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

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

“When your flight is interrupted and you need a new ticket, you’re in a first-come, first-serve scramble,” said Scott Keyes, founder of flight deal aggregator Going, “That’s why you get a all.-the above approach to contacting the airline is important.”

Passengers experiencing delayed or canceled flights should follow the 1-3-1 rule to quickly fix their travel problems.

The first (1) in the cheat code represents a travel app, like Flighty, that keeps flyers alert to flight status and gate changes. Three (3) mean methods to communicate with the airline that wronged you: online, at the airport and by phone. Finally, use the 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 used to flight accident reporting.

So once 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 you wait on the customer service line to resolve your issue, pull out your mobile to post your travel complaint on the airline’s social media account, which is handled quickly because airlines like to show proof of their quick approach for dealing with conflicts.

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

“Almost all domestic travelers will call the main line of the US airline, blocking it, but American and Delta and others have offices in other countries,” Keyes said.

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

A final step in the 1-3-1 rule is to check the airline’s website to find out your rights to compensation, support or even a seat on another airline if your travel plans are disrupted.

However, not every airline offers the same guidelines to ensure that passengers are taken care of for their satisfaction, so be aware of the airline you fly with.

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

“Airlines must stick to their commitments. DOT will hold them accountable if they don’t,” the Department of Transportation website explained. “If you believe an airline has failed to meet its commitment to customer service, contact the airline to ensure that she gives you what you owe.”