Flight canceled or delayed? Here’s what to do next

Flight cancellations are on the rise in 2026. Since Jan. 1, U.S. carriers have canceled roughly 2% of all flights, according to FlightAware, putting this year on pace for the highest cancellation rate since 2022. And delays remain common: About one in four departures nationwide was delayed between Memorial Day and Labor Day, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.While most flights leave on time, there's no doubt that delays and cancellations remain a reality of air travel — whether due to bad weather, mechanical issues, scheduling problems or other unforeseen circumstances, including recent events in Mexico and the Middle East.Most recently, passengers on the East Coast had to deal with snarled flights at the Northeast's busiest hubs due to an air traffic control outage Monday. And already, the next threat looms: an unusually early Nor'easter that could bring severe weather and further flight disruptions at airports across the mid-Atlantic and New England.In case you experience flight delays or cancellations, here are tips on how to decrease your chances of getting stuck and increase your odds of arriving at your destination as quickly as possible. Plus, check out o...