Making a Plan B

I will be honest with you and say I probalby know less than you. But I am confused as to why I would be calling partner airlines instead of the airline that I booked the flight with. Cancelations are their responsibility to cure. Or someone help me here, am I wrong somehow?

Your recognition of the possibility and the challenge is excellent. And this is a good question. But once you have a satisfactory answer, I suggest you step back a bit, deep breath, and know the odds are in your favor no matter what happens. Then consider flexibility. Make your calls, then go out and see a few more things you didnt think you would have the time for.

I can only speak from personal experience, but last year when our flight on United was canceled, the first United agent I chatted with via their app was not able to help me, but the second one was. So I would add that in addition to feeding them flight information, and being very proactive with flexible solutions that you offer them on your schedule’s end, you might run into a block with one agent but try again and get lucky with another.

If I am recalling correctly, the second United agent that helped us rebooked us on a Lufthansa flight and within minutes, all our new flight info showed up on the Lufthansa app. So be ready with all the airlines’ different apps downloaded, because you might need to chat with different airlines’ agents, and the apps are the best way to do this. We had better luck through the chat features on the apps than by calling, which we also tried. And never try to talk to a gate agent live at the airport; they do not have access to all the live real time data that the agents monitoring the app chats do.

Welcome to the Forum!
I assume your concerns are because of the current situation with possible jet fuel disruptions? Even if for bad weather or mechanical issues, though, I am a fan of Plan Bs :) and the airline apps.
Having the airline apps was really useful in my two experiences. I flew Lufthansa from the US last year and then a cascade of errors led to the FRA to Berlin leg being cancelled. Plus we'd all been required to check carryon-compliant bags at the gate and then weren't allowed to retrieve them ...I received constant updates through the app.
I was rebooked automatically, and then kept apprised of all the many gate changes and further delays as well as (later!) tracking updates for the suitcase.
If I had gone ahead and done it myself (either on their website, as I was in fact starting to do when I got the app notice) or another airline, I would have created unnecessary problems.
The same with a Delta/Air France cancellation, I was rebooked automatically. (That time I was able to keep my carry on!)
(Caveat: there goes whatever seat(s) you chose at booking, but by that point I didn't care!)
Having alternative flights noted prior to departure, when you have time for the research, couldn't hurt, for peace of mind? Another lesson learned when my trusty bag was taken away is 1) take a photo and 2) keep a packing cube with overnight items and/or change of clothes in your personal item...in case you get stuck.
But I've learned not to leap into action and give the app alert some time.

My wife and I actually broached this subject. We are in Sicily now, will be for a little over 2 weeks yet. We fly home from Catania (direct to JFK), which has already had some jet fuel supply issues. So what if we go to leave, and Delta cancels or delays the flight?

Unless they reposition a plane from FCO, that large plane will need to refuel in Catania, so maybe the risk level is greater than expected.

One tactic I have used in the past, and may resort to again, is not to fight the rebooking crowds. I really, really hate the "well, maybe you will get on the next flight" game, then you spend a couple days at the airport.. We already have plan B, if issues require, to inquire if flying back from Rome would be better than Catania. If so, we will schedule our flight out a few days from Rome. We are retired, have traveled in Italy a number of times, so getting to Rome is not an issue, extending our trip maybe a plus. That may make sense, maybe not.

As for Partner vs Alliance, not sure, but in the booking you have, I would work mainly with Lufthansa. Air Dolomiti is only short-haul, and they would not, for example, be able to get you on a United flight. Lufthansa, maybe. Talking to United, probably no help if you did not book through them. Doing test bookings might help, if only to help point Lufthansa to a flight that may work, especially, if like I mentioned, you look a few days out.

Another tip besides pre-loading the apps is to research and pre-load the real telephone numbers the applicable airlines in your contacts. The scams others have fallen into sometimes happened when something went wrong with their flight, they were in a bit of panic to get an alternative, they googled to get the airline phone number and the search results included a scam phone number that they grabbed and dialed in their hurry.

