays are becoming more common across the world, it is more important than ever before to carefully plan trips to the airport.

The experts recommend investing in travel insurance that provides cover for travel delays.

In the UK, airlines are obliged to look after passengers after a particular delay period, while most travel insurance policies provide additional cover for travel uncertainty.

Additional cover usually becomes applicable if a flight is postponed by more than 12 hours due to a strike, adverse weather, or a mechanical breakdown. 

Keep expenses receipts

Receipts of airport purchases should be kept, as passengers can try to claim the money back from the airline later.

A fixed benefit form needs to be filled in for travel delay cover, to help cover the costs of expenses, such as food and drink, during airport waits.

Airlines only pay for ‘reasonable’ expenses though, and are unlikely to offer money back for purchases such as alcohol, expensive meals, or extravagant hotels. 

Be prepared for delays

With some passengers being delayed for days due to the flight chaos, you should arrive prepared with essentials such as a spare change of clothes, snacks, phone chargers, toiletries, and entertainment.

Passengers could also consider bringing an eye mask or earplugs so they can rest during holdup time. 

Explore the airport 

Those who can’t leave the airport because their delay isn’t going to be that long could spend time exploring the airport's amenities.

Some airports have things like spas, beauty salons and even cinemas to kill time in.

Know your passenger rights

If a flight is delayed, passengers may be entitled to compensation or a refund, so it pays to learn about passenger rights.

For delayed flights departing from the UK or EU, travellers are protected by the Denied Boarding Regulation.

If a flight has been delayed by more than an established amount of time - two hours for flights less than 1500km, three hours for flights 1500km - 3500km, and four hours for flights of more than 3500km - the airline has a duty to look after its passengers. 

For flight delays outside of the EU, rights will vary and depend on the terms and conditions of the airline, so it's wise to check the terms and conditions before arriving at the airport.

In the United States, airlines are not required to compensate passengers when flights are delayed or cancelled. 

Contact the airline’s customer service 

As soon as passengers learn of their delay, they should contact the airline’s customer service team.

It is important to note that flight delays outside of the airline's control may hinder rights to compensation, therefore it is best to be sure to check the circumstances before trying to claim or complain.

The customer service team should also be able to provide guidance on the immediate steps available to resolve any flight queries. 

Here's how you can claim compensation if your flight is delayed.

Meanwhile, these passengers were stranded for two days at the airport.