Stuck at the Airport? Your Step-by-Step Survival Plan for Delayed Flights

Rolling black clouds welcomed me to Chicago’s O’Hare Airport one morning in 2017 as my United flight from Toronto landed on time. Bad news came a few minutes later.

Thanks to this severe storm front, my connecting flight to Houston and home was canceled, along with dozens of other flights. I wasn’t alone.

At some point, almost every frequent flyer ends up exactly where I was: stuck, frustrated, and trying to figure out their next move. Thus began a 15-hour adventure as I worked feverishly to find creative solutions to being stuck in a major airport.

If you’re paying attention to the headlines, you know that delayed and canceled flights and other travel challenges like I experienced are more and more common. 

This article updated March, 2026, with current trends, tips, and strategies.

Over the years, I’ve flown many flights, domestic and international. Unfortunately, I’ve occasionally run into glitches, from short flight delays to oversold flights that canceled my standby status, to flights rescheduled for a day or two later.

When you fly, whether for business, pleasure, or a combination of the two, life can get interesting at the airport.

In this article, I’ve consolidated my years of experience handling travel challenges like flight delays and cancellations into a comprehensive guide on preparing for and surviving them.

Why are flights canceled?

Flights are rescheduled, delayed, or completely canceled for many reasons:

• Weather or natural disasters — Severe weather is the most frequent reason for delayed and canceled flights. Just one of those things no one has much control over.
• Staff problems — Restrictions in the number of hours pilots and flight attendants may work require delays until a fresh crew can arrive.
• Security issues — Someone tries to get through security with a firearm or some other forbidden item, and before you know it, the entire airport can be locked down, including flights on the tarmac.
• Union strikes — Typically, you’ll know about these ahead of time as will the airline, so this is when paying attention to the airline app can help you avoid more complications than necessary.
• Mechanical problems — This is very often just a delay, sometimes it’s something minor like an overhead compartment repair, other times it’s more serious.
• Unruly passengers — Seems like this is happening more often, both at airports and on flights themselves. There’s not much you can do other than stay out of the way, follow instructions from airline and security personnel, and wait it out.
• Local safety concerns at your destination — Mexico in early 2026, saw escalated cartel violence in some of the most popular tourist destination with flights canceled, and the war in Iran with cities like Dubai being attacked, airports were shut for a time. This is why monitoring your destination’s current situation, not just the weather, is part of being a smart traveler.

What are flight trends at any given moment? View live data about flight delays and cancellations globally and just in the U.S.

Before You Travel: How to Prepare

Just as with preparing for emergencies and disasters, the time to prepare for travel challenges is BEFORE you’re experiencing them. Here are some ways to do that:

Stay Updated About Current Events

The first rule to follow is to stay updated with weather, natural disaster, and airline developments in the days and hours leading to your flight so you’ll know how to prepare. Monitor both your departure and destination airport.

Whatever weather app you’re using, add the cities you’re traveling to so you know ahead of time not only what to expect when you arrive but also how you should pack. Unseasonably warm? Freak winter storm? You can be ready for either, or both!

Join a Frequent Flyer Program

This is something you should do weeks and months before your next flight — become a loyal customer to the airline(s) of your choice. Start with the airlines whose local airport is their hub, as this will frequently be the airline you use, simply due to proximity and convenience.

In my case, and since Houston is a United hub, we primarily fly United for all our flights and have registered with their frequent flyer program.

Even if you never rack up enough points for free flights, the loyalty pays off in other ways, and it pays off especially when things go wrong.

