The Travel Group

The airline world, post-pandemic, has become a bit more unpredictable.  There has been a surge in flight delays and cancellations brought on by various factors - increasing extreme weather events, short-staffing at airlines and airports, and a rapid spike in demand for travel are the three main reasons.

While sometimes one just has to shrug one's shoulders and live with a certain level of chaos and unpredictability; there are some things one can do the mitigate unpleasant surprises at the airport.  Here are some:

* Online check-in.  Shockingly, at least one-third of travellers still fail to do online check-in.  This, perhaps more than any other step you can take, is the most significant thing you can do to avoid problems.  Online check-in will uncover many common issues: seat selection "drift", unexpected schedule changes, flight delays, missing contact details, etc.  Our consultants are experts at fixing issues that are detected during the check-in process: all we need is for you to do your part.

* Pre-select seats.  No one likes seat fees.  And, while it is true you can avoid these by waiting until you check-in to assign seats for free, there are risks.  It is no secret that airlines over-book flights.  They also regularly have to fill up a plane with passengers from an earlier cancelled flight. You can avoid an unpleasant situation at the airport by pre-assigning your seats early. 

* Avoid tight connections, particularly at the end of the day.  In fact, try to avoid the last connection of the day, period!  We recommend aggressive connections ONLY when there are "back-up" flights in case of a delay on your first flight.

* Select non-stops over connections even when they cost more.  Non-stops will almost always cost more than a connection.  If you think about it, a connection doubles the chances of a problem - either with you personally, or with your luggage.  If there is a non-stop, take it over a connection always!

* Chase status with an airline.  By favouring one airline alliance when you choose your flights, you are able to build status with an airline's loyalty program.  The higher your status the less likely you will be selected for "bumping" when a flight is over-sold; and the more likely an airline will bend over backwards to help you out of a jam.  Also, with higher status comes extra privileges, such as priority check-in, priority boarding, lounge access, upgrades, etc.

* Get to the airport early.  Forget about pre-pandemic recommended check-in times.  Get there early.  Allow yourself more of a "cushion" in case of unexpected issues at the airport.

* Choose aisle seats, especially ones at the front of the plane for trips where you need to make a connection.  Ensure you will be able to disembark quickly once your flight lands, just in case you need to rush to the next gate when your flight is delayed.

* File complaints for every airline mishap.  Airlines take advantage of loopholes in compensation rules.  It is rare an airline actually has to compensate you for a delay or cancelled flight.  They have lobbied successfully with most governments to have built-in loopholes in the law, such as "safety", to avoid paying out legal compensation.  Instead, find the airline's customer service portal online and submit a complaint.  Typically, this will generate a "good-will" gesture such as bonus airline points, a discount coupon, or a cash voucher.  While this does nothing to avoid the problem, it at least helps compensate you for the inconvenience you experienced.