<p>My son is flying home from the midwest tomorrow for spring break. I'm in panic mode because there is an impending storm in Ohio (where his flight originates) and here in NY where we live. Does anybody have any advice to give me. He is flying out of Detroit on Northwest Airlines - the airline that cancels flights all the time. He has an evening flight, so getting on a later flight isn't an option. If his flight is cancelled, should he still go to the airport in hopes of getting on an early morning flight the next day. His school is 45 minutes from the airport. They run buses to the airport, but the buses sell out in advance, so I don't know how he would get to the airport for a rescheduled flight. I would appreciate hearing from other parents who have had experience with this.</p>
<p>My daughter got stuck last year once- it stinks. One word of advice is to make sure he has cash on him ( in case he needs to buy food at the airport), pack phone charger and computer charger in carry-on so he can recharge as necessary. ( I can usually find an out of the way plug to use). Hopefully the weather will cooperate. Hopefully you'll get some other tips from more parents or students.</p>
<p>One bit of advice is to be sure he has the airline's phone number saved in his cell phone directory. If there is a cancellation, he can call the airline immediately, while standing in line. On the off chance he can get through to reservations, he might get that last seat on the next flight.</p>
<p>If he can, encourage him to get to airport ASAP. He could take an earlier flight as a standby without additional charge. Look online to see how many flights leave earlier, and how many empty seats they have.</p>
<p>My biggest concern is whether or not my son should go to the airport if he knows his flight has already been cancelled. His flight leaves at 7:30 pm, so there is only one flight afterwards. However, if he automatically gets on the first plane out the next morning, he won't have a way of getting to the airport from campus. I don't want him sleeping in the airport overnight (or dealing with his bad mood when I see him!), but I have a feeling this is the only way to guarantee a flight the next day.</p>
<p>I know this may sound ridiculous--but have you tried calling the airline to see if they have any suggestions? I know that airlines are not always that helpful and one employee may tell you one thing, while another may tell you something entirely different. Just a thought, tho--good luck to him! I think about this a lot when own student is flying. You try to think thru all scenarios.</p>
<p>PS--could your student possibly take a cab to the airport?</p>
<p>I don't fly NW so not sure how they work. But on others sometimes they will know which flight they have put him on and you can work with them. If not, go and work with them there. They might get him on the next flight standby. I have stayed the night in the airport, not fun but take something to make a pillow and a cover. He's young and flexible whereas I was not when I did it :)</p>
<p>I would say that he need to stay in the airport as the situation is likely fluidly.
With cash, charge cell phone etc are important. Few years back, when my DD1 got stuck in a transfer airport waiting for a connecting flight due to flight cancellation, we have to search through internet to find her another ticket such that she won't miss her presentation in a meeting. Even with all our help she did stay in the airport overnight.</p>
<p>The best thing to do is to go to the airport and then wait it out out. He needs to be available to transfer to an alternative flight if they offer it. Things change very rapidly with weather delays and if he is there waiting, he'll be able to possibly take advantage of them.<br>
The new Northwest terminal at DTW is really pretty nice, so if he has to sit all night it won't be anything horrible.