Here’s how I use my United status as an example of what might be available to you:

• Combine airline points with hotel chain loyalty points. If you also have a loyalty account with a hotel chain, check to see if those points are combinable with those of any particular airline. For example, my Marriott travel program gives me Premier Silver status with United, automatically upgrading my flights to Economy Plus with extra leg room and one free checked bag. Plus, the benefits extend to my husband.
• The right airline credit card does more than earn points. It can bump you into an earlier boarding group, which matters more than you’d think. By the time later groups board, overhead compartments are often full, and your carry-on gets checked at the gate, which defeats the whole purpose of traveling light.
• With accumulated points, you can use them to purchase food and drink within the airline’s terminal. This is a nice perk for the occasional traveler who has points but will likely never have enough for a free flight. Spend them at the airport on a snack or cocktail.

None of this requires elite status or a platinum card. Even a basic frequent flyer account puts you a step ahead of the traveler who has no relationship with the airline at all, and that relationship can get you better treatment when a flight gets canceled and everyone is competing for the same scarce seats.

One time when we were leaving Cancun, we heard our names announced through the loudspeaker at the gate, and were thrilled to find we had been upgraded to First Class due to our Silver Status with United. I had connected my Marriott Bonvoy account to my United account and we got a very nice perk.

Purchase Travel Insurance

Make room in your budget for travel insurance, especially now. Over the years, I’ve traveled tens of thousands of miles with no travel insurance with only a handful of blips and glitches. Nowadays, with the number of flight cancellations, the reduced number of pilots and flight attendants, and other complications, the risk of a canceled flight is worth paying a little extra to cover.

For international travel where even more complications can arise at any given moment and possibly in a language you don’t understand and in a city where you’re not a resident, travel insurance is even more important.

If you’ve purchased your flights using a credit card, you may already have travel insurance through that card. For example, two popular Chase credit cards offer:

• Chase Sapphire cardmembers benefit from a wide variety of travel protections including Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance, Baggage Delay Insurance, and Auto Rental Coverage.
• Sapphire Reserve^® travel benefits include Emergency Evacuation and Transportation coverage. 
• Travel and Emergency Assistance can provide legal and medical referrals to cardmembers while traveling.

American Express offers something similar:

Trip & Baggage

In case your trip gets canceled, interrupted, or delayed, or your bags get lost.

• Trip Cancellation
• Trip Interruption
• Global Baggage Protection
• Trip Delay

Travel Medical & Accidents

Coverage in case of hospitalization, and medical or dental emergencies while traveling.

• Travel Accident Protection
• Global Medical Protection

Whether it’s travel insurance through an independent company like Allianz or through your credit card company, read the fine print of any travel insurance policy you’re considering, so there aren’t any unpleasant surprises. And, not every card carries the same type and level of travel insurance.

Knowing your travel plans have a safety net sets the stage for a more pleasant and comfortable time at the airport if your flight is canceled or delayed.

Pick the Right Flight

If possible, schedule your flight for the first flight of the day.

I know it’s not much fun to wake up at 4 a.m. or so in the morning to make a 7 a.m. flight. However, multiple flights are still available later in the day if that flight is canceled. This increases your chances of getting out of town.

If you’re still at home when your flight is canceled, most airlines now allow you to make flight changes without additional charges. On a recent family trip to Arizona, our flight from Houston kept getting pushed back hour after hour. I was grateful we had started with an earlier flight so there were still plenty of options even four hours later when we finally boarded.

Just pay the difference between the two flights, and you might even get a credit if the rescheduled flight is cheaper. You can likely make that change directly from the airline’s phone app.

Download the Airline App!

A traveler’s best friend is the airline app. If you haven’t done so already, download the apps now for any airline you usually use. This would be the ideal time to set up an account with each airline so you’ll have them ready when you’re ready to book your next flight.

You can use the app’s QR code as your boarding pass, so you don’t need a printed one. Also, read airline policies and check your flight status before heading to the airport. 

In a later section, we’ll cover how the app helps with delayed and canceled flights.

Your New Passenger Rights: What the Law Now Guarantees

When a flight is canceled, what are you actually owed? For years, getting a refund or any kind of compensation from an airline felt like a negotiation you were destined to lose, and it could take weeks to get your money back. That has changed, at least somewhat.

