Flight canceled? Here are 6 ways to get your trip back on track

A canceled flight doesn’t have to leave you stuck. Checking backup routes and trying several ways to reach your airline can help you figure out how to get where you need to go. (Gumpanat via Getty Images)When your flight gets canceled, getting where you need to go can take a little creativity (and a lot of patience). I once finished my journey on an Amtrak train after a Delta flight from Chicago to New York went awry somewhere around Washington, D.C., leaving me stranded in Baltimore. My airline couldn't get me on another flight until the next day, so I ditched the airport and made a beeline for the train station.

Not the trip home I'd planned, but my travel insurance reimbursed the cost of the train ticket. I'll take it.

When your flight gets canceled or seriously delayed, it's easy to get stuck on the question of when you'll finally board. But after enough travel hiccups, I've learned to ask a different question: What's the best way to get where I need to go from here?

And just as important is the question of who can help you the fastest.

Sometimes, that means asking about a flight into a different airport. Other times, it means getting help from an airline agent in the lounge while everyone else is lining up at the gate. And occasionally, it means giving up on flying for the day entirely.

You don't need to figure it all out the moment you get the dreaded notification that your flight is canceled. But knowing what to do when your travel plans get disrupted can help you get your trip back on track as quickly as possible.

Here's exactly what you should do if your flight is canceled or significantly delayed.

If your flight has been canceled, the obvious next move is to get in line to speak with an airport agent. In fact, it's so obvious, that hundreds of other people have already gotten in line ahead of you.

Fortunately, that's far from your only option. While you wait, call your airline and open a chat through its app or website, too. Traveling with someone? Have them try as well, so you can work with whichever agent responds first to get you on the next flight available.

Already have access to your airline's lounge? Ask about rebooking help—you may find a shorter line than at the gate.

If you have access to your airline's lounge, it's worth checking for help there, too. I've found that you can often get assistance with less of a line than you'll find out in the terminal when flights are delayed or canceled. And when everyone on a canceled flight is trying to speak with an agent at once, a shorter line is a very welcome sight (especially when you can sip on something that takes the edge off while you wait or navigate alternative transportation options).

Some airline lounges offer flight rebooking assistance, so ask whether someone can help you sort out your options. You'll need to meet the lounge's entry requirements (such as having a certain level of loyalty status or a specific credit card). But if you already have access, don't assume the lounge is only useful for a snack and a comfortable chair (essential as those things are when you're dealing with a travel disruption!).

While you're waiting for help, look up other flights to your destination, including options on your airline's partners. Having a specific backup flight to ask about gives the agent a starting point for getting your trip back on track. You may find a more convenient route than the one offered by the agent, especially if their initial suggestion involves multiple layovers or a much later arrival.

Finding another flight option doesn't necessarily mean your airline can put you on it, but it gives you something concrete to ask about. Before buying a separate ticket yourself, find out what your airline can arrange and what you'd be paying out of pocket.

If you're heading home and live near multiple airports, check flights into those, too. Landing a little farther from home could potentially get you through your front door sooner than keeping your original route. Just factor in the trip from that airport to your house. An earlier landing doesn't help much if you're then facing an expensive ride or a long wait for a train.

When your flight is canceled, taking a train could get you home sooner than waiting for another plane.

During major flight disruptions, sometimes your best bet is avoiding the skies entirely. Renting a car and driving, or hopping on a train or bus, could get you to your destination sooner than waiting for another flight. Before you commit, compare the total cost and travel time—and check with your airline about how changing your plans would affect the rest of your reservation.

If your outbound flight is the one that's disrupted and you want to skip it entirely, make sure your return flight doesn't get canceled if you get marked as a no-show. And if you checked a bag, you may need to work with the airline to make arrangements to retrieve it. Your best bet is to try to travel with just a carry-on bag if you think there's a risk that your flight might get canceled.

This part is best handled before your trip. If you take multiple trips per year, an annual travel insurance plan may be worth considering. Depending on the policy, it can help cover nonrefundable trip costs and unexpected expenses. My policy has covered an unexpected hotel stay and even that Amtrak ticket to finish my journey when my airline stranded me in Baltimore.

If you don't have an annual plan, check whether the credit card you use to book your trip includes travel insurance. You might also consider buying a single-trip policy before you leave. Check which types of travel disruptions qualify, the coverage limits, and how long a delay must last before benefits kick in—and hang on to your receipts.

Hang on to receipts for meals, hotels, and alternative transportation—you may need them to request reimbursement after a flight cancellation.

Get yourself what you need to be safe and comfortable during a major delay or cancellation, whether that's a night in a hotel, a nourishing meal, or alternative transportation—and save your receipts. Depending on your coverage and the circumstances, you may be able to request reimbursement through your travel insurance or the airline. If possible, check what's covered before spending.

When air travel starts to go wrong, I also start a note in my phone with timestamps, updates from the airline and details about how the situation is handled. Those notes can help support a claim or a complaint once you're home. The airline may offer a credit or miles as a goodwill gesture, especially if you can clearly explain what happened and how it affected you.

You probably won't feel like dealing with any of this once you're finally home. I certainly don't. But keeping the receipts and notes together now means you won't have to reconstruct a miserable travel day from memory and relive it all over again.

And while you can't pack your way out of a flight cancellation, you can make the wait a little less miserable. Here are the 12 essentials I always keep in my carry-on after getting stranded at airports overnight.