5 Mistakes Travelers Make When Their Flight Is Delayed or Canceled

A flight that’s severely delayed or, worse, canceled altogether is the situation most travelers dread. Unfortunately, such disruptions are common. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Statistics, less than 80% of domestic flights arrived on time in June 2024. Of the rest, most were impacted by factors such as inclement weather, airport congestion, and the late arrival of inbound aircraft. If you haven’t experienced a flight delay or cancellation recently, there’s a good chance you will at some point in the future. If that happens, avoid these five common mistakes travelers make when their flight is delayed or canceled.

Flying Off the Handle at Gate Staff

Customer service staff at the airport — particularly gate agents — tend to find themselves on the receiving end of passengers’ frustration, often because they are the most visible representatives of the airline. But losing your temper at the gate isn’t going to improve the situation — it’s not the agents’ fault you aren’t taking off at the scheduled time. Instead, remain polite as you find out what your options are, and agents will be more inclined to go the extra mile as they help you figure out a workable alternative. 

Failing To Act Quickly

If your flight has been canceled and you’re already at the gate, you’ll be one of a whole planeload of passengers who will need to be rebooked onto a later flight. Though agents work as quickly as possible, dealing with a high volume of customers takes time. While you wait in line, it’s also worth using that time to check the airline’s website or app or try to get in touch with the airline customer service desk on your cellphone. Even if you don’t get a resolution before you reach the front of the queue, multitasking in this way could secure you the last available seat to reach your destination that night.

Assuming All Airlines Are Equal

As of 2024, delayed or canceled passengers now enjoy certain rights under law for what the DOT defines as “significant” flight disruptions. For anything else, customer service commitments still vary from airline to airline. To help travelers see exactly which steps different airlines promise to take, the DOT has introduced a helpful dashboard. For the most part, though, if you’ve experienced a controllable delay or cancellation (such as late arriving crew or aircraft maintenance), U.S. carriers will rebook you free of charge — sometimes even with another carrier — and provide hotel vouchers. 

If you’re flying in Europe, under regulation EU 261, you’ll be entitled not only to a refund for a canceled or significantly delayed flight but also extra cash as compensation for your inconvenience. Note that the cause of the disruption can have an impact on what you’re entitled to, as some issues are considered to be outside the airline’s control.

Trying To Resolve It Through Social Media

If you’re getting nowhere fast with your attempts at rebooking a canceled flight or claiming compensation after an extended delay, it can be tempting to vent on social media platforms. Though doing so might make you feel better in the short term, it leaves you vulnerable to attention from spam accounts trying to harvest your personal data or even scam you out of money for phony rebooking or administration fees. Take care to ensure you are contacting the official account, and be especially wary if asked for details of a credit card or your frequent flyer account.

Not Staying Near the Gate 

If you’re still at home or in your hotel room when the notification of a flight delay comes through, it can be tempting to stay put. After all, there’s no point in traveling to the airport just to sit around for hours, right? Not exactly. Delays can often change at short notice, so you still need to be at the gate on time in case the flight does leave at its allotted time. For instance, the airline may have been able to source a standby crew unexpectedly or resolve a technical problem more quickly than it anticipated. If that’s the case, the plane won’t wait if you aren’t available to board.