A new federal rule in 2024 requires airlines to give automatic cash refunds if your flight is canceled or changed significantly. You don’t need to request it or argue with the airline at the customer service counter. If your flight is canceled and you do not want a rebooking or travel voucher, the refund will be sent to you automatically in the same way you paid. For example, if you paid by credit card, the money will go back to your card, not as an airline credit that expires in a year.

What counts as “significantly changed”?

The rule spells this out clearly for the first time. You’re entitled to a refund if:

• Your departure or arrival airport changes
• Your departure or arrival time shifts by 3 or more hours domestically (6 hours internationally)
• Your number of connections increases
• You’re downgraded to a lower class of service
• Your connection airport changes to one that is less accessible for a passenger with a disability

One important note: if you accept a rebooking or a voucher, you’ve given up your right to a cash refund. A voucher ties you to that airline. You can’t use it to book a flight with anyone else. The cash refund returns actual money to you. Don’t accept anything automatically under pressure. Take a breath, look at your options, and then decide what to do.

What airlines are now committed to providing

Beyond refunds, most major U.S. airlines have made public, binding commitments about what they’ll provide during controllable cancellations and significant delays, meaning problems caused by the airline itself, like crew scheduling issues or mechanical problems, rather than weather.

In this scenario, you can ask for and expect:

• Rebooking on the next available flight at no charge
• Hotel accommodations for overnight delays caused by the airline
• Meal vouchers for significant delays
• Transportation to and from the hotel

Weather cancellations are a different story. Airlines generally don’t owe you a hotel room when a storm shuts down an airport, though it never hurts to ask politely. This is exactly why travel insurance matters, and why your credit card’s travel protections are worth understanding before you ever leave home. It’s also why I’ve included a section below, “If You Have To Sleep At The Airport!”

You can see exactly what your airline has promised at flightrights.gov. It’s worth looking this up before your next trip so you’re not trying to figure it out in the middle of a chaotic airport. When you talk with a customer service rep, know what you’re entitled to, ask politely, and smile.

In case of a cancelation or delay, other travelers will line up at the customer service desk or the gate, confused about their options. Some will angrily demand hotel and meal vouchers or to be put on the next flight, no matter what.

You’ll have a massive advantage by knowing your rights and what the airline can offer. Plus, being extra polite, patient, and kind to the airline employee might earn additional assistance.

Some frequent flyers I know carry $10 Starbucks gift cards to serve as small appreciation gifts for overworked flight attendants, gate agents, and other airline personnel. These employees are your best source of information for flights out, getting you on an alternative airline, and handing out vouchers.

So no matter what, be kind to them.

Here’s Exactly What To Do In The First 10 Minutes When Your Flight Is Canceled

As soon as you know, do two things first:

1. When I’m stuck at an airport, I first scope out the most comfortable sitting area close to an electric outlet.
2. Then I activate the airline phone app ASAP for the latest news about the flight and other flight options and plug in your laptop for easier browsing, if you have one.

Now you’re ready to get to work and solve your cancelation dilemma!

Use the Airline App

With flight delays and cancelations, the app usually alerts you before the gate agent makes the official announcement.

Beyond alerts, the app provides some helpful info to help you make your next move. For example, if you have a hunch that your flight will be delayed or canceled, get on the app, and look for other flights. In addition, you’ll be able to see a seat map for each flight which lets you know if there will be enough available seats for your party.

With this knowledge, you can make the gate agent’s job a lot easier by knowing which flight you want and even asking, nicely, for specific seats. I fly standby a lot and use this strategy to get the seat I want.

At this point, if you don’t want to wait, use the app to change your flight and then relax, grab a bite to eat, and get comfy until that newly booked flight leaves.

