How To Cope With A Long Flight Delay

There are some inevitabilities of travel. One, that while you can pay to experience many places and plan a wonderful trip, you can’t necessarily influence cultural limitations, developing political situations, and all limitations that come into effect. For example, if a flight is delayed, you can’t conjure up another plane to leave at that specific time, unless you travel elsewhere and find an alternative route.

Some might ask what makes a good traveler, then, and to that we’d say doing your best with whatever happens and making the most of your experience. If things not going to plan can ruin an entire trip for you, well, it might be good to address how you react and some of your responses to those outcomes.

This is a nice platitude but it’s not exactly helpful when you’re frustrated. For example, if a delayed flight means you’re going to be sat in an airport terminal for hours. Let’s consider how to cope with such a frustration, below:

Immediately Check What Eligible Compensation There Is

A delay is frustrating, but before sitting around and stewing in it, it is worth checking if there is any compensation available, as some airlines provide meal vouchers, hotel stays, or partial to full refunds depending on the length of the delay and the reason for it.

It doesn’t hurt to ask at the very least. If there is an airline desk nearby, heading there first might get things sorted faster than waiting for an automated email, though remember they’re likely under strain and trying to resolve multiple flights. Travel insurance can also come in handy for situations like this, so always use it, as if a delay is long enough to disrupt plans at your destination, checking the policy for coverage could be worthwhile.

Consider Alternatives, Check Other Delays & Read The News

A delay doesn’t always mean being completely stuck, even if time is of the essence, as looking at alternative routes could help. Sometimes, a different airline has a flight leaving sooner, or a train or rental car could get you where you need to be with less waiting. You can chase up the refund later, but sometimes you may avoid losing a day if you plan this well.

It’s also worth checking the bigger picture, as if delays are widespread, there may be a reason for it such as weather issues, air traffic control strikes, or technical problems affecting multiple airlines. We just saw that at Heathrow, after all. Keeping an eye on updates means you’ll know whether to wait it out or start looking for a different option.

Fuel Yourself With Healthy Nutrition, Water & Supplements

Airport food isn’t always the best, and stress can make it easy to forget your basic needs. But staying hydrated and eating something decent will generally make a long wait feel a little more bearable. If a delay is stretching on for hours, skipping meals or relying on caffeine and processed snacks will just make things worse, so make sure to drink enough water, eat good food, and consider supplementation such as Fasoracetam for cognitive support if you’re having to make many decisions at once.

With this advice, you’ll be much more likely to cope with the strain of a long flight delay, or alternate your approach.

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