The spring storm that delayed our return from Easter vacation last week (we got stuck on the Illinois-Wisconsin border in 9 inches of snow and 45 m.p.h. winds) has finally hit the East Coast. Currently, the area is experiencing vicious winds, heavy snow and large amounts of rain. And, according to meteorologists, it’s only going to get worse. That’s bad news for travelers (the Boston Marathon is tomorrow), especially ones scheduled to return home today (according to news reports, more than 500 flights have already been cancelled).
Mother Nature is often the blame for travel delays, and when bad weather happens there is little you can do about it. However, rather than get caught off guard (like my family did) it is a good idea to prepare for the worst–so you don’t find yourself sleeping on a cot at the airport.
Tip #1—Keep Informed About The Weather
You don’t have to watch The Weather Channel 24/7 to know when a storm may affect your travel plans. If you are traveling by plane, there are several informational sites you can access to see if your flight could be threatened by bad weather (including your airlines’ website and a host of other weather related sites like weather.com). Bottom line: there’s no excuse not to know at least a couple days out that your flight could be delayed or cancelled. Arming yourself with the right information can help you plan accordingly.
Tip #2– Preprogram Your Cellphone or Blackberry
This may be the best tip I can give you and a lesson I learned the hard way. I can’t tell you how many times last week I wished I had remembered to jot down the number of our hotel. Important: prior to leaving on your trip add the numbers to your hotel, airline, car rental agency, travel agent and/or other travel services to your cellphone. It beats trying to find a phone directory in the middle of nowhere.
Tip #3—Consider Getting A Hotel Room
Take it from me, if your flight is delayed once it will likely be delayed again. (We spent the entire morning at O’Hare International Airport listening to an announcer tell us our flight would be experiencing a “20 minute delay”—after three hours and 10 announcements everyone in the boarding area started making alternate arrangements.) If your flight is “experiencing delays” and you are traveling with children you may want to consider making a hotel reservation. Most hotels don’t charge you until you show up at the front desk, so you can usually safely book a room and later cancel it if your flight does take off in a reasonable amount of time. If you go this route I would suggest calling the airport hotels first. If they are too pricey, consider looking for hotels that offer shuttle service to the airport.
Look for more travel tips in my next blog: “Preparing For Travel Delays–Part 2”
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