Other things the app can help you with:

• Airport maps
• Rebooking directly from the app during a cancellation
• Upgrade your flight
• Seat preference alert — set your seat preference ahead of time and get an alert when it becomes available
• Add a package offer to your ticket, such as lounge access
• Track your checked luggage
• Pre-order snacks and meals
• Locations of airline’s lounges
• Food and drink menus for flights
• Provide flight status
• Lounge capacity tool — find the nearest lounge and whether or not it’s at capacity
• Luggage policies
• Pet and service animal policies
• Passenger rights

Your Travel Options with Flight Cancellations

If your flight is canceled, you may have more options than you think. In the case of that long delay at the Chicago O’Hare airport I mentioned at the top of this article, I worked through a few options and finally settled on one that, surprisingly, provided a quick, one-night visit with my parents.

My decision tree looked something like this:

Can you get a later flight to your destination?

Check this option first. If the only inconvenience is waiting at the airport for the next flight, this is probably the easiest. When I was stuck in Chicago that one stormy day, unfortunately, every plane to Houston was booked for the rest of the day.

So I moved on to the next possibility.

Can you fly to a different, nearby city, rent a car, and drive the rest of the way home?

If your flight is canceled and there is little chance of getting on a similar flight any time soon, maybe not for another day or longer, this is a good strategy.

In my case, Dallas, Austin, or San Antonion would have worked. I get back into Texas and within driving distance of home — but no dice.

Chicago to Dallas — every flight was full.

Chicago to Austin — every flight was full.

Chicago to San Antonio — every flight was full!

If you can’t get a flight to an airport near your destination…

Can you get a hotel room and fly home the next day?

Depending on the cause of the delay or cancelation, the airline may or may not provide hotel vouchers. There’s no guarantee. This is when your travel insurance, credit card insurance, AAA, or money in your bank account comes in handy.

If you must pay out-of-pocket, weigh the expense of the hotel against the inconvenience and discomfort of sleeping at the terminal and then getting transportation back to the airport the next day.

Be sure to brush up on hotel room safety if you go this route.

Can you sleep at the airport and take a flight home the following day?

Sleeping at the airport was not ideal on that fateful Chicago trip, but I was willing.

If you choose this route (or have no choice but this), keep reading for great tips to make this safer and more comfortable. 

Before I resorted to napping in the terminal, I wanted to try one other thing first.

Can you stay with friends and family?

If you aren’t crazy about sleeping at the airport, another possible option is to spend the night with friends or family.

Provide they’re within reasonable driving distance from the airport, rent a car or an Uber, and spend the night there. It will be much more comfortable than sleeping on a bench in the terminal. They might be able and willing to get you to the airport when it’s trime to leave.

In my case, I came up with a wacky scheme that quickly got me on a flight out of Chicago. I flew to Phoenix, where my parents live. I surprised them with my impromptu visit and returned to Houston the next morning.

Lesson to be learned: A long delay or cancelation presents a number of options — more than you might have expected. As soon as you get on the airline app and work your way through my decision tree, the sooner you’ll find the right solution for you.

Every Second Counts with Flight Cancelations

When you’re seated in an airplane, everyone is headed in the same direction, and you’re all on the same team, so to speak. In case of a flight cancelation, however, those same passengers become your competition!

Competition for any open seats on other flights.

Competition for nearby hotel rooms.

Competition for rental cars.

Competition for customer service.

You get the idea. It’s every man for themselves.

That’s why every second counts when you learn your flight is canceled. You want to avoid being the last in line at the customer service desk or trying to sleep in the last remaining empty vinyl-covered chair by the gate. Therefore, you need a game plan that helps you make quick decisions.

A Game Plan for Handling a Canceled Flight

⬜ Quickly find a comfortable spot where you could stay for several hours. A location with comfy chairs against a wall is a good choice, and a nearby electrical outlet is a must. This is when a charged power bank is worth its weight in gold since outlets can be rare, broken, or not near your comfy chair.

⬜ Check the airline’s phone app for other available flights. If your flight is permanently canceled and not just delayed, try to switch to a different flight directly from the app.

