Finding a course to take when your vacation plans immediately veer off track can seem like a struggle.

Let’s say your flight has been canceled as a result of a hurricane, and you need to either book another one or find a hotel for the night. Of course, you do n’t want to have to pay all of this out of pocket. Do you speak with the wall agent, try to speak with the airport on the phone, just like everyone else, or does travel insurance intervene?

It’s a fair concern given that 29 % of the 281.7 million air people in the U. S. had a delayed flight this past summer, with 2.2 % of those delayed for over three days, due to a 2023 survey by Air Help, a customer support organization.

Due to a separate study conducted by AirHelp of 1, 363 people, 70 % of those who experienced considerable disturbance, such as a two-hour or more delay or flight cancellation, ended up spending additional money on alternative travel, lodging, or dishes.

” Without knowing their rights, it’s difficult for passengers to understand the necessary steps they should be taking to pursue a refund for a flight disruption”, said Tomasz Pawliszyn, CEO of Air Help. It’s even more crucial for passengers to be aware of what they are owed in the event of a disruption and what steps to take to receive compensation when they are eligible, with stronger protections in place in the U.S.

When your flight is disrupted, here’s how you can get assistance from airlines and travel insurance.

What should I do when my flight is canceled?

Speak to the airline first, even if you have travel insurance, according to Stan Sandberg, co-founder of TravelInsurance .com.

Because of the Department of Transportation’s requirement, airlines must reimburse passengers for any cancellations for any reason and for refusing to board an alternate flight. If you do want to get on another flight, it’s the airline that will help you rebook.

Pawliszyn agrees, adding that you should head directly to the airline’s customer service desk at the airport. ” If you’re already at the airport, this is likely still the fastest way to get help”, he added. The airline staff has “rebooking options” and other options. To ensure the smoothest possible flow of the process, have your flight information, booking information, and identification at hand.

You can reach the airline via a phone call or its mobile app, such as United Airlines ‘ chat feature, if the line is already long.

Many airlines also offer tools for managing their own rebooking through their websites or app.

Contact your travel insurance provider’s “emergency assistance number” after speaking with the airline. This may cover additional costs or financial losses, such as if you need to book a hotel overnight or are now missing your cruise departure. According to Sandberg,” There are specialists on the other side of that call to help you navigate any emergency.”

Travel insurance coverage varies, but providers typically bundle protections for unforeseen events into a single plan, so you’ll probably get coverage for things such as accidental deaths, trip interruptions, or baggage delays. The big ones, according to Sandberg, are that they will protect your wallet in the event of an emergency that forces you to miss your trip.

Before the trip even begins, it’s in your best interest to find out what you’re covered for so you know what you can claim. He advised users to “go to a comparison website to get a quote and go over the plan options” available. Before making a purchase, you can also give travel insurance companies a call and let them know what you’re worried about and how to get that protection.

What should I do when my flight is delayed?

Like with cancellations, contact your airline ASAP. If your flight is significantly delayed, you may be eligible for a full refund under the new DOT rule. Significant delays have recently been defined as more than three hours for domestic flights and six hours for international flights, and the DOT now requires that passengers be reimbursed in the same way for cancellations or departures from the airline. Previously, compensation was up to the airlines ‘ discretion, making it a bit confusing for passengers to figure out what they’re owed.

The DOT also added” significantly changed” flights coverage, which includes “departures or arrivals from different airports, increases in the number of connections, instances where passengers are downgraded to a lower class of service, connections at different airports or flights on different planes that are less accessible or accommodating to a person with a disability.”

How can I cover the cost of my hotel or meals while I wait?

Airlines may provide overnight accommodations or meal vouchers, but it’s not guaranteed. If you have travel insurance, give them a call and find out what’s covered by your policy. These additional expenses may be covered by it.

The second you hear that your flight is canceled or even delayed, Pawliszyn suggests to “demand that the airline tells you the cause of the disruption” for your own record-keeping. Be sure to keep documentation, like pictures and screenshots of boarding passes, notifications from the airlines and receipts. ” To ensure passengers are getting the most reimbursement, it’s always wise to gather the necessary evidence to support your eligibility claim”, he said. If you’re also claiming travel insurance, this will also be helpful.

Make sure you have a thorough understanding of your policy in advance so you can prepare for it. For example, there might be a daily payout cap and a minimum delay length before insurance begins.

When my baggage is lost or delayed, what should I do?

Make a beeline for the luggage counter if you soon learn that you wo n’t be reunited with your belongings once you arrive at your destination.

The good news is that you’ll receive a refund. Airlines have to reimburse passengers for “reasonable, verifiable, and actual incidental expenses that they may incur while their bags are delayed”, within maximum liability limits, which are$ 3, 800 for domestic and$ 1, 780 for international, according to the DOT. If your bag was straight-up lost, airlines are required to compensate you for its content, given depreciation and the maximum liability amounts.

If a passenger’s luggage is n’t returned to them within 12 hours for domestic travel or 15 to 30 hours for international travel, depending on the length of the trip, passengers are also entitled to a refund for any checked bag fees they paid.

A comprehensive policy like trip interruption coverage, as well as a travel insurance plan, can help with this. ” If you lost your luggage and your bag is delayed, you’ll need to buy a bunch of stuff to make up for it”, he said. Save all of your receipts to a backend claim to be reimbursed. If you have the documentation and you’re a little organized, the process is fast and easy”.