Ah, the joys of modern travel.....</p>
<p>Yes, he needs to stay in the airport, and he needs to bring with him things like a pillow and blanket, reading material, snacks, etc. that will make that stay as comfortable as possible. He also needs to bring some cash in case something comes up in which he can't use a credit card.</p>
<p>This is the real world, and you can't protect him from it. There's also no reason to panic about it. Fortunately, it's not as if he's a middle school student who'll have to handle this situation on his own.</p>
<p>Last year, S 19, H and I ended up each sleeping in airports while traveling by ourselves. S's airport sleep occurred when due to flight delays, he missed his connecting flight and had to spend the night in the Atlanta airport. </p>
<p>"I don't want him sleeping in the airport overnight (or dealing with his bad mood when I see him!), but I have a feeling this is the only way to guarantee a flight the next day."</p>
<p>It's up to your son about whether he chooses to be in a bad mood about this. He can choose to accept the situation with flexibility, openness and humor or he can choose to focus on every inconvenience.</p>
<p>If he chooses to return home in a bad mood due to his experiences, you don't have to suffer along with him.</p>
<p>He also is taking cues from you. If you act as if it's a horror, he'll probably be more likely to focus on the negative than to see it as an interesting adventure/puzzle to experience.</p>
<p>No need to panic. Just stay in the airport(easier for a young adult than for us old foggies) and keep you updated on ye olde cell phone. It no biggie imho.</p>
<p>I checked the national weather forecast. It doesn't look that bad. I doubt they'd cancel the flight over weather. If it's not heavily booked, they might cancel it and combine it with the later flight and blame it on the weather. I'd go to the airport anyway.</p>
<p>I think there was a thread around Thanksgiving time about kids stuck at airports. There were a lot of suggestions on that thread, too.</p>
<p>You might also want to monitor the flight on the day he's flying; sometimes the info on the net, even at sites like Orbitz, is more current than the knowledge of the agents at the airport. And have a list of hotels at the airport. Then if you find out the flight's been cancelled, you can try to book a room for him before everyone else does. Call the local hotel directly; bypass their 800 numbers which handle all the hotel locations. Give him the list as well; he can make the calls if you notify him that there's been a cancellation. Once he has a hotel room, he can work with the various agents to get booked on another flight in the morning without worrying about where he's sleeping.</p>
<p>A few years ago I stayed at a Westin hotel that has a walkway connecting it to the Detroit airport.</p>
<p>If he and a few of his friends end up stuck at the airport, there is a really nice hotel, I think it's a Westin, built right into the Northwest Terminal in Detroit. Of course, I'd make my kid sleep in the uncomfortable chairs in the terminal, just like I've had to do a few times, but at least it's an option.</p>
<p>When DS1 has flown United solo, there is an option online to get flight updates sent via txt or VM to one's cell phone. He sets this up himself, and it came in handy when he was diverted once due to bad weather (he was 16 at the time). He knew more than I did about his status, and I was at the airport waiting for him! I assume other airlines do this, too. </p>
<p>Your S (not you!) should check with the school (if they are the ones providing transportation to the airport) to see what their policy is in case of cancelled flights due to weather.</p>
<p>This is part of traveling as an adult. He can handle this -- express your confidence that he can figure this out.</p>
<p>DS2 and I were stuck in Denver one time (he was six) after missing our connection due to weather delays on our flight out. We were looking at camping out at the airport, and he quietly asked, "Mom, are we homeless?" Meanwhile, the adults around us were freaking out because their plans were disrupted. (While they were ranting at ticket agents, we got a cab and got to a motel.) The next AM we were on an early flight that was nearly empty, the weather was gorgeous, we both napped our way to Sacramento, and it was one of the nicest flying experiences I've ever had. DS2 still remembers it, too. Resiliency. It's a good thing. :)</p>
<p>I don't know if anyone has mentioned this but the storm is going to the south of Detroit. In fact they are predicting that they won't get any sticking snow north of Ann Arbor. I wouldn't worry about tomorrow, he shouldn't have any problems getting out.</p>
<p>michone - my D had the same issue when she flew home for Winter Break. She was flying through Chicago which had a lot of canceled and delayed flights due to weather issues. For some reason when she arrived at the airport the automated check in did not recognize the code she input. She was at the airport earlier than suggested as she was concerned traffic might be bad.</p>
<p>When she got to the counter the agent took one look at her flights and said oh, we need to rebook you as your flight in Chicago will be delayed or canceled and redid her tickets to go through DFW.</p>
<p>You might suggest to your son that when he checks in he asks if he can be rebooked through another airport. If the airport in NY has problems is there another airport he can fly into and you can drive to pick him up?</p>
<p>oh for heavens sake, he can stay overnight at the airport....bad mood or not...the airport is actually very safe...you put your head on your bag...believe me, if flights are cancelled he will not be alone</p>
<p>If he is going to fly frequently over four years and use the same airlines, it might be worth it to join their special club, admirals or whatever they call it, and then if he gets stuck, he can hang in a lounge rather than in the open airport. There's also a new hotel at the Detroit airport, I think its a Westin.</p>