How To Avoid and Handle Flight Cancellations Like a Pro

I got lucky this time around.

I have always been incredibly lucky while traveling. Every other flight could be canceled during a thunderstorm, but mine always makes it out.

The trip to Europe was the obvious exception. Not only was my flight canceled, but I was stranded for three days. It took cooperation with four airlines and a travel agency to find my way home.

I think I handled the aftermath well, but there are a few things I could have done differently. Here’s how to steer clear of trouble.

Book your flight directly.

When I initially booked the flight from San Diego to Atlanta, I used Capital One Travel. I canceled it shortly after because Delta confirmed they could not edit a third-party booking to add my cat.

It was too late to change my flight to Spain, which I had booked several months before this ticket. It taught me to be wary of third-party bookings. I have yet to be reimbursed by Capital One Travel for my out-of-pocket Airbnb expenses. It’s a ping-pong game of them sending me to the airlines and the airlines sending me back to them.