Weather is unpredictable. It can cause delays without warning and ruin your plans. This can be especially frustrating when you have important commitments scheduled, or a family event to attend. Unfortunately, flight cancellations and delays are very common.
Just as of day, there have been nearly 900 flight cancellations and around 16,500 flight delays globally according to FlightStats. If you travel with some frequency (or you’re just unlucky), chances are you’ll be stuck at an airport with some extra unexpected time on your hands.
To avoid making an already stressful situation even worse, you’ll need to relax. It may not be easy, but it is necessary. We’ve put together the following list of things you can do to reduce stress when you’re surprised by a long flight delay:-
- Accept the Situation
First thing first—accept your situation. Is there anything you can do about it? —No. The faster you accept that you’re stuck where you are, the faster you’ll be able to plan your next move. Instead of fuming or sulking, use the time to call the airline for an update, or check online to track your plane.
- Find Some Distractions
A lot of airports, especially the bigger ones, have all sorts of interesting shops. If you’re unfamiliar with the country you’re in, then it’s a great opportunity for you to explore. Find out how this country sells itself to tourists.
Airports are also increasingly adopting newer and better technology. You might find that the airport you’re in has free Wi-Fi zones, or even something more fascinating.
- Keep Fed and Hydrated
Keep drinking water or juice and stay hydrated for the duration of your stay. The same principle applies to food. Make sure you’re eating properly and consistently. Dehydration and hunger, combined with anxiety can easily lead to a meltdown.
Besides, there might be a restaurant, food item or entire cuisines you’ve never tried only a few meters away. Why not make the best of a bad situation?
- Get Back in Touch
You can use the time to get back in touch with friends and family you’ve been ignoring. We all get busy from time to time, but now you have the opportunity to remedy that. Make the most of it by calling those close to you, or even just sending a simple email. This is a productive, and rewarding, way to pass the time.
If nothing else can calm you down, use your cell phone to call family and friends. This is a great way to kill hours of time.
- Arrange for Your Ride Back Home
There is one last productive thing you can do while you’re stranded and that’s to book an airport limo or to pick you up. Your flight may have been long and frustrating, but there’s no reason your ride home should be.
Flight delays and cancellations can put the best laid travel plans to a halt. But just because you have a few unexpected hours doesn’t mean you can’t put the time to good use. Hopefully these tips help you on your travels.
Let us know how you cope with long delays in the comments!