The Not-So-Friendly Skies for Anglers: Dealing With Delays and Cancellations
It has been a tough year and a half for the airlines and, more specifically, for air travelers. Between pandemic-related shutdowns, ever-changing health protocols, oddball weather patterns, and a few unforced errors from the carriers, flying to a fishing destination—which wasn’t easy in the more uncomplicated times—has occasionally become a nightmare. Certain carriers have handled it worse than others, but there’s not necessarily any rhyme or reason to when problems will occur.
That’s led many anglers to delay flying to fish altogether, or to drive when in the past they might have flown, but that’s not always possible. You can’t drive to the Seychelles or Hawaii from the Lower 48. Technically, I could drive to Alaska, but it might use most of my remaining vacation time for the year to get there.
So if you must fly, or prefer to fly, here are eleven suggestions to minimize the chance of your vacation being totally destroyed (while also minimizing the likelihood that you’ll end up forcibly detained by a couple of Air Marshals).
Plan Ahead
Every time I build a “foolproof” system I seem to run into a bigger fool, but it’s nevertheless critical to minimize the chances that someone will ruin your vacation. This starts with reducing the number of connections you’ll have. While I’m a cheap sonofabitch, I believe that flying nonstop is worth substantially more than having a layover, and two stops are out of the question unless absolutely necessary. If you’re going to have a tight layover, consider flying to the first stop the night before—often by setting up a multi-city itinerary other than the round trip, you can get the same price. It’s a strategy we often take when flying to Mazatlán through Dallas. Rather than risk the short connection on the one daily flight, we go in the prior evening. It costs us a night in a hotel, but there are many around the airport that are reasonable, and it reduces the chances that we’ll miss a night of vacation. No matter what, make sure the ticket is on a single itinerary: If you buy a route that’s United on Flight One and American on Flight Two, if your first flight is delayed to the point that you miss the second one, the latter airline doesn’t owe you anything. Additionally, when planning it’s possible to look for routes that have additional connecting options and multiple flights per day (as well as identify those that have the most issues) and schedule accordingly. Finally, make sure that the lodge, outfitter or guide knows your updated flight information so that they’ll be able to pick you up at the appropriate time or otherwise account for your change in schedule
Know Your Rights
If the airline cancels your flight, or causes you to miss a connection on your ticket, or loses your luggage, they may owe you compensation—hotels, meals vouchers, cash, etc. Somewhere on their website they should have a “Contract of Carriage” which outlines such obligations and under what circumstances they will become operative. I’ve never printed one out in advance, but it’s not the worst idea in the world. Be sure to ask for things that you need and to stress that they owe them to you (if indeed they do). The desk agent may not be so quick to offer up a hotel, or a taxi to said hotel, but if you’re owed it there’s nothing wrong with pushing.
Buy Directly (Or At Least Through a Reputable Outfit)
There are plenty of flight aggregators out there willing to take your money, often less of it for the same ticket than the airline asks. Some have great customer service and others are fly-by-night and sketchy. At this time, I’d strongly recommend booking directly through the airline whenever possible and reasonable. It just leaves you with a more direct route to the ultimate arbiter than your fate than does buying the same ticket elsewhere.
Get the App
No matter which airline you’re flying, make sure that you have their app on your phone. Not only is it often the quickest and easiest way to rebook (as well as provide you with all sorts of other information), but it will let you know when departure times have changed before anything else, often with text or email alerts. No more running through the airport like (pre-1994) OJ, trying to make it to a flight that has already left, or that won’t be leaving for three hours. No more leaving the house, only to arrive at the airport and find out that your flight has been canceled.
Get Ready to Rebook
Whether you’re at home, on the water or at the airport when you get notice of the flight cancellation or an unacceptable change, take immediate steps to get the situation fixed. Get in line, get online, get on the phone, or some combination of all three. For example, if I had waited to get to the podium during our hellacious layover in June in Dallas, I might’ve waited there for two hours before getting disrespected. Instead, I cut our losses short. With a computer in your hands in the form of a phone, you need to proactively look for solutions even as someone in an official capacity is “helping” you.
Stay Flexible
If your airline of choice doesn’t have any seats to your city of choice for the rest of the day, you can’t create one out of thin air, no matter how much you yell about it or wish for it. But you can consider other options. For example, it might make more sense to fly into another airport sooner, rent a car and go from there. Even if there’s an added expense, saving a day of sitting around might make that worthwhile. Or maybe they can switch you to another airline that has capacity, or refund your fare and allow you to find your own way home. If you settle for the first option that’s offered, you’re often settling for second (or third or fourth or fifth) best.
Stay Calm
This is the one that I have the hardest time with. I might occasionally have a bit of a temper, but thanks to Hanna I’ve realized that it rarely gets me anywhere (with her, as well as with airlines). When there are mass cancellations or delays, it’s typically not the fault of those employees who are dealing directly with the affected travelers, and they’re likely taking a lot of grief from everyone around them. That shouldn’t give them license to be rude or inefficient, but it might explain why they’re ignoring you. Be calm and reasonable for forceful and you’re more likely to get what you want and what you deserve. It also allows you to make split-second decisions based on intellect and evidence rather than emotion, which is almost always a better choice.
Carry it On
When flights get changed or canceled, luggage gets lost or delayed. There are of course some items you can’t carry on, like full-sized rod tubes, and hooks may be prohibited in some circumstances. Check them and make sure your luggage is distinctive and clearly labeled with your contact information (if you’re obsessive about it like I am), but if there’s any way to bring all or part of it on your flight, it’ll never get out of arm’s reach, which means it’s a lot more likely to end up at your destination. At the very least, carry on your reels, some light toiletries, a phone charger and a change of clothes.
Divide and Conquer
To the extent that you’re checking through tackle, don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. If you have three or four friends going on the same trip, make sure that the Senkos, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, etc. are spread out among everyone’s luggage. Better to have half of the expected lures than none at all. Be sure to share freely if it’s your gear that ends up on site, because the next time you may not be so lucky.
Self-Insure
Despite the fact that Hanna and I have purchased it for a few trips, I’ve never been a big fan of travel insurance. There just seem to be too many exclusions and carve-outs, and the price may be prohibitive. I may have to reevaluate that stance in light of the increasing number of travel-related issues. Even if you don’t buy it a la carte, consider signing up for a credit card that offers enhanced travel protections. Some of them are quite generous (and come with other benefits, travel-related and otherwise, such as lounge access which can be super-valuable during delays), and a single use can offset any annual fees. Also, sign up for Global Entry or Precheck—the time you save may allow you to catch a flight you’d otherwise miss.
Work With Your Outfitter
If your trip in irrevocably altered by a flight change or cancelation that’s out of your control, keep your outfitter, guide or lodge in the loop. At the very least, they’ll need to plan for your revised arrival. While post-pandemic many operations are full and full refunds may not be possible, in extreme circumstances you might be able to at least negotiate a completely rescheduled trip. Again, be flexible and be practical.
