I Found Myself Stuck During the Global Tech Crisis—Here Are 11 Travel Habits I’ll Always Follow From Now On

When my husband and I were stranded in Paris during the Crowdstrike crisis last month, we decided to turn the situation into a positive experience. We were traveling home on Delta Air Lines from Istanbul to Albuquerque, New Mexico, with a layover in Paris after a two-week Mediterranean cruise.

There are certainly worse places to be than Paris, so we took advantage of our unexpected stay in the City of Lights, knowing we’d eventually get some expenses reimbursed. After four (admittedly enjoyable) days of indulging in French cuisine, shopping, and enjoying the pre-Olympic atmosphere, Delta and its partner Air France finally managed to find a flight to send my husband home. I chose to remain in Europe, as I had another assignment on the continent in less than a week.

However, the reality hit hard when I returned to the States earlier this month and faced the tedious task of requesting refunds for canceled flights and expenses, which is about as enjoyable as doing taxes. And let’s not even talk about the hours I spent on hold. The situation is still quite uncertain, but here are some important lessons I learned on handling flight cancellations or significant delays during major travel disruptions.

Contact the airline right away and make your way to the lounge for extra customer support

Skip the long customer service lines at the airport. Instead, call the airline right away. If you have access, head to the lounge, where agents can assist you in a more comfortable environment. In our case, due to the scale of the global issue, our call to Delta was queued for six hours. At least we enjoyed complimentary food while Air France agents, Delta’s partner in Paris, helped us arrange new flights.

Use a credit card with travel insurance for your bookings—and double-check the details

When traveling, always use a credit card that includes insurance to cover costs that the airline might not reimburse (these cards typically provide some of the best coverage). Just be sure to review the terms. The credit card I used promises reimbursement for reasonable, uncovered expenses, but only for those charged to that card. Fortunately, I had booked our Paris hotel on that card.

Always pack a change of clothes and essentials in your carry-on

This advice is common but worth reiterating. My husband checked his carry-on bag along with another piece of luggage at the last minute in Istanbul, and we didn’t see those bags again until he returned home to Albuquerque. Always ensure you have a change of clothes, medications, and toiletries in your carry-on to keep them with you if your checked bags get lost.

Keep your receipts

Since we only had my carry-on for four days, we needed to purchase some clothing and essentials. Delta claims to reimburse an average of $50 per person per day for lost or delayed luggage, but you must provide proof of those purchases.

Take screenshots

By the time we learned that we wouldn’t be able to fly out of Paris until the next day, hotels were filling up quickly. The only decent hotel near the airport was showing a staggering nightly rate of $15,000. I suspect this was an error, but I captured a screenshot. This should help me if the airline or credit card company disputes our lodging expenses, as we ended up going into the city and booking a boutique hotel for $440 the first night, which was higher than typical airport rates but reasonable for city center accommodations. The rate dropped by nearly $100 a night for the last three nights.

Monitor rebooking status through the airline’s app

Ensure you’ve downloaded the app for your airline. The day before we went to the airport to check in for our new flight, I looked at the Delta app, which indicated we had been rescheduled for a flight the next day. So, we decided not to go to the airport. When we arrived the following day, they had no record of our booking. I didn’t need it, but I was relieved to have the screenshot (see previous item) just in case they blamed us for missing the previous day’s flight.

Stay calm

Customer service representatives have just as little control over major issues like a global tech crisis as you do. They typically do their best to assist you. While we were at the airport attempting to get rebooked for the second time, an angry man was shouting at the agents and referring to fellow passengers as “low class.” After he slammed a pile of euros down in an effort to secure better service, he was escorted away while being told that police would be contacted. I’m not sure what happened, but I doubt he got the seat he wanted.

Politely request the seats you prefer

If you’re not satisfied with your rebooked flights, it never hurts to ask nicely for a different option. We were initially booked in Delta Premium Economy, but our new itinerary placed us in unassigned coach class seats on Air France. When we explained that we’d prefer not to travel that far in what would probably be a middle seat at the back of the plane, the agent searched further and managed to secure my husband the last premium economy seat on an Air France flight two days later.

Understand your rights, both in the U.S. and internationally

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) provides details on reimbursements and expenses that airlines are obligated to cover. If your flight is to or from the European Union or involves an E.U.-based airline operating in or out of Europe, you might also qualify for additional compensation, which can be up to $650, if you arrive at your final destination more than three hours later than planned. To locate a claim form, visit the airline's website and search for EU261 (the name of the regulation) or look online for a general claim form or services that assist with filing, usually for a fee.

Make a case for higher compensation if you feel it's insufficient

When Delta provided what appeared to be low refunds for the unused segments of my flight, I contacted my credit card company to dispute the original charges. I quickly received a slightly better refund, along with documentation of their calculations, for one of those charges. I'm still not entirely happy with their assessment on the other one, so the negotiation continues.

Try to make the most of the situation, if possible

An unexpected, extended shift in plans is never enjoyable. Fortunately, we were in a good position. There was no urgent need to return home, we had a dog sitter who could stay as long as required, and our backup credit card insurance should cover any extra costs not handled by Delta. So, we chose to stop worrying about things outside our control and simply savor the extra time in one of the most stunning cities in the world. C’est la vie!