--- title: 7 Annoying Air Travel Problems and Solutions description: How resolve the stickiest air travel situations—and, better yet, how to avoid them in the first place. canonical: https://time.com/4255463/air-travel-problem/ author: Real Simple article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-03-11T15:00:32.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:45:10.058Z og:title: 7 Annoying Air Travel Problems and Solutions og:description: No ID, no international travel og:url: https://time.com/4255463/air-travel-problem/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9cc01e1e1b684d02/69888a9ba988ca327d6b6f01/airport-check-in-counter.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 4990 og:image:height: 2807 og:image:alt: airport-check-in-counter og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: 7 Annoying Air Travel Problems and Solutions twitter:description: No ID, no international travel twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9cc01e1e1b684d02/69888a9ba988ca327d6b6f01/airport-check-in-counter.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 7 Annoying Air Travel Problems and Solutions > Sponsored content. 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Worth Your Time is TIME's culture newsletter, published Tuesdays and Saturdays to 40,000 subscribers as of August 2026. #### Who writes TIME's culture recommendations? Culture editor Eliza Berman writes Worth Your Time, drawing on TIME's critics and culture desk. #### Is Worth Your Time free? Yes. It is a free newsletter available at time.com/newsletters. ## Video: 8 Simple Tips for Packing a Carry-On Suitcase [Watch (HLS stream): 8 Simple Tips for Packing a Carry-On Suitcase](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/GCGRW7OU.m3u8) (1:00)  _Published 2016-01-27_ by [Brigitt Hauck / Real Simple](https://time.com/author/real-simple/) ## Brigitt Hauck / Real Simple Mar 11, 2016 3:00 PM UTC  Airport Check-in Counter. Airport Check-in Counter.Getty Images by [Brigitt Hauck / Real Simple](https://time.com/author/real-simple/) ## Brigitt Hauck / Real Simple Mar 11, 2016 3:00 PM UTC **1\. You missed your connecting flight** If you book all of your flights through one airline, there’s a better chance that airline will accommodate you, says Regis St. Louis, coordinating author of [_Lonely Planet USA_](http://www.amazon.com/Lonely-Planet-USA-Travel-Guide/dp/1742207413/ref=as%5Fat?tag=REASIM03-20&linkCode=as2&). When it comes to rebooking your flight, “never stand on line—ever,” says Peter Greenberg, travel editor for CBS News. If there is no line at the ticket counter, approach the attendant to see if you can get on the next flight (even if you just get on standby). If the ticket counter is crowded, call the airline’s 1-800 number. If you were on the last flight of the day and the airline was responsible for the delay—a mechanical or staffing issue, for example—you’re in a better position to receive compensation for a hotel room and get on the first flight out the next day, says Greenberg. Grounded due to a storm? Sorry: “If weather was involved, all bets are off and you’re on your own,” he says **2\. Your trip was cut short due to a family emergency** If you have travel insurance, some of your expenses may be covered—though the cost of purchasing insurance might only be worth it if your ticket is relatively expensive, says Greenberg. Otherwise, the expense may outweigh the benefit. If a situation arises that requires unexpected travel, St. Louis suggests calling the airline to explain the situation. Whether or not to accommodate changes is often up to their discretion, he says. **_Real Simple:_**[_3 Ways Flying Is About to Get a Lot Better_](http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/travel/new-airline-perks?xid=time-rs) **3\. Your bags are lost** If your bags end up lost, don’t panic: “Generally airlines are pretty good about getting your bags to you very quickly. It’s rare that your bags will disappear never to return,” says St. Louis. First, go to the customer service counter to report your bags missing and make sure to get a receipt or something tangible that says they are looking for the bags, he says. Inquire about how your bags will be returned to you—some airlines will deliver your bags to your final destination and others will not. If your bags are missing for a number of days, some airlines will also give you money towards a new wardrobe, says Pauline Frommer, editorial director for _Frommer’s_ guidebooks and [Frommers.com](http://www.frommers.com/). To avoid this sticky situation in the future, both Frommer and St. Louis recommend not checking a bag if at all possible. If you _do_ decide to send your bags through, make sure they’re marked in several places, says Frommer. In addition to identifying tags on the outside of your bag, “it’s good to have a little slip of paper inside with your ticket number, name, and address, and your cell