What to Do When Your Flight Is Delayed
A calm, practical checklist for confirming the latest timing, protecting a connection, and keeping the people waiting for you informed.
A practical guide: Flight and airport conditions change. Confirm operational details with your airline and airport.
Confirm what changed
Start with the latest estimated departure and arrival, then check the gate and terminal. A delayed departure does not always create the same delay at arrival, so keep the original schedule and the newest estimate side by side.
Protect the next part of the journey
If you have a connection, look at the time between the latest arrival and the next departure. Account for changing terminals and boarding closing before departure. If the margin looks tight, speak with the airline before landing when messaging is available or as soon as you reach the gate.
Update the people waiting
Share the flight itself instead of repeatedly sending screenshots. Share a link to the flight details; the person waiting opens True Skies for live tracking, and you can stop sending updates by hand.
Keep essential plans flexible
Avoid leaving for the airport or arranging pickup around one stale timestamp. Recheck after major milestones such as boarding, pushback, takeoff, and the start of descent.