A blizzard has halted most air travel on the East Coast. Here are some ways to help you cope with a flight delay.
All over the country, from Chicago to Charlotte, flights have been cancelled because of a huge blizzard. You may find yourself camped out in an airport waiting room for hours, or frantically trying to report to work from a relative’s ten-year-old computer. Travel delays can be stressful—here are a few tips that can help you or someone you love who’s trying to make it home.
If your airline won’t give you a free hotel voucher, make a booking through hotwire.com or priceline.com. You’re likely to save up to 50 percent of what you’d pay booking directly through the hotel, and many airport-adjacent hotels are available.
Know your rights as a passenger. The Department of Transportation recently approved a set of rules that airlines must follow for the sake of their passengers’ comfort, such as not keeping passengers in a waiting plane for more that three hours. See the PDF FAQ of the full guidelines here, and if you feel that your rights have been violated, notify the proper authorities.
Consider flying to an alternate airport. If your original destination is impossible to access and you’re in a rush, take a look at nearby destinations. Chances are, you may be able to fly to a different airport, then take a train or bus to your final destination.
Stay calm, and try to have fun. Remember, the airport staff is overworked, and weather delays aren’t their fault—don’t take your stress out on them. If you’re stuck at an airport, try to make the most of the time by striking up conversations with your fellow wayward travelers, or pull out your guitar for an impromptu show, as Josh Wilson did.