The 1-3-1 easy-to-remember hack can save your travel plans if your flight is delayed or canceled

As jet setters prepare for the holiday season airport madness, one travel expert revealed a flight hack that can help passengers navigate delayed or canceled flights.

“When your flight gets disrupted and you need a new ticket, you’re in a first-come, first-served dogfight,” said Scott Keyes, founder of flight-deal aggregator Going, “That’s why taking an all-of-the-above approach to contacting the airline is important.” 

Passengers who encounter delayed or canceled flights should apply the 1-3-1 rule to quickly fix their travel problems.

The first one (1) in the cheat code represents a travel app, such as Flighty, which keeps fliers alert about flight status and gate changes. The three (3) signifies the methods for communicating with the airline that wronged you: online, at the airport and over the phone. Finally, use one (1) travel website that will hold airlines accountable for their mishaps — namely, the Airline Customer Service Dashboard, which the US Department of Transportation recently for reporting flight mishaps.

So, as soon as the traveler is notified that their flight plans are taking a detour, they should contact the airline via social media, phone and in-person.

While waiting in the customer service line to have your issue resolved, pull out your cell phone to tweet out your travel complaint to the airline’s social media account, which is handled quickly because airlines like to show evidence of their fast approach to handling conflicts.

Once the complaint is published, experts recommend dialing the airline’s customer service number.

“Virtually all domestic travelers will call an airline’s main U.S. hotline, clogging it up, but American and Delta and others all have offices in other countries,” said Keyes.

Regardless of the flight destination, international offices can make changes to your reservation just as easily as domestic offices.

One last step in the 1-3-1 rule is to check the airline website to learn your rights to compensation, support, or even a seat on another airline if your travel plans are disrupted.

However, every air carrier doesn’t provide the same guidelines to ensure passengers are taken care of to their satisfaction, so be mindful of the airline you travel with.

The Transportation Department created the Airline Customer Service Dashboard, an online reference for travelers that shows them what each carrier guarantees in case of controllable delays or cancellations.

“Airlines must adhere to their commitments. DOT will hold them accountable if they fail to do so,” the Department of Transportation site explained. “If you believe an airline has not fulfilled its customer service commitment, contact the airline to ensure it gives you what is owed.”