Know When to Fold ‘Em: My Best Advice If A Trip Goes Sideways

Today I should be in the bustling capital of Bangkok. Three years of planning. My bucket list trip to Southeast Asia. Siem Riep, Angkor Wat, a cruise on Ha Long Bay, Luang Prabang, 150 foot reclining Buddhas, Hanoi. Silks, pearls, Pho and the Khmer Dynasty. Three flight cancellations and delays over three days nixed the trip. Here’s how to manage if this happens to you while saving your money and your sanity.

Know your flight options and your insurance triggers.

Day one, 24-hour flight cancellation from Minneapolis to Seoul. I knew that I could make it work if my flights left on time on the next day. I also knew, after convo’s with my tour provider, that even if another flight were delayed, I’d be fine as long as I arrived by Sunday evening . Three days later than planned.

Ask for the moon. Take the stars.

After two flights to Seoul cancelled while boarding due to mechanical issues and a pilot no-show over 48 hours, the timing was becoming critical. On Day 3 we tried again. This time the flight delays would cause me to spend at least 24 hours in the Seoul airport arriving in Phnom Penh on Tuesday instead of the prior Friday as planned. There was no guarantee I could get on the flight from Seoul to Phnom Penh. I would forfeit 4 hotel nights and meals. I would miss tours in Cambodia. I would miss intra-country flights to Siem Riep and Bangkok.

Keep your tour provider updated

My tour provider Gate 1 advised me to cancel and activate my trip insurance for a full refund but it was my call to make. I could take the chance and fly the next 20 hours with no guarantee of joining my tour or cancel and receive a full tour refund.

So I made the tough call and canceled, activating my trip insurance which included coverage for flight delays over 24 hours. I was over 54 hours and with two nights in Minneapolis en route. Not to mention what might happen in Seoul.

Here’s what I learned:

When an airline makes the call to cancel for 24 hours, they have to provide hotel rooms, ground transportation to and from the airport and meal vouchers for all passengers. In this case, all 388 of us. It’s a daunting task but I have to say that Delta handled it seamlessly, three times! They also made a valiant try to re-book every passenger’s entire itinerary when possible.

Travel insurance Limitations

Most travel insurance covers the land portion of the trip along with intra-country flights, but not arrival and departure airfare. You’re on your own to negotiate your refund.

You as the traveler are best able to handle the airlines so, regardless of the wait, stay on the phone until you’ve resolved the situation with a workable solution. I asked Delta for a refund, a return flight and courtesy compensation for my trouble. A great agent got me all three, along with $625 in credits for future Delta flights.

Jump through the hoops right away

You’ll still have follow protocol to get your refunds but file quickly, within hours if you can. Save all documentation. Most travel insurers will require an invoice from your trip provider detailing expenses and a document from the airlines verifying reasons for cancellation. Don’t forget extra costs such as visas and fedex charges. It is all readily available.

Get right back on the horse

I’m giving Southeast Asia a rest till next year. But I did manage to book a tour to the Baltics: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland at the end of March and I think it will be fascinating! Till then, best from a patient broad.