How to deal with foul weather

Anytime of the year, your travel plans may be impacted by bad weather. While it may look like clear skies when you wake up on the morning of your departure, we all know that weather can change in the blink of an eye. Clear skies fill with clouds and lightning, or snow dumps from the sky without warning. Whether it is high winds, sleet, ice or snow slowing your journey, you can alleviate the frustration of foul weather. With a little planning you can avoid a bad start that will linger through your whole holiday.

Book morning flights.

This one may not make a lot of sense up front, but once you think about it, you’ll understand why morning flights are consistently the most reliable. In the morning, flights are less likely to be delayed or cancelled, unlike the evening flights. As soon as one flight is delayed or cancelled due to bad weather, hundreds of others follow suit as resources, personnel and planes are tied up in other locations. As the day progresses, it becomes more likely that planes won’t arrive, or they will be put at the back of a long waiting line for taking off as a result of the day’s delays.

Get forecasts before you leave.

Before you depart for any sort of travel, always be sure to check the weather in your city and your arrival city to get an idea of what’s in store for the day. This way you can be in the know about potential weather problems and keep an eye on them as the day develops.

Call airlines early and often.

Each and every flight delay costs airlines dearly, so they won’t announce a delay or cancellation until it is absolutely certain that the delay will be occurring. While you may be assured that your flight is on time in the morning, just 30 minutes later, the status could have changed. Stay in the know and call back frequently to get up-to-date information about your flight’s status.

Get to the airport early.

Say you’ve called ahead and checked the weather report and all is looking like it will turn out alright. That doesn’t mean you should arrive later than you normally would. Like all flights, be sure to plan ahead and budget for a couple hours before your departure time (for international flights) so that if something unexpected happens weather-wise, you’ll have the time and flexibility to move around and go with the flow. Need to head to a new gate number? No problem, you’ve got time!

Call your airline’s international number.

Weather got you down? Literally? If your flight is cancelled, or you see a connecting flight will be impacted by incoming weather, get on the phone as fast as you can. These days, calling your airline’s international number is convenient, easy and almost guarantees some sort of satisfaction—plus you won’t have to stand in line. As soon as the flight announcement is made, get on the phone to get what you need to deal with the foul weather.

Stick close to your gate.

Perhaps the first tendency of customers when they hear their flights have been delayed is to leave the gate. Maybe you will want to grab food, buy more magazines, invest in a neck pillow, or call your family in a quieter spot. Whatever your reason to stray, make sure at least one member of your travel party sticks close to the gate. The airline’s agents at the gate will often announce important information about the flight status, lodging offers, alternative options for travel and more. If you aren’t there to hear the announcements, you can’t take advantage of the offers.

Know your travel insurance policy.

Travel insurance is a real saviour when weather-related events interfere with travel plans. As always, before you buy, be sure to review the policy details so you can fully understand what you are and are not covered for. Different providers offer different benefits, so do your research and choose wisely.