This simple hack will help you avoid costly flight cancellations - make sure you try it before you book!
- Replies 2
Most of us have been there before - you're all packed and ready for your flight, but then you get the dreaded email or text message saying that your flight has been cancelled. Not only is this incredibly annoying, but it can also be quite costly.
If you're lucky, the airline will be able to re-book you on another flight relatively quickly. However, if you're not so lucky, you could be stuck at the airport for hours (or even days) trying to sort things out. And if you're really unlucky, you could end up having to buy a completely new ticket.
There's no doubt about it, flight cancellations are a major pain. And unfortunately, there's not much you can do when it happens.
So, how can we go about this issue? Well, one ex-Jetstar passenger has divulged a clever travel tip that could help you avoid pain and expense the next time you book a flight.
In a post on Facebook, the traveller shared how some websites can help you determine whether a Jetstar trip is likely to be disrupted.
There are tips on how to find out the travel history of your flights to assess the likelihood of them getting cancelled. Credit: AAP.
The Melbourne passenger said that you can consult two websites, FlightRadar24 and Flightstats, which contain 'detailed' information on the history of each flight.
The details on the websites can also tell you how often it has been delayed or cancelled in recent months, allowing you to assess the flight before booking.
The man also claimed that he first learned about the sites after making Jetstar reservations for his family's trip to Singapore, only to be horrified to learn about the flight that he booked.
He wrote: 'If you are going to fly with Jetstar (especially international long-haul for a family holiday), take some time to check the flight history and make a plan B if possible.'
'My original booking was September 29, JQ7 from Melbourne to Singapore. Yesterday when I was preparing our stuff for next week’s flight, I checked the history of this flight on FlightRadar24 and Flightstats.'
'Oh man, I was shocked ... the flight was DELAYED MORE THAN 10 HOURS EVERY DAY SINCE AUGUST, with some flights cancelled. Flightstats rated the JQ7 zero stars for the on-time performance.'
The man continued by saying that the revelation motivated him to make new flight reservations with a different airline.
He shared: 'This is our first family flying since the COVID pandemic. I won’t take the risk to ruin it.'
'Avoid Jetstar if possible, if you cannot avoid it, book flexible fare rule tickets, you can’t trust Jetstar.'
Given their previous Jetstar experiences, some passengers appreciated the suggestion.
One person said: 'Thanks for the tip! I’ve looked up FlightRadar24 as we have an upcoming trip to Vietnam which we’ve booked months ago. So we’re definitely looking at other airlines.'
'Absolutely avoid like the plague. Pay the extra it’s just not worth the stress,' another said.
A third chimed in: 'The best plan B is not to book with Jetstar. Ever. I have learned that the hard way, having my family holiday ruined by cancellation after cancellation.'
The original poster also advised utilising FlightAware, which offers a free account and allows you to view the past three months' worth of flight history.
While the aforementioned advice provides a general summary of what to anticipate from the trip, there are still many potential events that could cause your flight to be cancelled. So, the SDC would like to share the following advice with you to assist you to prepare for the event that your flight is cancelled:
1. Check the weather forecast before you leave for the airport. If there's a chance of bad weather, call the airline to see if your flight is still on schedule.
2. Bring a carry-on bag with essential items like a change of clothes, toiletries, and your medications. That way, if your flight is delayed or cancelled, you won't be stuck without your essentials.
3. If your flight is cancelled, call the airline right away to rebook. You may have to wait on hold for a while, but it's worth it to get back on your way as soon as possible.
4. Have some patience. Flights can be delayed or cancelled for a variety of reasons, and it's not always the airline's fault. Getting upset won't help the situation, so try to relax and go with the flow.
So, there you have it, folks! Have you experienced getting your flight delayed? What did you do to resolve the issue? Share your stories with us in the comments below!
If you're lucky, the airline will be able to re-book you on another flight relatively quickly. However, if you're not so lucky, you could be stuck at the airport for hours (or even days) trying to sort things out. And if you're really unlucky, you could end up having to buy a completely new ticket.
There's no doubt about it, flight cancellations are a major pain. And unfortunately, there's not much you can do when it happens.
So, how can we go about this issue? Well, one ex-Jetstar passenger has divulged a clever travel tip that could help you avoid pain and expense the next time you book a flight.
In a post on Facebook, the traveller shared how some websites can help you determine whether a Jetstar trip is likely to be disrupted.
There are tips on how to find out the travel history of your flights to assess the likelihood of them getting cancelled. Credit: AAP.
The Melbourne passenger said that you can consult two websites, FlightRadar24 and Flightstats, which contain 'detailed' information on the history of each flight.
The details on the websites can also tell you how often it has been delayed or cancelled in recent months, allowing you to assess the flight before booking.
The man also claimed that he first learned about the sites after making Jetstar reservations for his family's trip to Singapore, only to be horrified to learn about the flight that he booked.
He wrote: 'If you are going to fly with Jetstar (especially international long-haul for a family holiday), take some time to check the flight history and make a plan B if possible.'
'My original booking was September 29, JQ7 from Melbourne to Singapore. Yesterday when I was preparing our stuff for next week’s flight, I checked the history of this flight on FlightRadar24 and Flightstats.'
'Oh man, I was shocked ... the flight was DELAYED MORE THAN 10 HOURS EVERY DAY SINCE AUGUST, with some flights cancelled. Flightstats rated the JQ7 zero stars for the on-time performance.'
The man continued by saying that the revelation motivated him to make new flight reservations with a different airline.
He shared: 'This is our first family flying since the COVID pandemic. I won’t take the risk to ruin it.'
'Avoid Jetstar if possible, if you cannot avoid it, book flexible fare rule tickets, you can’t trust Jetstar.'
Given their previous Jetstar experiences, some passengers appreciated the suggestion.
One person said: 'Thanks for the tip! I’ve looked up FlightRadar24 as we have an upcoming trip to Vietnam which we’ve booked months ago. So we’re definitely looking at other airlines.'
'Absolutely avoid like the plague. Pay the extra it’s just not worth the stress,' another said.
A third chimed in: 'The best plan B is not to book with Jetstar. Ever. I have learned that the hard way, having my family holiday ruined by cancellation after cancellation.'
The original poster also advised utilising FlightAware, which offers a free account and allows you to view the past three months' worth of flight history.
While the aforementioned advice provides a general summary of what to anticipate from the trip, there are still many potential events that could cause your flight to be cancelled. So, the SDC would like to share the following advice with you to assist you to prepare for the event that your flight is cancelled:
1. Check the weather forecast before you leave for the airport. If there's a chance of bad weather, call the airline to see if your flight is still on schedule.
2. Bring a carry-on bag with essential items like a change of clothes, toiletries, and your medications. That way, if your flight is delayed or cancelled, you won't be stuck without your essentials.
3. If your flight is cancelled, call the airline right away to rebook. You may have to wait on hold for a while, but it's worth it to get back on your way as soon as possible.
4. Have some patience. Flights can be delayed or cancelled for a variety of reasons, and it's not always the airline's fault. Getting upset won't help the situation, so try to relax and go with the flow.
So, there you have it, folks! Have you experienced getting your flight delayed? What did you do to resolve the issue? Share your stories with us in the comments below!
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