What to Do During Weather Delays and Flight Cancellations

Flight delays and worse, cancellations, can really throw a wrench into your travel plans. Here are my go-to tips, websites and apps to help you deal with weather delays and flight cancellations.

1. Research the weather
I don’t leave home without knowing the weather where I am and where I’m going—including at layover airports. I usually use accuweather.com and weather.com‘s apps. I also use myradar.com, an app pilots use and this hurricane app many Floridians use.

2. Check airline travel policies
If there’s a huge storm forcing mass cancellations, I check with the airline to see if they’ve adjusted their change policies due to the weather so I can rebook without a penalty and fly when there won’t be any hassles. Here’s a list of airline policies: Air Canada | Alaska | American Airlines | Delta | Frontier | JetBlue | Southwest | United | WestJet | Every Airline Website and Phone Number

3. Check with the FAA
If there’s disruptive weather in any of the destinations relevant to me, I’ll then check the FAA’s (Federal Aviation Administration) Flight Delay Information – Air Traffic Control System Command Center. It lists general airport conditions at the US’s top 40 major airports.

4. Download your airline’s app
Most airlines have invested heavily in their apps so travelers can now avoid having to call the airline; pretty much everything can be done with just a few taps. This includes switching to another flight free of charge when things go south.

5. Sign up for flight notifications
Most airlines will sign you up automatically so be sure to put your phone number and email in your reservation. Don’t put your travel agent’s (if you have one). I always sign up for flight status notifications, offered for free by each airline. They will send you text or email messages with status updates so you can know you’re staying up-to-date. I also sign up for my loved ones when I’m picking them up at the airport.

6. Load up your phone
Be sure to load your phone with your airline(s)’s toll free phone number(s) just in case there is a cancellation.

7. Act quickly
If your flight is canceled and you can’t get your flight changed via the airline’s app then get in line as soon as possible. If you have access to a club, go there since the lines to speak to an agent are usually a lot shorter. At the same time get on the phone and call the airline directly. Usually the airline representative at the call center can rebook you on a flight faster than the chance to speak in person to a customer service or the gate agent. TIP: Be very careful if you Google an airline’s phone number since scammers have learned how to game the system. If you don’t know about this scam, read this story: Traveler Exposes Scammer’s Trick For Stealing Airline Passengers’ Money

8. Use X (formerly Twitter)
I also like to follow my airline and airports on X, formerly Twitter. On my X handle (@JohnnyJet) I have all kinds of lists including Airlines, U.S. Airports and International Airports. Most airports are not that active, so don’t get your hopes up, but there are a number of airlines that are amazing and some can even help you rebook by reaching out to them via a tweet. My favorite is American Airlines (@AmericanAir). They usually respond.

9. Useful apps and websites
Like many frequent travelers, one of my favorite apps is Flighty but it’s not free. TripIt.com has a free version but their pro version is worth the $49/year if you travel a lot, as they notify you of delays, cancellations, gate changes and other flight details. In case there are mass cancellations, I don’t wait for an airline to reserve me a hotel room. I jump on it as soon as I know I’m spending the night (Hotelnumbers.com). My favorite app for last-minute hotel rooms is HotelTonight. In case I need to drive somewhere, I load my phone with phone numbers of car rental agencies (CarRentalNumbers.com) or use Uber/Lyft for short drives.

10. Get help
In case you’re in a real bind and didn’t book through a travel agent, you can call CrankyConcierge.com. For a fee, they will help you make other flight arrangements, find a hotel or transportation and assist you in resolving disputes.

11. File a claim
AirHelp is a useful website, app and service that helps airline passengers pursue compensation for delayed, canceled and overbooked flights, particularly those covered by European passenger rights regulations (EU261 and the U.K. equivalent). It can be especially helpful if you’re unsure of your rights or don’t have the time or patience to deal with an airline yourself.

AirHelp operates on a no-win, no-fee basis. If they don’t recover any compensation, you pay nothing. If they do succeed, their standard fee is 35% of your compensation, although an additional legal fee may apply if your case has to go to court.

I used AirHelp after British Airways initially told me I wasn’t entitled to compensation for a Budapest (BUD) to London Heathrow (LHR) to Toronto (YYZ) itinerary. About a year and a half later, I filed a claim through AirHelp and they successfully recovered about $900 USD for my wife and me. I wouldn’t have received a dime otherwise, so I thought their fee was well worth it.

12. Buy travel insurance

I highly recommend purchasing travel insurance as soon as you book your trip. Many travel insurance policies won’t cover losses related to a foreseeable event, so if a named storm or other major disruption has already been announced before you buy your policy, you may not be covered.

I also recommend buying insurance from a third party instead of directly from an airline, cruise line or tour operator. If your travel provider runs into financial trouble, an independent policy may offer broader protection, depending on the coverage you choose.

I suggest comparing policies on InsureMyTrip.com, which lets you shop multiple providers side by side. It’s a great way to compare coverage, prices and customer reviews before making a decision.

Personally, I usually purchase Allianz Travel Insurance because it’s one of the largest and most established travel insurance companies in the world, with a global network that can provide assistance wherever you travel. I’ve fortunately only had to file a few claims over the years, but the process has always been straightforward.

Full disclosure: I have previously worked as an ambassador for Allianz Global Assistance (AGA Service Company) and received financial compensation. InsureMyTrip was also a sponsor of JohnnyJet.com.

I also recommend using a credit card with travel protection benefits to help. To be sure that you are covered, read the fine print and/or contact the card issuer to learn more. Here’s the list of my favorite credit cards to travel with.

I hope these tips are useful this week and don’t forget – most important of all, pack your patience!

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