Common Airport Problems and How to Overcome Them

Traveling can be an exhilarating experience, but it can also come with its fair share of challenges, especially at the airport. From unexpected delays to lost luggage, airports can be sources of stress. Understanding common airport problems and knowing how to navigate them can make your journey smoother.

Here’s a comprehensive look at some typical airport issues and practical tips for overcoming them.

1. Flight Delays and Cancellations

One of the most common frustrations travellers face is flight delays or cancellations. Weather conditions, technical issues, and air traffic congestion can all contribute to this problem.

What to do if your flight gets delayed or cancelled

Keep an eye on flight status through airline apps or airport monitors. Flight Information can change quickly and new updates to your situation will be appearing all the time. If you have connecting flights to catch then contact the airline’s customer service as soon as you learn about a delay. They may offer rebooking options or compensation.

2. Lost or Delayed Luggage

Everyone's worst nightmare is arriving at your destination only to find that your suitcase didn't make it. The moment of dread when you stand around the carousel and your luggage doesn't appear is one of the worst moments ever and can create a lot of stress at the start of your trip.

What to do if your luggage goes missing.

Here at TravelON World we recommend that the first thing to do before you travel is label your luggage clearly. You can get identification tags where you can store your contact information. If possible, always travel with a change of clothes (or two) in your hand luggage and make sure any essential items such as medications are with you and not in the hold luggage / suitcase.

The first thing to do when you notice your luggage is missing is to report it - immediately. It might have gone on another flight or it's possible someone else has picked it up off the carousel by mistake.

If your luggage did make it to the destination with you, but has just gone missing, if found it can often be delivered to your accommodation at a later date. If it has been left behind at the departure airport there is a very good chance it will arrive on the next flight. It's important that the airport is made aware of your missing luggage along with contact details and where to forward it onto when it arrives.

3. Long Check In and Security Lines

With the increase in the number of people going through airports these days there is a good chance you're going to get stuck in long waiting lines at check-in and / or going through security.

What can you do about the long waiting times at check-in and airport security?

Whilst there is nothing you can do about the long queues and waiting times themselves, you can make your trip to the airport less stressful by arriving on time. Make sure you follow the guidelines for domestic and international flights arriving at least 2 hours and 3 hours early respectively. To ensure you don't hold up the queues any more than you need to make sure you have all the appropriate documentation and IDs ready to go and where necessary any liquids are packed into plastic bags and electronics goods are out of your bags ready to put into the trays.

4. Missed Connections

If your journey relies on interconnecting flights and your first flight is delayed, it can easily have a knock on effect meaning you will miss your next flight and have to reschedule. In some circumstances it might also mean you need to find accommodation depending on the frequency of the interconnecting flights. Very often missed connections are due to circumstances out of your control.

What can you do about missing interconnecting flights?

One of the best ways to manage interconnecting flights is to not create a schedule that's too tight. Whilst no one likes to hang around airports for too long, giving yourself an extra hour or two makes the connection a little less stressful and allows for small delays for your first flight.

If you miss an interconnecting flight due to delays you may be able to claim compensation.

5. Unruly Passengers

Whether you're travelling for business or pleasure you want a flight to be relaxing so that you feel good to go at your arrival destination. However, humans being humans occasionally, you may encounter fellow travellers who are disruptive or unruly, leading to an uncomfortable atmosphere.

Sometimes this disruptive behaviour may be fulled by too much alcohol, personal stress or a perfectly valid reason that the passenger isn't reacting too well to. Every situation can be different.

What's the best way to deal with unruly passengers?

If you encounter unruly passengers on your flights the best thing to do is not engage with them. This can fuel tensions and make them more agitated and put yourself and other passengers in a dangerous situation. It's not easy to remove yourself from a situation whilst 36,000 feet in the air, however the airline crews are trained to deal with these things when the situations arise so they best thing to do is get their attention and let them know what's going on - especially if you are feeling threatened and uncomfortable.

