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- Call your airline while waiting in line — phone agents often rebook you faster than the counter.
- Try the international customer service number or airline chat for shorter waits and quicker help.
- Use airline lounge agents or buy a day pass — they can work magic during irregular operations.
- Download the airline’s app and enable notifications for instant rebooking, hotel/meal offers, and updates.
Travelers are always on the lookout for time-saving tips, and there is no more important time for a solid travel hack than during a delay or flight cancellation.
In a viral Reddit post, travelers are sounding off about the best airport hack they wished they knew sooner, and how the simple—yet surprisingly underrated—tip is something even a frequent traveler might overlook.
According to the post, travelers stuck after a flight cancellation or delay should avoid solely relying on the ticket or gate counter since for each person who is assisted, it could mean one less seat available for a passenger towards the end of the line. Instead, pull out your phone.
“If your flight gets delayed or canceled, don’t just wait in the long customer service line at the airport. Call the airline while you’re standing in line,” the traveler shared in the Reddit thread. “A lot of the time, you’ll get through to a phone agent before you even reach the counter and they can rebook you faster.”
As an added time saver, the poster also recommended calling the international customer service number since it can sometimes boast a shorter wait time.
The viral post, which received more than 3,000 upvotes on Reddit, is filled with dozens of comments of fellow travelers chiming in with their own tips and tricks using personal experiences solving delay problems.
“Airlines that offer chat customer support are amazing,” one traveler shared. “It’s so much faster and easier than trying to be on a phone call.”
Another traveler recommended tasking the agents in an airline’s lounge if you have access. “These agents can work magic if you’re experiencing irregular ops,” they wrote.
“Do whatever it takes–buy a day pass, pay for the credit card, outright buy a lounge membership, whatever,” they added. “I fly only about once a month, but it’s valuable several times a year and has saved me a lot of hassle over the years.”
Whether by phone call, in person, or texting, several travelers said the best way to get great service was to be kind. “You catch more flies with honey,” one traveler wrote.
Beyond in-person assistance, travelers can also download their specific airline’s smartphone app, which may be able to provide immediate re-booking assistance, and potentially even a complimentary hotel or meal. United Airlines, for example, updated its app in 2023 to automatically offer customers re-booking options and provide bag tracking information during a flight disruption.
Passengers can also sign up for automatic email or text notifications when there is a flight issue so they’re on top of any changes.
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