25 Smart Airline Tips for Winter Travel

If you're already worried about getting stuck at the airport or missing your flight this winter, it's important to remember that you have some control. These winter travel tips can help you avoid some of the pitfalls of cold weather travel while ensuring you eventually get in the air.

While you may be inclined to drive to the airport and pay for parking, you could be returning to an unwelcome surprise if your airport gets inches or feet of snow! Instead of chancing it, take an Uber or Lyft to and from the airport. Ridesharing may not cost more than airport parking anyway.

If the roads are icy and snow has fallen, leave extra early for the airport to ensure you get to there on time. Remember that even if the roads aren't bad at the moment, all it takes is one wreck ahead of you to get stuck in traffic and miss your flight.

You may not be able to prevent delays at the airport, but you can absolutely anticipate them. When you plan on your flight being delayed due to inclement weather-or at least have it at the back of your mind-it's a lot less stressful when it actually does happen.

Booking several separate flights with different airlines on multiple itineraries is a risky plan any time, but that's especially true when weather is bad. If missing your first flight causes you to miss subsequent flights, your airlines may not have any obligation to accommodate you on a later route.

While you may get to your destination without a hitch, winter weather can throw your plans out of whack in a hurry. Make sure to have alternate plans in mind, whether that means being prepared for the possibility of arriving late or driving to your destination instead of flying.

If you really want to be prepared, take the time to research alternative routes and flights you could possibly be rebooked on in the event your flight is canceled or delayed. Having the flight numbers handy can help you be prepared on the fly if you are stuck in a situation where you have to figure something else out.

If you happen to notice that winter weather is coming and call your airline right away, it's possible they will let you change your flight. Airlines often do this at no charge in order to prevent passengers from being stranded due to poor weather conditions.

A handful of websites, including FlightAware.com, allow you to track your flight throughout the days leading up to your trip. By tracking your flight, you can anticipate delays and be one of the first passengers rebooked if your flight plans go awry.

Some travel insurance policies provide coverage for all sorts of winter travel delays and even a completely canceled trip that's out of your control. You can buy a freestanding travel insurance policy for an individual trip or buy a policy that covers you all year long. Make sure to shop around for the best deal since prices can vary widely.

You may also want to check whether your credit card offers travel insurance as a cardholder perk. Travel credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve tend to offer benefits such as trip cancellation/interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance and primary auto rental coverage.

Many people wait to fly to their cruise port until the day they depart to save money on a hotel stay. This could be risky during winter since you may miss your cruise altogether if your flight is canceled or delayed until later in the day. Fly out the night before just to be safe and you can avoid the nightmare of watching your cruise ship pull away without you.

Remember that flight delays and cancellations can happen at your home airport or at any airport you're connecting in. Try to avoid booking flights with connections in cities more likely to experience snow and delays. Boston, Minneapolis and Chicago come to mind, but there are plenty of others.

Also try to book flights with long layovers. While you may not want to spend hours at the airport, you'll appreciate the extra time if your first flight is significantly delayed. If you plan flights with tight connections, you're more likely to miss them.

If you can swing it, flying nonstop can help you avoid the mayhem of dealing with a layover altogether. Flying nonstop can also reduce your chances of a delay since you'll have one flight to watch instead of several.

No matter whether you fly direct or with a layover, flying on one of the first flights of the day is generally a good idea. When an early morning flight is delayed, there are usually several other flights you can rebook onto for later in the day. If you fly out on the last flight of the day, you may have to wait until the next morning to depart.

TSA Precheck won't solve all your problems if your winter getaway is foiled by bad weather, but it can make the airport more bearable. With TSA Precheck, you can skip some of the longest security lines and avoid having to take off your shoes or take your laptop out of your bag.

Another airport status you can pursue is called Global Entry. It allows you to skip lengthy customs and immigration lines when you enter airports in the U.S. after arriving from overseas. This perk can easily save you over an hour or more on your way home from a big trip.

Checking a bag can make your travel plans slightly more complicated if you experience a cancellation or delay. Your bag could end up arriving in your final destination before you do-especially if you get rerouted on a different flight through another airport. Try to stick with carry-on luggage only and you'll never be without your stuff.

If you think your flight may be delayed, it never hurts to bring some activities and snacks for the kids (and yourself). Spending hours in the airport is much more bearable when you have movies and tablets and a bag of goodies to share.

The TSA has a policy that allows them to open wrapped gifts that go through security. For that reason, you may want to skip pre-wrapping and just bring along wrapping paper and tape. This can save you the hassle and stress of having to wrap your gifts over again and may prevent your gift from being damaged.

Smaller discount airlines may help you save on airfare, but they are probably the worst to deal with when you have a delay or cancellation due to winter weather. Most have fewer flights over all, which means it may be difficult to get rebooked for a later flight if bad weather causes a delay. Fly with big airlines that offer lots of flight options and you'll be better off.

With cozy seating, internet access, snacks and even drinks-including alcohol-airport lounge access can turn a flight delay into a luxury experience. Pay for a Priority Pass membership yourself or find a travel credit card that allows access to multiple lounges worldwide.

If you wind up being stuck in your destination for a few days because of ice or bad weather at home, it can help to have some hotel points or credit card rewards on hand. With a stash of rewards, you won't have your travel budget ruined if you're stuck paying for a hotel.

Is the impending cancellation of your upcoming flight ruining your winter? If so, it doesn't have to be this way. By planning for the worst and anticipating delays, you'll be mentally prepared to face whatever goes wrong-even if you have to change flights or leave a day late.

On the flip side, it's important to remember that your winter vacation could go off without a hitch no matter the temperature. Plan for delays, but also remember that flights go exactly as planned more often than not. If a delay never materializes, you'll be in the air and on your way to your destination in no time.