6. Food and Drink Options in the departure lounge

Although these days the dining options are airports are much better it can still be challenging to find something to eat if you suffer from allergies or conditions such as coeliac. Airports tend to cater for a high throughput audience rather than fine diners, so you'd expect to see fast food outlets rather than fine dining establishments. This can sometimes cause problems for travellers who then find it difficult to find food in the departure lounges.

How can you overcome the challenges of eating in departure lounges if you have allergies?

Many airports today have very good websites, packed full of information about what is available in departure lounges. And this includes catering options, often with menus, so you can plan your time between checkin and boarding. If the catering options don't look good to you, then consider taking your own snacks to eat whilst waiting.

Airports are famous for expensive catering options so if you are feeling the pinch then why not take an empty water bottle with you. Many departure lounges have water fountains that are free to use so you can fill up your bottle as often as you need to.

7. Technical Glitches

As we become more and more reliant on technology its inevitable that glitches and system downtime is going to create more inconvenience and frustration. And Travel is no exception. With the rise of Smart Phones over the last 15 years Airlines have moved to a more digital approach to issuing boarding passes in an attempt to speed up queues at check-in. But what happens when the technology lets us down?

How can you combat technology issues

A lot of the issues with modern technology can be out of your control. If a server goes down, or connectivity is lost, it may be difficult for airlines to access flight manifestos and ensure people are checked into the flight. In this case there is usually nothing you can do but wait. Some airlines will move to a manual approach to ensure boarding happens smoothly where as others may simply wait for their systems to come back online.

From a personal point of view, if you are relying on a smart phone for your documents and boarding pass the key thing to do is ensure you have enough battery to get you through the departures process. Without charge, you will not be able to access important documents, and therefore board the flight. If you want to be extra cautious then have a backup copy of all your documents - it might be old school but preparation is key to a smooth and easy checkin process.

8. Unexpected Fees

From baggage fees to last-minute charges, unexpected costs can arise and disrupt your travel budget. No one wants to start their holiday having to fork out extra money for overweight suitcases or travel costs.

How to avoid additional fees at the airport

The key thing to avoiding additional fees at the airport is to understand the policies of the airline you are flying with. All airlines have a baggage allowance which is usually set by weight, so make sure you are within that. If you need to pack more stuff you can sometimes get around these fees by make best use of your hand luggage as well as the hold luggage. Put heaver items in your hand luggage (but not so heavy it makes it difficult to carry around).

To avoid disappointment and extra fees, if you want to sit together with your partners and family on the flight then prebook your seats. Whilst you will pay a little more on the initial booking its possible that it will cost you more to book seats when you arrive at checkin, and no one likes nasty surprises on arrival at the airport.

9. Passport Validity

If your passports aren't valid, you can't travel to another country. It's as simple as that. If you've booked your holiday in advance there isn't really an excuse for travelling with an out of date passport as you have plenty of time to order a new one. However, just because your passport is in date doesn't mean its valid for travel as some destinations require a longer validity period than others.

How to avoid passport issues at the airport

For most people, passport validity isn't an issue but as your passport comes towards the end of its life its important to know the rules for the country you are travelling to ensure that your passport will be accepted at check-in. If the passport isn't valid you won't be able to fly.

Another thing that may invalidate a passport is damage. If it is deemed by the airline that the passport has been damaged enough to think it may have been tampered with you will not be allowed to board your flight. And there is no point in trying to argue your case because if an airline lets you fly with an invalid passport they will be liable for a fine.

Travelling to the Canary Islands from another European Country is usually a smooth experience that goes without any hiccups, but they key to a good start to your holiday to Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria or Tenerife is preparation. Make sure you have all your travel documents ready, devices charged, you have checked in and have the right luggage allowance for your needs, and most important you have a valid passport for travel. Being prepared for your flight puts your mind at ease and means you can enjoy your holiday from the moment you arrive at the airport.

If you're visiting the Canary islands and looking for things to do in Lanzarote or things to do in Tenerife then check out our great selection of trips, activities and things to see and do.