I’m a hotel expert – the big mistake you’re making when your flight is cancelled that could leave you stranded
A TRAVEL expert has revealed the big mistake you are making when your flight is cancelled that could leave you stuck at the airport.
Thousands of passengers across the UK and Europe have been left stranded by cancelled flights in recent days, due to the severe weather.
More than 700 flights have been cancelled at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport today.
This comes after another 900 since Sunday were cancelled, with more weather warnings in place.
And Liverpool‘s John Lennon Airport was forced to close on Monday after the runway was covered by snow.
More than 200 flights were cancelled across the UK yesterday as well after temperatures dropped to -12C.
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HotelPlanner boss Tim Hentschel explains that waiting for the airline to book you a hotel is advised against, as well as to avoid calling hotels.
He said: “Airport hotels are usually prepared for unexpected surges in demand whenever travellers are delayed at airports.
“That said, once the standard rooms are booked, any last remaining saved occupancy will come at a premium.
“The natural action may be to call the nearest hotels, but booking online is actually better than over the phone in these situations.”
Hentschel explained the hotel phone lines often become jammed in the surge to bag the last remaining rooms.
Instead, he recommended booking hotel rooms online to “beat the rush”.
He added: “This is when seconds might count and demand for rooms are at a peak, so there really is no time to be sitting on hold.
“Booking online is a much more efficient way to find rooms at short notice, and booking engines find a way to pick out the best rates.”
Airline KLM – which has been most affected by the Amsterdam cancellations – backed this up.
They said online in a travel warning: “If you need a hotel because your flight is the next day, the quickest option is to book one yourself and request reimbursement through our website.
“We recommend Booking.com to find suitable accommodation.”
Over the winter months passengers who are flying abroad face disruption because of worsening weather conditions such as snow and high winds.
Airline employee Natalie also offered some of her top tips for what to do at the airport if affected.
This includes downloading the official smartphone app of the airline you’re flying with.
This could give you up-to-date notifications just as fast as the airline employees located at customer service points at the airport.
Here’s what you need to know about claiming compensation if your flight was delayed or cancelled.