⬜ If traveling with family or friends, start delegating — one person gets in line for coffee, another person starts calling hotels, someone else works on getting a rental car, and so on.

⬜ Another task to delegate is dealing with the airline staff for booking your next flight or asking for hotel/meal vouchers. Vouchers depend on the airline, the when and why of the flight cancellation, and whether or not you live in the departure city. It doesn’t hurt to ask, though. This would be a good task for the most patient and diplomatic person in your party!

⬜ Get those hotel and rental car reservations made ASAP if you’ll be leaving the airport. The same applies to Uber or Lyft rides. Remember, you’re competing for scarce services.

⬜ Call any local friends or family and see if you can spend the night at their house.

⬜ If you are sitting in a prime location and it’s time to eat, you’ll have to eat in shifts or get carry-out to save that spot!

⬜ Check the airport map to find restaurants, quiet sleeping spots, airline lounges (more on that later), etc. 

Be Ready to Sleep at the Airport

It may not be fun or super comfortable, but it’s an adventure, spending the night in an airport!

A website I’ve used over the years, Sleeping In Airports, lists all the possible sleep locations in any airport with reviews. If there are comfy couches a short walk away, why try to scrunch your entire body into the space of an uncomfortable, vinyl-covered seat?

Some terminals are newer, with more restaurants, lounges, and comfortable seating areas; they’re worth the time and effort to track down. Again, the airport website or the airline’s phone app will have the most up-to-date information.

Another great resource is Reddit’s various travel forums. Crazy-frequent travelers know exactly which lounge is best, which one is least crowded, which hotel always has rooms available, and which airline is most/least reliable.

If you’ll be sleeping in the airport, be sure to set an alarm if you’ll be catching a red-eye or super-early flight. And remember to always practice situational awareness.

Items for Improving Airport Shut-eye

These items take up little room but will help you catch at least a decent cat nap.

• Sleep mask
• Warm socks
• Neck pillow
• Foam earplugs — better than nothing!
• Sound-canceling earphones or these Loop noise reduction earplugs quiet the noises around you while still allowing you to hear voices. 
• Travel blanket or a travel towel like this one. These are handy as a ground cover if you sit on the floor. 
• A small travel fan if you’re in a tropical, warm location

Safety Precautions for Sleeping in Airport Terminals

Scope out the most comfortable spot available, preferably near other people who will also spend the night and against a wall so you don’t need to be aware of things happening behind you. Then, situate your luggage and belongings so they are as secure as possible, and try to catch some shut-eye. This article has additional safety tips.

How do you sleep in airports when you have youngsters?

I wouldn’t recommend sleeping in an airport if you have young children with you, say younger than 7 or 8. They can wander away too easily, especially if you’re stressed and fatigued and your attention is scattered. If there’s no choice, take turns with the other adults in your group or get to a hotel.

If you are traveling with young children, these frugal and practical tips for family vacations are helpful.

Items To Always Carry in Case Your Flight is Delayed or Canceled

No matter where I go or how long I’m gone, I only take a single carry-on suitcase. I despise waiting for luggage and love the freedom I get by traveling so lightly. 

Another advantage to traveling with only your carry-on is that you have everything you need if you are stuck at the airport. You’ll have clean clothes, more comfortable shoes or a change of shoes. In addition, you’ll have toiletries, medications, and miscellaneous items like a small flashlight.

When you pack, ask these questions: “What if I get stuck at the airport? What might I want to have with me?” Once you check in your luggage, it’s gone, and you won’t see it again until you eventually get to your destination.

