One of the biggest mood killers of an excited traveller is the notification of flight delays, or worse, cancellations. Be it a short distance or a long-distance journey, a flight delay does hamper the start of your trip, in case, you have everything time-bound later. And of late, because of the unpredictable weather in different parts of the world, flight delays are becoming more common. As of now in India, because of the tense environment due to the political turmoil, many flights are getting cancelled. In case you have your flight reservations in the next few days and already feeling anxious about the delays or cancellations, we give you some ways to tackle this anxiety. Want to Book Cheaper Flight Tickets? Follow These Simple Tricks for Budget-Friendly Travel.

Ways to Deal With Flight Delays and Cancellations

1. Book Early Flights

You may be a late riser, but when you are travelling, choose an early morning flight. There is a lesser chance of the first flight of the airline getting delayed or cancelled. But if at all the flight is delayed through the day, the schedule of next flights could get affected.

2. Book Nonstop Flights

Don't book for a via-via flight unless there is no option for a direct flight. A direct flight may cost a little more but at least, if your first flight gets delayed, you won't have to deal with the anxiety of reaching on time for the next flight.

3. Check The Weather in Advance

One of the major reasons for flight delays is the weather condition. Keep an eye on the weather report 48 to 72 hours prior to your flight time. At least you will have an idea beforehand if there are any chances of delay, and be prepared to spend extra time at the airport. Travel Tip Of The Week: Travelling Alone? Things To Keep in Mind Before a Solo Trip.

4. Track Your Flight

There are several applications which let you check on your flight status. Download the right applications like FlightAware.com to track the incoming airplanes. You can track your current flight as well as the next flight options, in case you have to rebook.

5. Save Important Numbers

Always save the customer care numbers of your flight company and bookmark the website on your phone. In case of a flight delay, all the stranded passengers are going to head to the counter for rescheduling. You could beat the queue and call the airline numbers because you have them saved.

6. Always Take a Travel Insurance

At a time when you constantly hear of flight delays and cancellations, it is best to get your journey insured. Book refundable flights or insure your journeys with travel insurance. It will at least be a little comforting that you are not losing a lot of your money on tickets.

7. Know Your Passenger Rights

Each airline has a set of policies for the customers in case of delays or cancellations. There are policies for compensations and you need to be aware to utilise them. Some airline companies will put you on the next flight immediately if there is a mechanical delay or compensate the money in case of cancellations. Some may have special offers and perks, so know what all rights you have.

8. Use Social Media For Assistance

Not every airline social media pages are active but several of them are active in real-time. Start posting or tweeting to them about your problem and see if they can help you with the issue.

9. Don't Panic, Be Active

The first reaction of most people in such situations is panic. But more than panic, you need to b active and check up on what you can do next. Be pro-active and start taking the steps which will be more helpful rather than calling up people and tell your flight is delayed/cancelled.

These are some of the ways in which you can tackle with the flight delays and in case there are any cancellations. Stay calm, unnecessary fretting and anger will not help. You need to act quick and smart. We hope you have safe travels!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 22, 2019 04:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).