I'm a veteran traveler, but a rookie flight-booking mistake cost me $3,000 — and taught me 4 lessons I'll never forget
On the night we were supposed to fly from New York to Iceland, my family was stuck in Virginia, and I was scrambling to find a solution.
A veteran traveler learned four valuable lessons after a costly flight-booking mistake that cost her family nearly $3,000. Natalie Becerra, a seasoned traveler, had booked two separate flight itineraries on different airlines for a family trip to Ireland. However, after the first airline diverted, her family found themselves stranded and had to spend a significant amount of money to get back on track.
The reporter realized that booking separate itineraries comes with a high risk, and it's crucial to plan extra time for flight disruptions. Additionally, she learned the importance of arriving in the city of your next flight at least 24 hours before departure, as this provides a safety net and minimizes the impact of unexpected changes.
Becerra also discovered the value of purchasing a slightly more expensive ticket with better cancellation and change policies when booking new flights. Lastly, she recognized the need to better understand her credit card's trip protections to ensure she has adequate coverage in case of future travel mishaps.
Written by urgent.news from Business Insider's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
