What to do if…
a strike or travel disruption is announced while you are en route and you may be stranded

What to do now

1. Move to the safest nearby staffed place.
   Use a main terminal, station concourse, customer-service area, hotel desk, or another well-lit public area with staff nearby. If you are still on a vehicle, follow staff instructions before changing your route or leaving.

2. Check the disruption with the operator directly.
   Use the official app, website, service desk, phone line, or messages from the airline, rail company, bus operator, or transit agency. Ask whether your next leg is running, delayed, canceled, or replaced.

3. Save a small proof pack.
   Screenshot the disruption notice, your ticket or itinerary, and the options shown to you. Keep receipts for food, lodging, local transport, and replacement tickets.

4. Ask one direct question.
   Say: “What can you offer me now, and can you confirm it in writing?” Ask about the next operating service, a reroute, a later departure, a staffed waiting area, or any substitute transport.

5. For a bus or local transit disruption, check the official alert before leaving the hub.
   Ask whether a later service, substitute vehicle, alternate stop, or staffed transfer point is available. Check the safety of the route before walking to another stop.

6. For a flight, check the airline’s current option and the DOT dashboard before spending money.
   If your airline is listed, the DOT Airline Cancellation and Delay Dashboard summarises its commitments for controllable cancellations and delays. Commitments vary by airline and may not apply to every cause of disruption.

7. For a covered flight, keep the refund choice clear.
   For flights to, from, or within the United States, a refund is due if the airline cancels your flight, or significantly delays or changes it, and you choose not to travel or accept a rebooked flight, a credit, a voucher, or other compensation. Read the option carefully before accepting it.

8. For Amtrak, check service alerts and the fare rules before pressing cancel.
   Check Amtrak service alerts and your train status before changing plans. Refund and cancellation terms vary by fare type. Use the official Amtrak app or website, or ask Amtrak staff what options are available now.

9. Prepare for a longer wait without assuming the worst.
   If an overnight stop may be necessary, ask staff about a well-lit waiting area or a staffed lodging option and a safe route or transport. Check insurance or card-assistance benefits before booking an expensive replacement.

10. Send one update to a trusted person.
    Share your location, the operator’s latest update, and your next safe checkpoint. Conserve battery after sending it.