8 Ways to Survive Being Stranded at the Airport — Without Going Broke

Editor’s Be aware: This story initially appeared on The Penny Hoarder.

Hundreds of drained and annoyed airline passengers had been stranded at airports and sleeping in terminals throughout the U.S. lately within the wake of widespread flight cancellations as a consequence of a lethal winter storm.

The disaster began over Christmas weekend. By the next Tuesday, 1000’s of flights everywhere in the nation had been being canceled or delayed. The chaos and mayhem and piled-up baggage at American airports continued for a number of days.

It gained’t be the final time. We’ve been there and completed that. Through the years, we’ve discovered a couple of helpful methods to outlive being caught on the airport — with out going broke (or insane).

Listed below are our greatest survival suggestions.

1. At all times Carry These 6 Issues

Though we not often verify a bag when flying, we all know that’s not all the time an choice for many individuals.

Whether or not you’re carrying on or checking a bag, by no means board a airplane with out these necessities:

• Snacks: Airport meals = bleh. When you’re stranded for lengthy sufficient, you’ll after all have to purchase some — however wholesome snacks can tide you over in a brief delay.
• Empty water bottle: You possibly can’t deliver liquids via safety — however an empty bottle? You’re golden. Don’t fall sufferer to the $5 airport water.
• Heat sweatshirt: It’s just like the common regulation of airports and airplanes that they’re both hotter than Florida in July or colder than Chicago in January. When you don’t find yourself sporting it — however let’s be actual, you most likely will — you need to use it as a pillow.
• Toothbrush and toothpaste: Whenever you’re having a tough journey day, brushing your enamel could make a world of distinction. Belief me on this one.
• Telephone charger: Do you actually need an evidence?
• Good e-book: Books don’t want energy. So as an alternative of preventing on the outlet with a bunch of randos, you’ll be able to enrich your mind in your personal house.

2. Know Your Rights

In case your flight will get canceled or considerably delayed, the airline is meant to give you a refund. However they gained’t all the time let you know that. Then they’re supposed to really comply with via and pay you that refund. But it surely seems, that doesn’t all the time occur.

Hassle is, the foundations governing flights and airways can get sophisticated, and even frequent flyers don’t essentially know all of them by coronary heart. So our information right here breaks down precisely what guidelines the airways are required to comply with in case your flight is canceled or delayed, or in case your flight is overbooked, or in case your baggage will get misplaced.

Let’s say you’re on the airport and your flight abruptly will get canceled or massively delayed. Fuming, you drag your baggage to the ticket counter.

Possibly the ticket agent tells you to take a seat tight and wait. Or possibly the airline affords you a journey voucher, which you need to use to purchase one other airplane ticket at a later date.

You don’t have to just accept that, although. You don’t have to attend for the subsequent flight. You don’t should take the voucher. You’re legally entitled to an precise refund — a full refund, no humorous enterprise, no random charges taken out or something. Don’t allow them to let you know in any other case.

3. Be Good

Look, concentrate on your rights — simply don’t be a jerkface about them.

Being stranded within the airport sucks, and no one is aware of higher than the individuals who work on the airport.

So don’t take it out on them. Be affected person.

Keep in mind: They didn’t want this snowstorm on you. They most likely need to go house to their households as a lot as you do. The one distinction is you aren’t getting screamed at by a merry-go-round of very unmerry passengers.

4. E book Your Resort

As quickly as you’re going to be caught in a single day, get a lodge on the horn. E book for that night time, and if it appears to be like like a large delay, a couple of additional simply in case (after checking on the lodge’s cancellation coverage, after all).

Because of the regulation of provide and demand, some resorts jack up costs as quickly as they discover out about journey troubles — so reserving straight away may imply higher charges.

When you don’t discover availability close to the airport, don’t be afraid to enterprise farther afield. With the proliferation of ride-sharing providers, staying outdoors the airport’s normal neighborhood can typically prevent fairly a bit of cash.

5. Flip to Your Credit score Card

When you paid in your tickets with a bank card, it’s time to learn the effective print.

Since you may simply get fortunate: Some bank cards supply reimbursement for journey delays.

Some reimburse the price of meals and lodging when air journey is delayed by greater than six hours or requires an in a single day keep. The coverage usually covers a certain quantity per ticket for the cardholder, their partner or home accomplice and dependent youngsters.

6. Leap on Twitter

Not getting any traction with the airline in individual or on the telephone? Attempt social media.

It sounds loopy, however we’ve gotten glorious service by sending out tweets and “@mentioning” the corporate. Even on events after we weren’t having any luck over electronic mail or on the telephone, they’ve responded shortly through tweet.

And don’t assume it’s simply because we’re with the media both; even airline reps make the identical suggestion.

7. Purchase a Lounge Move

Airport lounges usually price round $50 per day. That may appear to be an exorbitant price — till you’re caught for a major period of time, that’s.

Airport lounges supply shops, non-public Wi-Fi, showers, cozy seating, snacks and, most significantly, FREE DRINKS.

When you had been planning to spend the subsequent 12 hours posting up on the airport bar, a day move to a lounge may prevent some huge cash.

Lounges even have a devoted service desk whose representatives can assist re-book flights, serving to you keep away from the Sisyphean strains in the primary space.

8. Discover a Quiet Place to Sleep

When you don’t need to spend the night time on the ground (gross), Sleeping in Airports may turn out to be your new greatest buddy.

This web site reveals all one of the best nooks and crannies to relaxation your head, plus plenty of different data which may aid you survive your delay unscathed.

Getting caught within the airport is one in every of life’s nice annoyances. However when your persistence is operating skinny, do not forget that’s all it’s: an annoyance.

It’s nonetheless a unprecedented privilege to journey — particularly in an enormous metallic field within the sky.