It’s the end of a trip. You have done all you wanted to do. Your bags are full of laundry, souvenirs, and things you can’t even remember packing, and you’re exhausted. But instead of going home to sleep in your own bed, you find yourself at the Holiday Inn hoping that somehow, someway, the airline will call you and tell you that your flight wasn’t cancelled after all, and they are flying you home first class to make up for the mistake.

With airline on-time statistics at an all time low and cancellations at an all time high, chances are you’re going to see a little more of the airport than you’d like. When you’re stuck due to cancellations or delays, there are some things you can do to ease the pain. First and foremost, know your what you can ask for. Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of federal laws that govern what an airline should do to accommodate you, so check your airline’s policy. When delays and cancellations are made due to non-weather related causes, ask your airline should book you on the next flight out, no matter what airline. They don’t necessarily have to give you anything, so be nice. Ask for meal vouchers or hotel vouchers if you can’t get anywhere.

Overbooking is standard practice for most airlines, which seems ridiculous to the passenger that is about to get bumped for no reason that will appeal to their sensibilities. Again, this is just one of those things we have to live with. If you’re flexible and the airline offers a reward for voluntarily giving up your seat on the plane, go ahead and do it. It often will result in a first class ticket for you and a voucher for another trip anywhere in the continental U.S.

Check on-line before you purchase and after. Several websites will tell you about your flight, it’s on-time history, and airport delays such as www.flightstats.com and www.flightware.com. Knowing the deal before you even head to the airport can reduce your airport bar time. It’s also smart to check with your airline. Even if it’s sunny and beautiful where you are, thunderstorms could be over your destination.

Get on the phone instead of waiting in those long lines. A lot of airlines now have special phones for rebooking you if your flight is delayed or cancelled. I can’t tell you how many times I have rebooked on the phone while I’ve watched a line of fifty people wait for two exhausted airline employees to help them out.

Pull rank. If you are an elite member of your airline’s mileage program, you should have priority in rebooking and seats. Make sure they give you your due, whether that means bumping you up a class or giving you an exit row.

If all else fails, and that employee that ignored you and blamed you for the airline’s tardiness won’t help, write EVERYTHING down. I do mean everything. Write down the name of the employee/s, the airline, the flight number/s, the length of time you waited. Send a copy of the letter to airline’s customer service department and one to the Department of Transportation. While it won’t provide you with immediate relief, at least you know you have reported an issue and that attention will be paid.