Relax.

I travel a lot. A whole lot. I've been traveling, for work, off and on since 1999. There are hotels where the staff know me by sight. This is not boasting; I'm just establishing my cred on the subject of travel.

I'm writing this from just outside Gate 44 at Reagan National Airport; for the last ten minutes or so, I've been watching people freaking out in the wake of a canceled flight. Here are some tips for what to do when your flight is canceled (or delayed to where you'll miss your connection).

• Don't panic. You're stressed, the people you're with are stressed, (both in your party, if applicable, and your fellow travelers, too), and the airline employees are stressed. I'm not saying not to worry, but...
• Figure out *what* to worry about. There are things that are in your control, and things that are not. Figure out what fits where, and what you can do to improve your situation. Don't worry about the things you can't control, just try to figure out what your viable options are.
  
• As quickly and efficiently as possible, GET IN LINE with pen and paper. There will either be a line at the gate where your flight was supposed to leave, or one at the Special Services desk. Get into it.
  
• Consider your options, their cost, and the value of speed (would two hours' difference mean getting home before House comes on, or making it to your sister's wedding?) Remember to be creative; sometimes renting a car and driving can be the best solution; sometimes it's a horrible idea.
  
• Call the airline while you wait. If it's an isolated incident (like a broken airplane, not something like storms all over the East Coast), the hold times shouldn't be bad, and you should be able to get through to someone fairly quickly; in fact, you might get someone on the phone before you get to the front of the line. Keep in mind, though, that the people on the phone have access to fewer options than the people at the gate. If you just need to get moved from a 7pm flight to a 9:30, they can probably help you. If you have a complex itinerary, you might just need to talk to someone on the ground. Hey, worst case, you have something to do while you wait in line. If you are able to get something reserved, get all the information you can and jot it down (flight numbers, confirmation numbers, etc.). They may tell you you've been automatically rebooked on another itinerary.
  
• If you do get someone on the phone, EVEN IF YOU GET AN ALTERNATE BOOKING, STAY IN LINE [Unless you have to, at that point, run to get the flight they just put you on. If that's the case, go ahead and go.]. When you get to the front of the line, say that you've been booked on something else, and tell the agent the details. They should be able to print the boarding pass/transfer ticket you need.
  
• When possible, try to stay with your original carrier. I've had problems going from USAir to American; I presume that these are just general problems that happen when you go between carriers. Specifically: If you do change carriers, you will usually need to give the other carrier a paper ticket for your original flight, which they will staple to their ticket. It's a weird little ritual, but let them do it. In any case, if they have you on another flight, DO NOT leave the counter without either a boarding pass or a paper ticket in your hand.
  
• If the cancellation was due to a mechanical failure, they should put you up in a hotel if you need one. If it was due to weather, you're on your own. If you're going to be stuck in the airport for a while, they should give you food vouchers, regardless.
  
• Generally, they won't give you a voucher for a rental car, but they may give you a travel voucher for the airline.
  
• Never, ever, EVER get hostile with the airline employees. There are some great gate agents out there, and there are some who aren't so hot. But getting red in the face and yelling about the importance of your trip will accomplish nothing productive. If you feel that the airline has treated you poorly, try to record as much specific information as possible.(who you talked to, what you were promised, and so forth)

The most likely result of the cancellation or delay is that your plans will be pushed back a few hours, and you'll be stuck in the airport for a while. If you are stuck, consider getting something to eat. There are surprisingly good places to eat in airports these days, you just have to find them. Reagan National Airport in DC is full of good food - just outside security (security lines are usually quite short, under 20 minutes, and frequently under 5, so you can usually pop out and back in without a problem) there's a Legal Seafood and a sushi restaurant; in the North Pier of Terminal C, there's a Five Guys Burgers and a Gordon Biersch brewery. At DFW, check out Cool River, it's an upscale restaurant in the international (D) terminal. I recommend the Sirloin Bruschetta. Also, if you have a laptop and/or cell phone, take this time to charge them. Travel problems can have a ripple effect, and you'll want some talk time on your cell if something else goes wrong.
Handy tip: There are frequently outlets under banks of pay phones and near the gates. Some airports -- I'm looking at you, Chicago -- have put in special plugs to deter travelers from stealing their electricity. A determined traveler can usually find a normal outlet where other appliances (say, a vendor's cart) are plugged in.

Other than that, relax. If you had people coming to meet you at the airport, call them and explain what's going on. Most people have been in this situation and will understand. If you're outbound, call your travel agent (if applicable) and/or contact any rental car company/hotel you'll need to change. Generally, hotels and car companies are pretty understanding about changes due to flight cancellations.

One more thing: Before you leave, consider collecting and bringing with you:

• Phone numbers and contact information for all of the travel providers you'll be using (car rental, airlines, hotels, etc), and all the people you'll be meeting/working with while you're away.
  
• Every confirmation number for every piece of travel you're doing.