Dealing with Delays

Text by Lena Gidwani Translation by Emma Xu Illustration by Liu Tian

Dealing with Delays

Text by Lena Gidwani Translation by Emma Xu Illustration by Liu Tian

Over the last decade, China has held the fl ag for being the fastest growing outbound tourist market in the world.

Yes, we're fl ying more than ever before, and it's about to get a whole lot busier. With eager airlines cashing in on the expansion and airport-building frenzy,competitive fares and more passengers going on overseas shopping sprees and mass sightseeing tours, the world's become our oyster. But with such tremendous growth, the local aviation sector is getting a bit of a reputation for what is perhaps the most inevitable factor of all: fl ight delays.

If you're nodding in silence, you're not alone. Flight delays are certainly bad news but it's important to know in full faith that everything is being done to get you to your destination in the quickest time possible. Knowing the difference between things you have control over and those you do not is the key to saving yourself tons of time, sweat and tears.Here are our top three tried-and-tested ways to deal with fl ight delays…

COLUMNIST'S PROFILE Lena Gidwani is a resident of Guangzhou for 13 years, selfconfessed networker,magazine editor and an avid writer.Lena Gidwani，网络工作者、杂志编辑、作家，在广州居住13年。

1.Get Creative

If your fl ight is delayed, you can seek out another way of getting to your destination, especially if it's urgent. Sometimes, it's just better to give up(that's the spirit!) and travel onwards a different way and sort out the formalities later. Don't forget to call/email/message whoever you need to, and remember to stock up on those tax-free perfumes from the duty-free shop.

2.Catch up on work, sleep or TV

Unless you have a (genuine) special consideration that applies to you, use the extra time as an opportunity to do what we all should do more of:relaxing. And cleaning up your inbox. Everyone needs perspective, and you're a human, not a machine. Everything seems better after a nice walk around, some comfort food, drinks and rest.

3.Do your Due Diligence

Check the small print on your ticket under the'Contract of Carriage' to see what's covered, and fi nd out if you can seek compensation or not. Got travel insurance? Well done! If not, just relax. Find ways to keep yourself busy, and you'll fi nd that time will fl y, even if you're not.…

Remember, fl ight delays are not the end of the world, and it's out of your hands. It will make things easier to show a bit of goodwill and think about how to better utilise the time. And in the greater scheme of things, it really will be all right in the end…

延误自救手册

过去十年，中国人在出境游方面一次次创造纪录。

现代人的飞行频率比起以前已经高出很多，但接下来，航线还会更加繁忙。航空公司积极增加机组，城市忙着新建机场，而游客们热衷海购和旅游——远方变得越来越触手可及。

然而，尽管航空业发展飞速，目前飞行这一出行方式依然无法摆脱“容易延误”的标签。

遭遇航延的时候，每个人都免不了懊恼，我也一样，因为没有人愿意在候机厅里浪费时间。但懊恼是没有意义的。要知道，为了尽快送你到达目的地，所有人都在努力。下面三个建议可供你在延误的时候参考：

1.及时补救

当你的航班延误了，特别是在你赶时间的情况下，你可及时更换为其他交通方式。有时适当的放弃是必要的。先上路，随后再办理退票手续都来得及。

2.休息一下

如果没有特别安排，延误的时候可以利用这段时间放松一下，比如回复邮件、看看书或是追追电视剧。平时忙碌工作的你，也许难得有放空自己的机会，何不在候机厅悠闲地散个步，吃点东西，喝杯咖啡？

3.寻求索赔

你的机票下方有个“运输合同”，小字部分写着承保信息，你可以看看自己如何寻求赔偿。如果你有旅行保险，恭喜你。如果没有，也无须焦虑。不如利用这时间，让自己忙起来，时间很快就会过去。

航班延误不是世界末日，如何把生活中的小尴尬变成小确幸，便是考验你的智慧了。