When faced with travel issues, many travelers don't know how to respond. Take advantage of our expert advice on how to advocate for yourself in cases of flight disruptions or delays.

Minimize The Risk of Delays

There are some precautions you can take to minimize the risk of experiencing flight disruptions. Book direct flights whenever possible, even if they're a bit pricier. Morning flights are also a safer bet than evening ones, as it's less likely that delays on earlier flights will cause a delay on yours. If you're flexible with dates, avoid flying on the weekend as these are the busiest times and sometimes airports can't handle all the passenger traffic.

Advocate For Yourself

If all of the above tips didn't help and you're now facing a delay, don't despair. The specific compensation you'll receive varies by airline but they should by all means put you on a later flight to your destination. Be proactive with contacting the airline. You can wait in line for help at the airport, check the airline's app, call them or contact them on Twitter. Airlines are often very hard to reach during delays, so try to find the least popular method of contacting them. This may be their Spanish-speaking phone line or a call center in a different country. Also, try to find the next available flight on Google Flights or Skyscanner, so that you can ask to be put on it once you manage to reach customer support.

Always Get Travel Insurance

Generally, airlines aren't required to financially compensate you for your time or provide you with food, although some might do it of their own volition. However, it's best that you don't rely on their generosity and get travel insurance. It typically covers meals and hotel accommodation and further compensation if you don't reach your destination at all.

You may be able to get basic travel insurance through your credit card, so check in with your bank. If you have booked through a third-party provider such as Expedia or Kayak, you need to reach out to them directly.