Summary

  • Overbooked flights can be a major inconvenience, but airlines may offer compensation for volunteers willing to give up their seats.
  • Losing travel documents can be stressful, but travelers can contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for help obtaining an emergency passport.
  • Travel sickness is common while flying, but carrying your own medications and investing in lounge access can help alleviate symptoms.

Airports can be exciting, because it means travel, but they can also be stressful. Because of the nature of flying, there are a million things that can go wrong from check in to boarding and then, even at arrivals. Even the thought of these problems can cause anxiety, but there's no need to be nervous if you know exactly how you'd solve them if they did happen.

When it comes to flying, delay is still the major complaint of travelers. While the chances of delays can be minimized when flying from some of the world's best airports, it can still happen due to unpredictable conditions. Another major headache is when the luggage is lost, so it's important to pack a strategic carry on with essential items.

Just remember — every problem is fixable! That airline wants you to fly with them again and airport staff are there to help so if there's an issue, they want to solve it as much as you do. Well. Almost.

UPDATE: 2023/08/20 21:45 EST BY LUANA FERREIRA

Traveling is often a much-awaited moment, but many things can go wrong before arriving at the final destination. Luckily, with every problem comes a solution, and this list was refreshed to include more common problems travelers can have and how they can overcome them.

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16 Overbooked Flights

A male traveler checking flight time on the flight information LED board at an airport
Source: Unsplash
A male traveler checking flight time on the flight information LED board at an airport

Overbooked flights occur when airlines sell more tickets for a particular flight than available seats on the plane. This situation can arise due to factors like no-show passengers, operational requirements, or changes in aircraft. Overbooking aims to maximize revenue but can lead to inconveniences for passengers.

Passengers might encounter overbooked flights during busy travel periods or on popular routes. When it happens, airlines may seek volunteers willing to give up their seats in exchange for compensation, such as travel vouchers, future flight discounts, or cash. If not enough volunteers come forward, passengers may be involuntarily denied boarding.

Travelers can volunteer to get bumped, but they should ensure they will leave with the expenses such as hotels, transportation and hotel covered. Some credit cards offer trip delay insurance and cover some costs. Those bumped involuntarily can receive compensation of up to $1.300.

15 Lost Travel Documents

A US Passport
Photo by Jeremy Dorrough on Unsplash
A US Passport

Losing travel documents like passports can trigger anxiety and disrupt travel plans. However, there are steps travelers can follow to minimize the impact of losing travel documents. First, stop for a second and retrace each step, especially places where travelers have opened their bags.

When the search is fruitless, tourists traveling within the country can head to the Transportation Security Administration and ask to embark without an ID. Travelers must contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for help and request an emergency passport when traveling abroad.

Travelers who lost their passports are advised to report the loss to the U.S. Department of State. The process can be done by phone, email, or mail.

14 Travel Sickness Can Hit Hard

Person sick at an airport with CDC personel
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Person sick at an airport with CDC personel

Travel sickness is a very real and common possibility when flying, especially if the journey involves long layovers across different airports with varying timezones. Add to that lack of sleep, dehydration, and physical fatigue, and it's not all that surprising if you feel a little too worse for wear.

Most airports will have pharmacies with basic medications as well, but it's always a good idea to carry your own, especially if you're going to be seeing a lot of airports over multi-stop flights.

A good way to avoid falling sick at an airport mid-travel is investing in lounge access: warm showers, flat beds, and free-flowing beverages for rehydration in between flights can do wonders for the body.

13 Things Can Get Stolen

A woman walking into Austin Airport
Photo by Oleksandr Pidvalnyi on Pexels
Walking into the main terminal at the Austin Bergstrom International Airport

Unfortunately, the chaotic atmosphere of an airport is ideal for theft. Many travelers have found phones and wallets missing while their attention was on safeguarding their passports. It's even possible for entire suitcases to be stolen.

Being organized is key because the more frazzled you are, the more likely you will be to leave things unattended. Pack light, keep your valuables close, and invest in a suitcase that's distinct. It's harder to steal a bright yellow bag that's covered in stickers than it is to nick an inconspicuous black suitcase from the luggage carousel.

In case you notice something missing, rush to the nearest security personnel or airport official. The quicker you are, the higher the possibility of catching the thief.

Related: Anti-Theft Travel Gear: What To Know (& Buy) For Your Trip

12 You Could Be At The Wrong Airport And The Wrong Terminal

Woman staring at the airport runway
Photo 257837983 © Info634860 | Dreamstime.com
Woman staring at the airport runway

You'd be surprised to see just how many people misread the terminal of their flight or worse yet, get the entire airport wrong. Some destinations have multiple airports close to each other, and it's certainly possible to accidentally book a flight that's arriving or taking from a different airport.

  • Double-check the airport's name before the flight
  • Sign up for airlines alerts

Always double-check the name of the airport at the time of booking and once again the night before your flight. Oftentimes, a flight will have a certain terminal written on it at the time of booking but the carrier may have changed it to a different one later. It's also a good idea to sign up for alerts from your airline as these let flyers know of any last-minute terminal changes. It's best to double, triple, and quadruple-check the airport name and terminal number -- better safe than sorry!

11 Missing A Flight

Air Canada aircraft, white with red logo, airborne
Photo by Ansel Huang on Unsplash
Air Canada flight, Vancouver, plane in the blue sky 

There you have it, every traveler's nightmare: a missed flight. Missing a flight is by far the worst problem you could run into at an airport but luckily, it's also a very common one which means, there are plenty of ways to fix it.