As someone who has had Plan B's for years and years and years, I'm going to agree with what Mr. E wrote. (Is that a first?)

If a flight is canceled, wait to see what the airline offers. That doesn't mean you shouldn't do some research and know your alternatives. Just don't act on it. Technically, the canceling airline is still resposible for getting you to your destination at no extra cost. They may also be responsible for...compensation for your delay, any hotels you stayed in or food you ate because of the delay.

Many airlines are part of airline alliances. The paricipating airlines are their "alliance partners." They can usually write tickets for each others airlines.

I see someone I mentioned chatting on the

Yeah, as long as you don’t care about getting good information chatting on the app works

Sadly, for most airlines, the truth is it’s 50% damn by bots and the other 50%those reps are working numerous chats and they are incentivized to get you to go away not to fix your problem. How about the only thing I trusted an airline chat but to tell me is the time of day and even then I would check it with a reliable resource. I have been lied to. I’ve been told stupid stuff. It’s bad when your customer knows more about your airline than your agent. But after the chat agent canceled my flight because she got confused, working her numerous chats and then ended the chat leaving me with this mess. I learned my lesson - never again.

If at all possible, dial the phone and talk to a real human,

First of all, hats off to the previous poster’s autocorrect: “the truth is it’s 50% damn by bots” is rather enjoyable.

This is a great question, and posters have produced excellent responses as well. I am mulling over Plan Bs for my summer trip, which has a lot of moving parts.

In the case of intraEuropean flights, which may be the first to go, is there a case to be made for buying refundable plane tickets now, just in case?

One of my transfers will be from Scotland to Italy, and Rome2Rio listed train and bus journeys I would have happily signed on to back in my 20s.

I have stopped saying “when we go” this summer. Now it’s “if we go” this summer. Insert sad face emoji.

Two years ago when our flight out of Amsterdam got towed back to the terminal, the Delta app automatically sent us an alternate flight option, which we could accept or decline. We declined and found a better option. All done through the app.

On our flight out of Dublin a few years ago, we received notification that our flight was delayed 12 hours. We called American Airlines and spoke with a real live person (not a bot because it was before bot prevalence) who got us on another flight.

If it happens on our Switzerland trip, I'm just going to live in Switzerland!

PS. Laurie Ann's comments about airline phone numbers is good advice!

So much depends on the individual circumstances. For example, where you are when when the cancellation happens and the particular airline, and the timeframe.

In 2024, I was flying into Amsterdam on a Delta flight that I had booked with KLM. I received a text message from Delta as we were coming into Schiphol telling me that the next leg of the flight had been canceled and they were unable to find any options for me at that time. I started to panic, but when I got off the plane and walked down the jetway, I stopped at the gate that had a couple of KLM agents there.

I explained to them about my text and one of them immediately picked up the phone and spent about 15 minutes talking to someone in Dutch, then got off and told me that she had rebooked the a new flight for me that was leaving later in the day. Everything worked out and I was very happy. I realize that’s not always the case but sometimes you just need to ask for help in multiple places. If the gate agent wasn’t able to help me I would’ve found someone else.

As someone pointed out upthread, it is the airline’s responsibility to get you on another flight, so sometimes the best (or at least the first) option is to leave it in their hands.

I recently had two Delta flights canceled. The first was expected due to a winter storm, the second was unexpected and caused by mechanical issues.

For the first flight, Delta gave me the option to change my flight a couple of days in advance, but the options weren’t good. They were for the day after or two days after. Once the flight was actually canceled, same-day options opened up, including flights on partner airlines. The lesson I took was not to change my flight too early and to wait until it’s actually canceled.

For the second flight, it was canceled while I was at the gate. As soon as it happened, Delta offered several rebooking options in the app for the next day. There was a Delta lady walking around the gate helping people.

I would have the app downloaded and wouldn't rebook flights until your flight is actually canceled.

