Flying? What happens if.....

Oh flying.  I love to fly.  I fly a lot.  Most of the time, everything runs smoothly and life is good.

But.

What happens if:

My flight is canceled?

Get in touch with your airline by all means necessary.  Get in line at the counter, and get on the phone, and get on the website from someone else's phone (if you are traveling with someone).  Rebook as quick as you can.  Get that empty seat on another flight as fast as you can.  Do not wait to make it to the front of the line, if you can do it on the phone or online, do it.  Work out the details when you get to the counter.  Most flights and airlines run at a very high load factor (how full the plane is), and if there are empty seats on a flight on the same day, trust me when I tell you that there aren't enough for all the folks on the canceled flight.  That said, if you are in a large party or group or family, and you can split up, go for it.  If an airline cancels a flight, also, very often (unless it is out of their control like weather and then it is sometimes, not all the time) they will give you accommodations and food vouchers.

They will get you out, just the when is a question.  They wanted to run the flight too, promise and didn't cancel just to make folks cranky.

Another note, if you find a flight on a different airline, then you are on your own.  You will usually have to buy that seat on the different airline.  Your airline is under contract to you to fly you on that specific airline to your destination, not on any airline.

My flight is delayed and I will miss my connection?

Double check that you will indeed miss the connection.  If it is the last flight of the night, often times, they will hold the last flight of the night for connections.  Not always!  But sometimes.  I have seen it many times, especially with last flights of the night.  Mid day or morning missed connections will roll over to the next flight, usually.  You will be later then planned.

You miss the last connection and it is their fault, then see above.  Go to the counter, see if there is an alternative way to get to your destination (Orlando or ?), and if not, ask for accommodations and food vouchers and to be rebooked on the next flight, the next day.  If it is weather or something beyond their control, they aren't liable to assist in accommodations but maybe?  It never hurts to ask!

I can't sit together with my family?

This one is tricky.  For example, this is an issue with Southwest sometimes.  The flight attendants WANT you to sit your family, promise.  If you have a child who is 4 years old or younger, you can board with family boarding (between A and B groups).

If your child is 5 or 6, you are still worried but can't board with family boarding.  You are late in the process of boarding.  At this point, your best bet is, as you walk on the plane, talk to the first flight attendant you see at the door of the plane.  Point to your sweet youngest child, and ask if their is any seats together or close to each other (middles in front and behind each other might have to work where you reach your hand through the seats to hold hands).  Sometimes, the flight attendant will call to the back flight attendant and ask if they can move folks or save seats.

If your child is 9 or 10 or older, then resign yourselves to sitting separately and know the flight won't last forever.  Sit in front of each other in middle seats.  Younger (2nd grade and down), check with flight attendant to see if they can do something.

This flight is driving me nuts for whatever reason (noise, smell, clicking sounds, conversations)?

First, see if you can move.  With today's heavier flight loads, this isn't always an option but maybe?  If at all possible, just try to ignore it.  No flight lasts forever (and trust me, I have been on some that I thought would never end).  Peace and love, peace and love.  If it is kicking on the seat from behind you, maybe give them a look.  If it appears that the folks who are doing X which is driving you nuts won't be receptive to a gentle request, then DO NOT DO IT.  Remember, that you are in a confined space with folks whom you do not know and do not know how they will react.

If the seat belt sign goes off during the flight, and you can get up and go to the back of the plane for a break, do that.  Take the break.  Maybe ask the flight attendant if there is anything that can be done.  Sometimes all it takes is a professional in charge to make a request or point out the rules of the road to make folks understand.

Worse case, remember, it won't last forever, it won't last forever, it won't last forever.