It goes without saying that planning to reach the airport with plenty of time to spare is the best way to avoid a missed flight. In case you miss it anyway, reach out to an airline agent asap as they will usually help book you onto the next flight out. Additionally, don't wait till the very end to inform the airline that you're about to miss a flight. The sooner you foresee the delay and let them know, the more likely you are to get refunds and airfare concessions.

If you're someone that has a knack for cutting it a bit short, it may be worth investing in flights that have a flat-tire policy which essentially means that an airline will accommodate you on another flight free of cost under certain conditions.

10 You Can Get Lost

Man standing on an airport with a suitcase
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Man standing on an airport with a suitcase

The main, obvious problem that can happen in the larger airports is that it's far too easy to get lost. Some airports have multiple terminals, with gates spanning in every direction, and finding your gate can often seem like a daunting task for those who are directionally challenged.

  • Reach someone who works at the airport for information
  • Pay attention at the airport signs

Stay calm and follow the signs — every airport is signposted. And if all else fails, stop someone who works at the airport and politely ask them to point you in the right direction.

9 Your Flight Can Be Delayed

man sitting on a chair at the airport watching a plane
Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash
Man sitting on a chair at the airport watching a plane 

Try to never choose a flight that gets you to your destination a second before you actually need to be there. Always allow yourself room on the other side, because flight delays are shockingly common, and it can be anywhere from twenty minutes to twelve hours.

If the delay is significant, you may be entitled to compensation and the airline should at least provide food vouchers. Stay calm and don't panic — you'll get there eventually.

Related: Here's What To Do If Your Flight Is Delayed (Or Canceled)

8 Or Canceled

An airplane in the sky
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An airplane in the sky

If your flight is canceled, it's the airline's responsibility to get you there. They'll rebook you on the next available flight or find another route, so even though it may be tempting to fully panic when you see 'CANCELED' in bold red letters next to your flight number, don't! Some people's flights are canceled, and they end up getting to their destination quicker because the layover is shorter, or they end up on a direct flight. See — they can even work to your advantage.

7 Luggage Can Be Lost

An unattended suitcase at an airport
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An unattended suitcase at an airport

Lost luggage is a huge pain, and there's nothing worse than the heart-wrenching feeling of realizing your suitcase hasn't come out on the carousel. More often than not though, luggage is delayed rather than lost. All you have to do is approach the luggage services desk, and they'll look up where it is and hopefully get it to you.

Most airlines will even hand-deliver the luggage straight to your hotel or residential address, regardless of how far from the airport it is. Just make sure you speak up the moment you know that the suitcase hasn't arrived.

6 Security Lines Can Be Huge

Queues at an airport
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Queues at an airport

Another moment of familiar panic for passengers: when you have an hour to make it through security, you arrive, and the line is huge.

There's an easy solution to this — don't worry, you aren't stuck waiting in a line that's going to make you miss your flight. Flag down a member of security and show them your boarding pass. If you're in any danger of missing your flight, they will move you to the front of the line and ensure you have time to make it to your gate. Of course, they can't do that if you stay silent, so speak up!

Related: 10 Tips To Make Airport Security A Breeze

5 Passport Control Can Be A Nightmare

Canadian passport photograph inside the Toronto Pearson International Airport.
Photo by Kylie Anderson on Unsplash
Canadian passport photograph inside the Toronto Pearson International Airport.

On the arrivals side, passport control can be a nightmare. Like security, the lines can be long (and this time, you can only skip them if you have a short connection time). But more than that, the interview itself can be a little terrifying. Customs & Border Patrol (or the country's equivalent) can be short and to the point, since it's their job to be a law enforcement officer, not customer service. The questions they ask can seem invasive, and it might be tempting to get defensive since you just want to get out of the airport.

Stay calm and answer politely. Don't go into too much detail. You'll get out of there much faster.

4 Sometimes Technology Don't Work As It Should

traveler holding boarding pass in airport
Pixabay
via Pixabay

Recently, kiosks have been introduced everywhere in airports — for passport control, for checking in, for everything. But technology is only reliable to a point and often, they don't work.

Allow yourself plenty of time and don't rely on kiosks speeding you through the airport. Be aware that you may have to approach an actual person, and account for the time that waiting in that line may take.

RELATED: 10 Helpful Hacks For Making It To First-Class Plane Seating (For Free)

3 Not Every Airport Has Good Food

Food court inside an airport
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Food court inside an airport

It's also not a good idea to rely on getting food in the airport, especially if you have a strict diet like vegan or gluten-free. Some airports have wide food choices, but some have barely any at all. Always make sure you pack a few protein bars in your bag so you have a quick on-the-go snack and prevent running into the problem of being hangry.

Just don't try to take fresh fruit or veg through security, as that's where you may have some issues.

Related: These U.S. Airports Have The Best Food So You Don't Need To Fly Hungry

2 Long Layovers Can Be Very Boring

man and woman sitting in the airport
Photo by Talal Ahmad on Unsplash
Terminal at Boston Logan International Airport 

Often, waiting in an airport can be due to a layover. Don't rely on the airport having entertainment, as most don't — make sure you have a book and that any electronics you intend to use are fully charged. Preparing in advance can save you a lot in this situation, because otherwise you might be forced to sit there for hours staring into space.

Also, research the airport! Some airports even have sleeping pods.

1 Transport Can Be Hard To Find

Taxi stand outside an airport
Pixabay
Taxi stand outside an airport

You may be relying on a shuttle at the other side, but sometimes, it doesn't show — or sometimes, you can't find it. Stay calm and ask for directions but if possible, always make sure you carry a little cash in the local currency in case worse comes to worst, and you have to jump in a taxi. Also make sure you have the address of where you're staying written down for this exact reason.

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