Here are some tips to plan ahead and stay composed in such situations.

It is that time of the year when you look forward to celebrating the winter holidays with your loved ones. If you are a meticulous planner, you are likely to have spent days or even weeks to plan every step of your vacation. However, despite your exhaustive checklist, all that might be required to derail your travel plans, would be one unexpected delay or cancellation of a flight. This is no reason though for you to go into panic mode. Just a few precautions, knowledge of your air travel rights and being prepared with a few insider tricks, can help you stay composed in such anxiety-inducing situations.

Know your air travel rights

If your flight is delayed by more than two hours and less than 12 hours, then you are entitled to meals and refreshment at the airport according to regulations laid down by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). If your flight is delayed by over 12 hours, you are entitled to hotel accommodation along with transfers. In case your flight is cancelled, your carrier is bound to provide you a seat on the next available flight on that airline or give you a refund. You must know that the airline is under no obligation to compensate, if the delay is due to extraordinary circumstances such as natural disaster, civil war, political instability etc.

Stay proactive

In times of crisis, the gate agents and the airport staff are inundated with hundreds of requests while pacifying irate passengers, so it may be easier to call the airline’s customer service to get yourself rebooked on the next flight.

Download the right apps

You never know when you are likely to be faced with a situation when your flight is delayed or worse, cancelled. To keep yourself updated at all times, you can download apps such as FlightAware, Flight Board, GateGuru etc which will give you real time information on the status of your flights.

Overseas travel

Different rules apply for different airlines. If you are planning to travel to Europe you should familiarise yourself with the regulations applicable there. Usually if your flight is delayed for more than three hours in Europe, you may be entitled to compensation (anywhere from 50 to 600 euros) based on a few factors, including your flight distance and length of delay.

Invest in travel insurance

The best way to prepare for travel-related emergencies is to invest in a travel insurance policy. A typical travel insurance plan may cover losses stemming from medical bills, curtailment or cancellation of a flight, loss of personal belongings or baggage, and emergency evacuation. If travellers need coverage for other type of emergencies, additional coverage options are available and can be added to the standard travel insurance plan.

Hold on your documents

When you arrive at your final destination, make sure that you keep your boarding pass and other travel documents. Many airlines or insurance companies may reject a legitimate claim, if you do not have the relevant documents. You may be able to recover your expenses caused by flight delays, including missed reservation, for your hotel or car rentals, if you keep your original receipts and documents in place.