Delta power outage: What a passenger can do when computers crash

A massive computer meltdown left thousands of Delta Airline passengers around the globe madly scrambling to find and rebook flights, waiting in long lines for answers or stranded at the airport for many hours.

More than 1,000 flights were cancelled, affecting people in the U.S., Japan, Italy andU.K.

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Travel can be stressful at the best of times, so what's a passenger to do?

The Calgary Eyeopener talked to Flight Centre managerAaron Yip.Themajor airline booking and travel agencyspent much of the day Monday dealing with the fallout of what he called the biggest outage Delta has ever had.

Here's hisadvice.

Get in line

It may not be what anyone wants to hear, but staying calm is Yip's first suggestion. Then get in line at the counter to begin getting information.

"The best way forward is to really work together with the airline or your travel agent to find a suitable solution."

Chances are you won't be able to call the airline, because thousands of other people will be doing the same thing. Get to the counter as quickly as possible to verify the information and see if you have been or can be put on another flight.

"It's good to find out this information from the airline staff directly."

If the line-up is long, try calling your travel agentif you booked through onewhile you're waiting. They will likely be up to speed on the situation and will have access to the system to make other arrangements.

Do passengers have rights?

Though it may not seem like it, passengers have rights in a situation like this.

There are what Yip calls "protections," which usually apply to cancellations and delays.

"Reputable airlines will usually provide hotel accommodations and meal vouchers," he said. " I would certainly recommend as travellers, you go ask for it and don't wait for them to offer it to youespecially for meal vouchers."

During a large-scale delay like Delta's, people who purchased travel insurance would be covered by "interruption insurance."

This allows travellers to claim a daily allowance in the case of a delay or cancellations that will be reimbursed at a later date. Itcan include booking hotels on your own, several meals and supplies such as a toothbrush, ordiapers and food for children.

Several credit card companies also offer trip interruption insurance.

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