The “1-3-1” rule is the weapon you’ll use to combat flight delays and cancellations, promises an article in the American daily The Wall Street Journal. It takes place in three steps and involves using a specific application. We explain.
First step, ignore the avalanche of apps that are supposedly “there to help you when you have a problem with your flight.” All you need is Flighty. Despite its name that literally translates to “unstable,” it’s the app that will be most useful to you at the airport. Because it is, according to an article from Numerama, “by far the best app for people who travel by air from time to time”Its latest update, from August 2024, offers a delay prediction system based on several public data.
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Flighty is a valuable tool when airlines don’t want to keep you updated on delays and/or cancellations before you have a plan B, because the app’s predictions are more accurate than the airlines’. The downside: it’s only available in the Apple ecosystem, so Android users will have to find a similar app (or wait for one to become available). Also, according to Numerama, the information for France is not as reliable as in other countries, due to limited access to data.
When Flighty notifies you of a problem with your plane, you need to take action—and no, that doesn’t mean yelling at the crew. As Scott Keyes, founder of the Going platform, explains: “Finding a new ticket when the flight is cancelled is a merciless battle of first come, first served.”
Keep hope and stay strong
This is the time to focus on the “3” in the “1-3-1” rule. Maximize your communication across three channels simultaneously: social media, phone calls, and in person. While you’re waiting in line at the airport customer service line, politely reach out to the airline on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). They love to solve problems online, so everyone can see how awesome and helpful they are.
Then call customer service. Check if the company has offices in other countries than the one you are in, as this is often the case and they can help change the reservation as easily as the local office.
The final step of the magic rule is to consult a site to find out your rights in terms of compensation, assistance or even obtaining a free seat on another company. In the United States, this is the Airline Customer Service Dashboard (“Airline Customer Service Dashboard”), established by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
In France, you can find the equivalent on the official website of the European Consumer Centre France. You should not hesitate to consult this site even before booking your tickets, in order to find out which airlines have a more accommodating refund policy for travelers.
