Top Tips for Travelers: How to Prepare For and Handle a Disrupted Flight
Traveling can be very exciting and rewarding. Whether it is a holiday, visiting family, business – the anticipation of reaching your destination is often what makes the journey enjoyable. However, sometimes it doesn’t go very smoothly and delays can happen. They happen for an array of reasons, such as climate conditions, strikes, lack of staff or even political events, but one thing they have in common is that no one enjoys them. This article aims to provide some useful tips from experienced travellers on how to prepare, what to do and what to expect during delays.
- 2025-01-20
- 8:16 AM GMT

Sign Up for Alerts: Most airlines provide real-time updates about your flight status, any changes, gate information etc. Make sure your notifications are enabled and your phone receives them.
Understand Airlines Policies: You can briefly look through your operating airline’s website, where they will describe common causes for delays, what to expect and what measures to take in case you face one.
Know Your Rights: Additionally, you can look up local regulations, as some countries might have additional rules you might be unfamiliar with. It is useful to know your rights in case a meal or accommodation are needed, so you know who and where to ask for it.
Consider Insurance: Make sure you are familiar with the rules of your travel insurance, and what they cover or what they don’t. Depending on yourselected policy, various things may be covered during a delay, and this can give you peace of mind duringh such unexpected events.
Pack Essentials: When packing for your flight, do not forget to include essentials in your carry on. This includes things you must take, such as any medication, chargers, even some snacks, or a change of clothes, or anything that is important specifically to your needs.
Stay Calm and Patient: If your flight gets disrupted, please remember that the staff, who will be assisting you on the spot, did not cause it. As disruptions can be frustrating, passengers tend to show their frustration towards airline or airport employees. They are there to help, and a polite approach often gets better results. Try not to get upset or angry at the situation, as this will not change, but will make it more stressful for you and everyone around
Explore the Airport: Most airports have shops, restaurants, even attractions and spas. It can take hours to explore everything, if the airport is bigger! Browse for some unique souvenirs or get comfortable at a cozy cafe, join lounges or even excursions. We advise you to read up on the airports in advance, this way you will know what you might be interested in if you get extra time to spend.
Be Comfortable: If your flight is delayed for a while, try to find a comfortable spot to sit, where you will be not far from amenities you might need (bathroom, charging ports, information screens), but not near a crowded gate or an uncomfortable seat. Additionally, it is always a good idea to wear clothes and shoes that make you feel comfortable and can be adjusted to temperature changes.
Use The Extra Time: Our speed of life sometimes feels like there is no time for anything, so an unexpected delay can be a perfect opportunity to catch up on your work, reading or even crafts, if they are small enough to bring with you! You can download some offline content before the trip and enjoy it during the delay, or finish knitting that sweater, or reading your book.
Connect with Fellow Travellers: If you are a communicable person, strike a conversation with people from the same flight – you can share stories, useful travel tips, keep each other company and, who knows, maybe make new friends along the way.
Move and Hydrate: Even if your spot is super comfy and you do not want to leave it, make sure you move enough to keep your blood flowing, and that you stay hydrated and nourished. Depending on local regulations, you can be entitled for snacks, meal vouchers from an airline. Some airlines provide complimentary snacks regardless of whether it is mandated or not.
Keep Positive Attitude: Think of a delay as an adventure. Yes, in the moment it is not fun, but imagine looking back at it with time, you can tell your friends about this experience with a smile on your face later. Only our attitude can decide how we experience things.
These are the main points to consider, when talking about a potential flight delay and how to handle it. Hopefully, you will find this article helpful and your delay will be stress-free. But even then we encourage you to contact us – Skycop can help you get compensated if your flight is disrupted.
Safe travels!