Whether in your carry-on or a backpack or oversized purse, always have these things with you, just in case:

• A fully-charged battery pack with appropriate charging cords. I like this Anker Power Bank, because it has 3 USB ports, allowing for more than one phone charging at a time.
• If you need more power back-up, this Voyager XL power bank from 4Patriots is TSA-approved for carry-on and is currently the biggest back-up battery you can take on a plane. It’s heavy, and its charger is heavier, but if you really need something sizable to make sure your electronics are charged, this is the one.
• Toiletry bag with medicines, pain-relief meds (ibuprofen, acetaminophen, etc.), toothbrush, toothpaste, facial/body wipes, contact lens case and solution
• A pair of comfortable shoes and socks. I wear ONDO socks constantly. Thin, Merino wool, never itchy, keep my feet warm even on super-cold nights.
• Something with long sleeves. In warm weather, even a long sleeve t-shirt will help keep you comfortable.
• Your laptop computer and charging cable, if you usually use one.
• Change of underwear/bra
• The items listed in the Improving Airport Shut-eye section.
• A few small snacks like energy bars and nuts
• Water bottle — airport prices can be outrageous, and with this, you’ll at least be able to have water to drink.
• A book or some other small, portable form of entertainment

How to Spend Your Time Without Going Crazy

You may wonder: if I have hours and hours to spend at the airport waiting for my flight, what is there to do?

If you’ve checked out the airport map and don’t mind giving up your prime, comfy location, then spend some time exploring the airport. You’ll get some exercise and probably find interesting shops, restaurants, and maybe even some pleasant surprises like:

• A chiropractor!
• Beauty salon and/or spa
• Art galleries and exhibits
• Kids play areas
• Chapel/Prayer room
• Rest areas with recliners
• Sleep pods
• TV lounges
• Adjoining hotels
• Wheelchair rental 
• Butterfly garden — Yes, the Singapore airport has this!

Get creative with the time you have on your hands!

This is the perfect opportunity to go through your phone’s screenshots — delete what you don’t want, organize in Google Photos what you want to keep. Then, do the same for your Dropbox, OneDrive, or any other Cloud storage space.

While you’re in an organizing mood, organize the apps on your smartphone into categories and folders.

BONUS TIP: Look for all the apps on your phone that have to do with travel and save them all in one folder — Google Translate, Uber, Lyft, currency calculator, airline and hotel apps, Google Maps/Waze, Yelp, weather app, Hotel Tonight, Groupon (for your travel destination — you never know what good deals you might find!), AirBnB, PackPoint, LoungeBuddy, etc.

More suggestions:

• Play video games on your computer or smartphone.
• Read a book — an actual book or Kindle.
• Listen to a book on Audible or use the free Libby app to check out digital and audio books from your library.
• Work on a knitting or crochet project.
• Read a book out loud to your kids.
• See all those open tabs on your computer and phone? Now is the time to read all those articles you never seem to have time for!
• If you have time, take a taxi or Uber into the city for a meal or to visit a few tourist attractions. Be sure to calculate the travel time to and from the city and the time it will take to get through security again.
• Some airports offer city tours that depart from the airport! Ask at the airport customer service desk.
• Keep your enthusiasm going by researching your destination and planning a daily agenda.

Airport Luxury, if You Qualify

Airport lounges.

If you know, you know.

There’s something special about walking through those sliding glass doors into comfort, quiet, and luxury.

One of the main reasons to establish yourself as a loyal customer of a particular airline is that it can open the doors, literally, to a true life-saver in an airport crisis – the airport lounge.

Most airline lounges include complimentary beer, wine, and cocktails, one of the quieter (and popular!) perks that frequent flyers don’t always mention. Premium lounges like Amex Centurion tend to have a full bar. Priority Pass lounges vary widely, so don’t assume.

Lounge access isn’t always clear-cut, so check out your airline’s website or app for more information in the days before your departure. In addition, different airlines have different rules and fees, and due to increasing popularity and access, they can fill up quickly. Therefore, to avoid disappointment, know before you go.

On a recent flight home from Paris, we had an eight-hour layover in Chicago. Sure, we could have wandered the airport, paid for overpriced food, and finally settle into a booth or seats somewhere to while away the hours, but instead, I went to our United app, scrolled down to see lounge options for our flight, and purchased guaranteed access for $50 each.