phone number,” she says. Another helpful hint: When connecting flights, ask the agent at your connecting gate to scan your checked luggage receipt to see if your bags made the flight, says Greenberg. “If your bags didn’t make your flight, you can start the lost and found process then—not hours later when you arrive at your destination.” **4\. You forgot your identification** Always double and triple check that you have your identification on you—especially a passport for international travel—before leaving the house. In the event you’re traveling domestically and leave your ID behind, “TSA has come up with some creative ways to get you through security,” says Greenberg. “A credit card, a checkbook with your name on it, even your cell phone may contain enough information to confirm that it’s you.” But for international travel, “no passport, no flight,” says Greenberg. Take a photograph of your ID or passport and have it on your phone in case you lose your ID or forget it, says St. Louis. It’s up to the airlines whether or not they’ll let you on the flight, but it may help—especially if you have to replace your passport at a consulate. **_Real Simple:_**[_3 Surprising Facts About Airplane Germs_](http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/travel/airplane-germs?xid=time-rs) **5\. You’re bumped from a flight** “It’s rare that you’d be bumped from a flight without being informed, unless you’re running really late and don’t make it to the gate in time,” says St. Louis. In other countries there might be different requirements, so you’ll want to check the carrier’s rules and regulations, he adds. If you do get bumped from a flight for some reason, do not accept miles or vouchers, which can be difficult to redeem, says Frommer: “Ask for cold hard cash.” **6\. You’re traveling with young kids, but can’t get seats together** “The key is to speak up,” says St. Louis. “Be proactive and try to find an ally.” Ask the ticket counter for help before boarding. If they can’t help you, the flight attendant on the aircraft can help shuffle passengers around to accommodate your family, he says. Remember: “Courtesy and kindness goes a long way.” **_Real Simple:_**[_Your Sanity-Saving Pre-Flight Checklist_](http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/travel/travel-planning/sanity-saving-pre-flight-checklist?xid=time-rs) **7\. Your flight is canceled due to bad weather** If your flight is canceled due to inclement weather, the best course of action is to be persistent, says Frommer: “Keep calling. If you get an answer you do not like, hang up, and either call or email back.” During bad weather, things change quickly and passengers are often shuffled around to accommodate individual travel needs as best as possible, which means a seat that was not available minutes ago may now be available, she explains. And remember to consider alternate airports and other means of transportation if you need to get to your destination immediately. Try rental cars, buses, or trains. _This_ [_article_](http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/travel/travel-planning/air-travel-tips?xid=time-rs) _originally appeared on_ [_Real Simple_](http://www.realsimple.com) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4255463/air-travel-problem/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4255463/air-travel-problem/"},"headline":"7 Annoying Air Travel Problems and Solutions","datePublished":"2016-03-11T15:00:32.000Z","dateModified":"2026-08-04T07:45:10.058Z","description":"How resolve—or avoid—the stickiest air travel situations","url":"https://time.com/4255463/air-travel-problem/","keywords":["Living","Travel","Air travel","Airport","Airline"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9cc01e1e1b684d02/69888a9ba988ca327d6b6f01/airport-check-in-counter.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Brigitt Hauck / Real Simple"}],"articleSection":"","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9cc01e1e1b684d02/69888a9ba988ca327d6b6f01/airport-check-in-counter.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"airport-check-in-counter","caption":"airport-check-in-counter","creditText":"Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-living/","name":"Living"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4255463/air-travel-problem/","name":"7 Annoying Air Travel Problems and Solutions"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"8 Simple Tips for Packing a Carry-On Suitcase","description":"","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/GCGRW7OU/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2016-01-27T15:44:26.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/GCGRW7OU.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/4255463/air-travel-problem/","duration":"PT1M","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/4255463/air-travel-problem/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```