Cope With Missing a Flight
Whether it is your fault or the airline's, missing a flight can be an enormous hassle. Afraid this may happen to you? You need look no further than this article!
Contents
Steps
Before the Flight
- Carry on things you'll need. The day before, pack Lighten Your Backpack or bags with Keep a Toothbrush Clean, books or magazines, a laptop if possible, and any other things you'd need if you lost your luggage. This way you will have all necessary items in case you do miss a flight.
- Know the airport before departing. You can probably find a map using Google or the airport's website. This will help prevent getting lost.
- Run to the area of boarding if you think you are late. This can save precious time. Don't be embarrassed -- people will understand. Don't waste any time going to the bathroom or throwing anything out, because you can do that on the airplane.
After the Flight
- Ask if it is too late. In some countries, they may let you get on the plane by the last second. Understand that the security in the US and international flights is high and you will usually not be let on.
- Go to Get Better Customer Service. Ask for a supervisor or manager. They will reassign you a flight, which can be anywhere from a few hours later to a few days. If money isn't a problem for you, see if you can take a more expensive flight through another airline or airport. You may find yourself on "standby" for some flights, which means that you don't have a confirmed seat, but if one comes available, it's yours.
- Ask for vouchers and overnight bags. Vouchers can save you lots of money in getting a place to stay, and overnight bags normally contain Keep a Toothbrush Clean, hairbrushes, razors and shaving creams, and sometimes a t-shirt. If you have any nearby friends or relatives, and they don't mind, you can stay with them temporarily.
- Find things to do near you. Even if you think you are in the middle of nowhere, if there's an airport, there are probably tourist attractions. If you have a laptop or an internet cafe available, Google "things to do in [city]". If you're staying at a hotel, they will usually have flyers and brochures near the front that you can look at.
- Be patient. If you spend time working things out with Get Better Customer Service, it will normally only be a couple of days. Find a nice manager or other Get Good Customer Service when Talking to a Customer Service Representative and ask for them every time you return to the airport.
Tips
- Let the airport manager know what you can't afford, and try to earn their sympathy if it's your fault.
- An advantage to getting stuck in-between your place of departure and destination is that you will have less jet lag.
- If you find yourself feeling depressed, pretend that the plan was to spend time in the city you're stuck in. You'll have a much better time.
Warnings
- Don't anger the people at customer service. This will make them even less likely to help you.
- Ask people for help getting around. Making friends in a place you've never been to can be a great experience.
Things You'll Need
- Money
- Friends (optional)
- Acting skills (optional)
Related Articles
References
- http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060831202733AAuF0T3
- http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080701075803AATZ7i0