Don’t let anyone tell you a lounge isn’t worth fifty bucks! The extra-comfy chairs, internet access, plenty of outlets to charge phones and laptops and…quiet. Some lounges even have showers (more common in international airports), sleep pods or nap rooms, or flight concierge service who will personally help you book or rebook flights.

Before you decide to do whatever it takes to get lounge access with your next flight, here’s a really important caveat. There are a lot of variables and rules you should research first before you approach those gliding glass doors.

Lounge amenities vary dramatically from airport to airport and lounge to lounge. A United Club in a smaller regional airport is a comfortable step up from the gate — a quiet spot, decent snacks, and reliable wifi. A United Polaris lounge is leaps and bounds ahead. It may still be “United”, but for United business class passengers on long-haul international flights and Star Alliance business class passengers, they offer spa-like shower suites, Therabody loungers, full buffets, and sit-down dining all included.

Before you head to the lounge when your flight is delayed or canceled or purposely book a flight with a long layover, check and recheck which lounges are available and whether or not you can get access.

How to Access Airport Lounges

Depending on your status with the airline, access could be free, or you may need to pay your way in through one of these options:

• Purchasing the airline’s Club Membership outright. United Club membership, for example, runs around $650 a year or roughly 85,000 miles.
• Holding the airline’s premium co-branded credit card. Check the benefits before you apply and make sure it’s an airline you use frequently.
• Traveling business class or higher (a guest might not be allowed lounge access, though).
• Paying a one-time fee at the door — easiest way to go, but this depends on lounge occupancy and also probably comes with a time limit, usually 4-6 hours.
• Purchasing lounge access with your flight. Go to the airline app and your flight to see what “extras” you can purchase. Very often, the airport lounge is an option.

Some credit cards, such as the American Express Platinum card, include lounge access. The current annual fee for this card is $695, but if you travel frequently, you would quickly recoup that cost in lounge fees and the other card benefits.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve ($795 annual fee) includes Priority Pass Select membership and access to Chase’s own network of Sapphire Lounges. It comes with a $300 annual travel credit, which is a very nice bonus.

The Capital One Venture X is generally considered the best value of the three, solid lounge access at a lower annual fee than the other two.

If you’re not tied to a specific airline or credit card, there are two independent programs that give you access to a broad network of lounges regardless of who you’re flying:

Priority Pass is the largest, with access to over 1,300 lounges worldwide. You can purchase a membership directly or get it bundled with certain premium credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Amex Platinum. Membership tiers vary — some include unlimited free visits, others charge a per-visit fee on top of the annual cost. Again, check to make sure there are lounges in airports you’ll be using. 1300 lounges sounds like a lot, but that’s worldwide, and smaller, regional airports are unlikely to have a lounge at all.

Plaza Premium Access is worth knowing about if you travel internationally, particularly through Asia, Canada, or the Middle East, where they are more common.

One thing to check before you count on any of these: guest policies vary widely. Don’t count on showing up with your entire family and get in. The front desk employees are very strict! Some lounges welcome one guest at no charge. Others charge per guest, and a few will turn guests away entirely if the lounge is at capacity.

You’ll have to weigh the pros and cons of investing in whatever program gives you lounge access. However, if you want to while away the hours in an airport, there’s no better place to do that than in a quiet, exclusive lounge when a flight is canceled or delayed.

Into Every Life, Some Delayed or Canceled Flights Must Fall

Whenever I experienced a disappointment of one kind or another, my mom told me, “Into every life, some rain must fall.” As a traveler, this is the ultimate truth.

As you journey near or far, you will run into difficulties. It might be getting a stomach bug during that long-awaited second honeymoon or dealing with cranky kids right in the middle of a Grand Canyon tour.

Flight cancelations and getting stuck at an airport rank right up there with the biggest disappointments and frustrations, but they’re also part of the adventure.

Plan ahead, be prepared, and be determined to enjoy the experience.

Frequently Asked Questions