Four Tips for Surviving Delays and Cancellations Thanks to an Airline Computer Glitch

June 21, 2011 at 9:08 AM | by JetSetCD | Comments (0)

Yes, in this modern day and age, we're still at the mercy of tech glitches. No one knows this better than international airlines, who move millions of people around the world every day in flying machines that rely on other machines, that rely on other machines and systems and so on and so forth. The most recent victims of computer issues (both within the last two weeks!) were US Airways and United, though any airline worth its salt has had their runin with such digital drama; even the FAA's systems go down every so often.

According to ABC News, the United issue effected over 3,000 travelers at LAX alone. So how do you keep yourself from becoming one of the confused and angry masses when there's no one to scream at (because it's a computer problem)? This way...

Our Top Four Tips for Surviving an Airline Computer Glitch:

· Own a smartphone or iPad or similar gadget—a device that's easily portable and able to do more elaborate things than make phone calls and send texts. We can't even tell you how many times just being able to access the internet on our phone has saved our ass in similar travel crises.

· Follow your airline on Twitter and Facebook. Know what's easy for your airline to do? Tweet about any service issues or fixes; this news will reach you faster than waiting for them to update their homepage with a travel advisory or to email or call you. When there's a situation that affects thousands of passengers (or heaven forbid, hundreds of thousands), you want to be one of the ones who somewhat knows what's going on, and among the first in line for rebooking. Additionally, it's ridiculous how many people tweet gripes to their airline on Twitter, but aren't following them. FOLLOW THEM. You're entrusting your life to this company and their flying machines, and you're not even letting them Direct Message you.

· Cut your itinerary to as few flight segments as possible. Non-stops are your friend. Every layover you build into a trip—though it may raise your frequent flyer miles—also increases the chance of missed or cancelled connections and unexpected stays in strange airports. While you're stuck on your layover because the airline's systems are down, you could instead have been up in the air, almost to your destination on a direct flight.

· Remain calm. A glitch means passengers are stuck with delayed or cancelled flights, airline staff is overworked, confused and frustrated, and most likely everyone is nearing their breaking point. Don't be the person who, in a heated moment, makes a comment that'll be quickly regretted. For example, don't say something like "I'm going to kill everyone if I don't get on the next flight," or "I bet this flight would make it to [airport] faster if there was a bomb onboard." Of course these are extreme, but it's not difficult for things to escalate when you're angry, tired, hungry and surrounded by hundreds in the same ill position.

[Photo: burningairlinesgiveyousomuchmore]

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