Yes Mardee. The circumstances matter as to the best approach. On a Swiss Air flight in 2024 from Chicago to Zurich with a connection there on Helvetic to my destination in Florence, we had to land in Dublin for refueling. We had waited on the taxiway, having left the gate in Chicago, over an hour while the airport was shut down due to storms. We then flew very far north to avoid the weather system. While waiting on the plane in Dublin during refueling, most travelers received notifications from Swiss Air as to our rebooking on later flights to our final destinations. Fortunately for me there were several daily fights from Zurich to Florence. So doing nothing, and allowing the Swiss Air system to rebook me on a later connecting flight, worked out for my circumstance.

You absolutely do NOT have to pay for new flights. THEY need to rebook you onto new flights.

I've had this situation a few times, and always called the airline with whom I had booked / taken the first flight. Sometimes I've been automatically rebooked and it appears on the app. Once I arrived on UA in FRA, Lufthansa told me I had to exit security to speak with an agent about a missed LH flight. NO, I did not. I called UA in the US and spoke with a very nice woman rebooked me on an LH flight leaving an hour later, and my checked bag made it too. In your case, that would be Lufthansa. Suggest you download "Viber", a very cheap international dialing app I've downloaded on my phone. Just in case! I put $10 on it and it lasted for a few years. LH US tel number is 800--645-3890. Their German tel no is +49-69 8679-9699.

Since you asked about Plan B, I carry a paper copy of my entire trip reservation & hotels. And I take pictures on my phone of boarding passes.

Since you asked, I looked it up - Air Dolomiti is an Italian regional airline and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group, operating as a key partner within the Star Alliance network.

PS, Hope you have a great trip!! It might all be just fine. "There have been some awful things in my life, and a few of them have actually happened." (Mark Twain)

Great discussion thread, especially in the interesting times we're living in.

For me, a big part of Plan B is figuring out what is most important on a particular trip: time or money. Yes indeed, the airline you are booked on is responsible for getting you to where you're going. But if their solution is to get you where you're going two days later, and your whole trip was an important family occasion occurring the next day, then time is more important and you start looking at other airlines.

So have the telephone numbers and alternative flights handy, and ideally someone else nearby to check your Plan B in case you need to execute it, just to have another set of eyes helping ensure you don't jump too fast.

That’s a good point KC.

If we are speculating about disruption of airline service on a grand scale (as might happen with serious jet fuel shortages), some of us may want expand Plan Bs to options other than flying altogether. Because it won’t just be my cancelled flight, it will be finding space on fewer flights during peak summer travel season for everyone on cancelled flights.

I need to research cross-channel ferries, long-distance coaches, and rail service.

Off to renew my acquaintance with The Man in Seat 61.

What about travel insurance? When I read the policy document a few months ago, it stated that it covered mechanical breakdowns. So if flights are canceled for fuel shortage, I wonder if that would be precluded under a force majeure.

As I travel solo a lot, I always have a plan B and sometimes a C!
I also have the contact phone numbers for all the airlines I’m using in my contacts, before leaving home.
Load the apps for the same airlines and be sure your trip is loaded in there.
Print your itinerary and all airline contact numbers and flight Reference codes on paper.
Look for a a couple of hotels near an airport you may get stuck in and bookmark them for a “just in case” scenario.
Load train and bus company apps for the areas too, for alternate transport if necessary.
I make note of the nearest Canadian Embassy or Consulate wherever I’m visiting.
If you take medications, always pack an extra five days worth with you.

I’m sure there’s more…….but, you paid for an airline ticket and they have to get you on your way eventually!
It’s an adventure!

@SJ

As I travel solo a lot, I always have a plan B and sometimes a C!

You sound like my clone and I could have written your whole post myself. It's like you were in my brain :-) . I work full-time and have very limited time-off for my solo international trips. With a middle school child at home and work to return to, I always block and plan for an extra day of being away just in case flight gets cancelled (which unfortunately has happened twice when I arrived day after my original return flight).