Try these new tricks for solving unexpected travel problems

Even the most experienced traveler can run into trouble every now and then. But how do you get out of trouble? 

I needed to think quickly when I checked in for a recent flight from Doha, Qatar, to Auckland, New Zealand. I had taken care of the visa for New Zealand, but then the ticket agent asked me for proof of an onward journey.

Huh? Well, it turns out New Zealand won’t let you into the country unless you can show that you’re not going to overstay your visa.

Unexpected problems crop up all the time when you travel — whether it’s a car rental company that runs out of vehicles, a lost hotel reservation, a sudden illness, or a visa glitch. For example, many American travelers will get blindsided by the new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), a $7 fee paid to enter the European Union, when it goes into effect next year. (Ah, if they  read my column.)

But as it turns out, there are things you can do to avoid these unexpected travel problems. In a moment, I’ll also tell you how that little paperwork problem with New Zealand ended.

To solve a travel problem, you have to see it coming

I’m surprised by how many travelers don’t even bother to verify the basics before they leave. This is one of the oldest rules in the book — so old, perhaps, that people have forgotten it.

“You have to contact each hotel, each tour operator, your airline, and your car rental company to verify everything,” says Susan Sherren, who runs Couture Trips. 

Here’s how a pro does it: Before a client leaves on a trip, she runs a double-check audit. She checks every reservation, paying special attention to anything done through an online travel agency.

“Those are fraught with problems,” she says.

That allows her to fix any problems before her customers leave home. It’s an easy trick you can use, too.

But it’s not the only trick for having a smarter trip. Here are a few more:

Print and read the rules. How can you hold a company to its rules if you don’t know what they are? Your airline has what’s called a contract of carriage, the legal agreement between you and the company. You can find it on the airline’s website. Similarly, cruise lines have ticket contracts and car rental companies have contracts. Sarah Blocksidge, a director for a marketing agency in Cleveland, always prints a copy of these rules before she leaves. “I know what I am entitled to when my flight is canceled,” she explains.

Think outside the loyalty program. Too often, travelers are prisoners of their loyalty programs. So when they run into a problem like a car rental agency that runs out of vehicles, they lean on the company for a fix. If that doesn’t work, try plan B, says Las Vegas-based frequent flier Andy Abramson. “I turn to local auto rental car agencies,” he says. “Many offer rentals at competitive rates when big-name companies are sold out.” True, you won’t get your points — but you will get a car.

Never lose another reservation. Travelers have become too reliant on hotels and other companies to track their reservations. That’s a mistake, says Stephanie Webb, who works for a tour company. “I always recommend taking screenshots of your confirmation emails and booking details. If a hotel claims they don’t have your reservation, showing a record with dates and confirmation numbers can help resolve the issue faster.” Also, if they’ve lost your reservation and they’re fully booked, your paperwork will make them own the problem and find you alternate accommodations. 

Look for hidden benefits. Let’s say you get sick on the road and need a doctor. Your travel insurance company can help you find an English-speaking M.D. while you’re abroad. “If your travel insurance plan includes 24/7 emergency assistance, then it’s worth giving the emergency assistance provider a call,” says Will Nihan, CEO of Travelex Insurance Services. Some travel insurance companies — including his — will find a doctor and even make an appointment for you through a smartphone app. That’s a cool hidden benefit.

Ask an AI for help. Artificial intelligence is developing so quickly that even I’m having a hard time keeping up, and I’m a tech enthusiast! Ross Borden, CEO of Matador Network, which operates a travel AI called GuideGeek, says one-quarter of his audience already uses AI to solve their travel problems. “We see users asking questions like, ‘My flight is canceled so I have an extra night in Chicago. Is there anything cool to do or see near O’Hare Airport?’ or ‘Getting into Dublin late due to flight delay. Where’s a good place to eat at 2 a.m.?,'” he says. And AIs are getting better at answering those kinds of questions — and solving problems — every day.

Or you could ask me for help, because chances are, I’ve made the mistake in my travels.

How I solved my unexpected travel problem

In case you’re new to this column, here’s how I fit into the picture: I’m on the road 365 days a year. I don’t have a permanent home, and I haven’t for many years. And even though I wrote How to Be The World’s Smartest Traveler, it’s only because I’ve made almost every mistake in the book.  

So how did I fix the onward journey problem with New Zealand? I calmly sat down on a bench at the airport and asked my son, who is also my travel companion, where he wanted to go after our two months in New Zealand ended. (Related: The loyalty trap: When travel rewards programs turn against you.)

“Australia,” he said without hesitation.

Fortunately, airline tickets from Christchurch to Sydney were a bargain at the time. So I booked a ticket on Qantas, showed it to the ticket agent, and checked in for my flight.

Problem solved.

Or was it? The bigger lesson here is that most unexpected travel problems shouldn’t be unexpected. You should see them coming, whether it’s a visa, a missing reservation, or a car rental company that runs out of vehicles. Don’t be like me. Plan ahead.