Happening Right Now
My flight is delayed. What should I do first?
A delay can be harmless or it can slowly break the rest of your journey. Treat the first delay notice as a signal to check the wider trip. You do not need to panic, but you should gather facts early.
What to do first
- Confirm the delay from at least two sources.
- Check the estimated departure and arrival time.
- Look at your connection time if you have one.
- Stay near the gate until staff explain boarding or rebooking.
Step-by-step instructions
- Step 1
Open the airline app and airport screens. If the times disagree, keep checking because one source may update faster.
- Step 2
Find out whether the aircraft is at the gate, arriving late, or affected by weather or crew timing. This helps you judge whether the time may move again.
- Step 3
If you have a tight connection, search the next available flights now. You may not need them, but knowing the options lowers stress.
- Step 4
Keep food, medicine, chargers, and documents with you. Do not put essentials in a checked bag because delays can become cancellations.
- Step 5
If the delay becomes long, ask staff what support is being offered and whether you should remain airside or exit the airport.
- Step 6
Take screenshots of the delay updates. If a claim or reimbursement question appears later, a simple record helps.
Important things to check
- Boarding time versus departure time
- Whether the gate changed
- Connection risk
- Weather at departure and arrival airports
- Any meals, vouchers, or overnight instructions
Common mistakes
- Walking far away from the gate during rolling updates
- Assuming the delay only moves later and never earlier
- Waiting until the connection is already missed before checking alternatives
- Letting your phone battery drop while all updates are digital
What to do next
If the delay threatens your connection, move to the missed connection guide. If it becomes a cancellation, use the cancellation checklist and save the delay timeline.
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