The crisis started over Christmas weekend.
By Tuesday, thousands of flights all over the country were being canceled or delayed.
The chaos and mayhem and piled-up baggage at American airports were expected to continue this week.
Hey, weve been there and done that.
Here are eight of our best survival tips:
1.
Probably not as good as youd like.
It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings.
But what if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill?
Ask one of these companies to help…
2.
But they wont always tell you that.
Then theyre supposed to actually follow through and pay you that refund.
But it turns out, that doesnt always happen.
Lets say youre at the airport and your flight suddenly gets canceled or massively delayed.
Fuming, you drag your bags to the ticket counter.
Maybe the ticket agent tells you to sit tight and wait.
You dont have to wait for the next flight.
You dont have to take the voucher.
Dont let them tell you otherwise.
Be Nice
Look, be aware of your rights just dont be a jerkface about them.
Being stranded in the airport sucks, and nobody knows better than the people who work at the airport.
So dont take it out on them.
Remember: They didnt wish this snowstorm on you.
They probably want to go home to their families as much as you do.
The only difference is you arent getting screamed at by a merry-go-round of very unmerry passengers.
If you dont find availability near the airport, dont be afraid to venture farther afield.
Because you might just get lucky: Some offer reimbursement for travel delays.
Jump on Twitter
Not getting any traction with the airline in person or on the phone?
It sounds crazy, but weve gotten excellent service by sending out tweets and @mentioning the company.
And dont think its just because were with the media either; even airline reps make the same suggestion.
Buy a Lounge Pass
Airport lounges typically cost around $50 per day.
That might seem like an exorbitant cost until youre stuck for a significant amount of time, that is.
Getting stuck in the airport is one of lifes great annoyances.
But when your patience is running thin, remember thats all it is: an annoyance.
Its still an extraordinary privilege to travel especially in a giant metal box in the sky.
Mike Brassfield ([email protected]) is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.
Susan Shain is a former senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.
(Can you sense my millennial sarcasm there?)
You know which ones were talking about: rent, utilities, cell phone bill, insurance, groceries…
