Events like labor strikes, mechanical strikes, summer thunderstorms and yes, even volcanoes can cause flight cancellations and delays. Your rights as an airline passenger can get sketchy, as carriers are not required to provide you with meals or a hotel room. So how can you protect yourself against worst-case travel scenarios like these? ShopSmart magazine compiled a list of the seven steps you can take to be prepared in advance:

Don’t Get Tripped Up

· Know the ground rules: There are no federal requirements when it comes to airline delays, so each carrier has its own guidelines. They’re listed in its “contract of carriage” agreement, available on its website (use the search function) or at ticket counters. Print out the relevant sections on delays and cancellations and take them with you, as well as your trip-insurance policy, if you’ve purchased one. 

· Consider using a travel agent: If you’re booking an international trip or a complicated itinerary, it can really pay off. When widespread cancellations occur, good agents have the know-how to rebook you through other cities or on other carriers.

· Charge your trip: Use a credit card for payment in case your airline delay is because the carrier—or any of your other travel providers—has gone belly up.

· Call ahead: To avoid getting stranded at the airport in the case of a problem, check your flight status online or by phone.

· Ask for help: If your plane is delayed, find out how long the disruption is likely to be and whether it’s a force majeure situation. That way, you can find out whether you might be entitled to any meals or a hotel room. Either way, it can’t hurt to ask for assistance.

· If your flight is cancelled, skip airport lines: Call reservations or your travel agent instead—it may be quicker than waiting at a customer-service counter. If you qualify, go to the airline lounge for help. Ask whether you can get rebooked on another airline. Using another carrier probably won’t speed things up if the delay is due to weather, but if could help if the delay is due to airline-specific issues like mechanical problems.

·  Use your status but be nice: If you’re an elite frequent flyer or traveling in premium class, or if you booked a full-fare tickets, be sure you let the airline rep know that because it may help you get freebies like phone cards or meal or hotel vouchers. Just keep in mind that airlines are not required to offer compensation “damages” in the case of delays, so demanding them can be a waste of energy. But you might have luck asking for credit toward a future flight.

source: ShopSmartMag September 2010 Issue

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