A few tips so that suddenly being stuck in a plane or at an airport isn't so bad.
It's not something that airlines or travelers like to have happen, but every now and again, instead of just being delayed, an air traveler finds themselves stranded due to a flight cancellation. It's no fun but there are a few things you can make be a part of your regular air travel routine which can help alleviate little annoyances that make a bad situation become worse.
Make sure you have essentials with you, not in checked luggage. This includes medicines, money, addresses and phone numbers, and personal care essentials. I don't wear contact lenses anymore, but when I did, I always made sure a case for my contacts and my glasses were with me. I had a few close calls where I almost didn't have cash or an ATM card, mostly in my college years, and I chose to leave from those instances rather than repeat them.
On travel days, I always wear something that I can adjust to be a bit warmer or cooler if need be. I'm not going to presume to get a blanket on a plane and then wind up freezing as we sit delayed on the tarmac. Likewise, being overheated or too cold in a terminal can make delays stretch to forever. I once spent five hours sitting in a plane on a runway watching crews de-ice the wings repeatedly, all the while being thankful I was wearing very comfortable pants. I always travel with a book I'm about to start reading, not one I'm about to finish. And on long flights or during winter months, I might just have two books with me.
