As you probably know, there are plenty of minor — and not so minor — things that can go wrong when you fly, from the moment you start looking for cheap flights to picking up your luggage at your destination. Although most trips go off without a hitch, the truth is that many unexpected inconveniences can ruin your well-deserved getaway in the blink of an eye.

From unexpected delays to unforeseen costs, even seasoned travelers are subject to these annoyances. Sometimes, there’s just nothing you can do about it…except being prepared for the next time, of course. So, before you get stuck in the middle seat on an eight-hour overseas flight, keep this handy guide in mind to avoid the most common airline hassles.

How ’bout that weather, huh?

Whether it’s a nasty blizzard or inescapable fog, weather and traveling is often a bad combination. The first thing to know here is that airlines aren’t legally required to compensate you for delayed flights that are due to bad weather. Frankly, delays are just a risk that you assume when you travel. So it’s best to be nice with your customer service agent rather than angrily demand a refund because torrential rain stranded you at the gate. Among the things that you might ask for when bad weather delays your flight are a free waiver to reschedule your flight to another time, meal vouchers, hotel bookings, upgraded seats on the next flight, or even airport lounge access. Again, they don’t have to provie any of these things, but it couldn’t hurt to ask.

Airfares Dropped After You Bought Tickets

Whether you’re flying for business or pleasure, keeping your travel budget in check is definitely important. A fare comparison site can help you find cheap flights, but some travelers are just too impatient to wait for a possible price drop that might never happen. But what happens if you purchase a ticket only to find that the fare decreased drastically the next day? Well, you may be able to trade in your ticket for the cheaper price. You may have to pay a fee, depending on the airline. In some cases, this fee may actually be more expensive than what you’d save by making the switch. To avoid this problem, you may want to pick an airline that doesn’t charge a hefty change fee.

Where is Your Luggage?

Lost luggage is a common fear among flyers. While it happens less often than you might think, you should know what your rights are just in case. If your suitcase hasn’t appeared at the baggage claim, the first thing to do is talk to a customer service representative at a help desk. They can check the airline’s system and, if necessary, help you file a claim for your missing luggage.

The airline will keep looking for your bag for awhile, typically around five to ten days. After that, the airline will allow you to consider it lost and so you can file for compensation. Your refund can include the cost of the missing items, your luggage fees from the airline, and daily expenses incurred as a result of your lost luggage. Just keep in mind that not every airline offers every form of compensation.

So it’s often best to take some preventive measures to help you keep track of your luggage. Some carriers, for example, offer bag tracking within their phone apps. You can also use third-party tools like AirTags to  keep tabs on your bags should they get tossed aboard the wrong flight.

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You Just Missed Your Flight

An important part of preparing for your flight is knowing how much time you realistically need to get to the airport, park, check in, go through security, and arrive at your gate in time. If you’re used to flying from a small airport, you might be shocked to discover just how busy major hubs can be. Typically, you should arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes early for domestic flights, while you may need to arrive two to three hours in advance for international flights.

But even if you think you’ve given yourself plenty of time, you might end up missing your plane due to ridiculously long lines during peak travel hours. As a rule of thumb, you should try to arrive with plenty of extra time if you’re traveling through any unfamiliar airport, especially if it’s in a major city or there’s a language barrier involved. You may also want to check in online beforehand. The TSA also provides helpful wait time information for travelers that can give you a better idea of what you’ll be up against at various U.S. airports.

Sorry, Your Flight Has Been Canceled…

Unlike delayed flights, cancelled flights do come with protections. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, if an airline cancels your flight for any reason, you’re entitled to a refund of your ticket and any associated baggage or seating fees. This applies even to tickets that were booked as “non-refundable.” Some airlines will issue your refund and just be done with it. Others, on the other hand, will work with you to earn your loyalty by offering another flight, upgrading your travel class, or issuing meal and hotel vouchers. Pay attention, though. If the airline tries to offer future flight vouchers rather than monetary refunds, make it clear that you want your money back.

If you’re especially worried about how flight cancellations might ruin your long-planned getaway, be sure to do your research before choosing an airline. Some are better than others when it comes to compensation offers. Keep in mind, too, that no airline is liable for the lost experiences that you suffer because of a cancelled flight; you can’t sue them even if you miss a major life event or have major financial losses because you got stuck at the airport. This is why it pays to look into airline cancellation policies and how generous they’ll be.

You Were Bumped Due to Overbooking

Overbooked planes are a common issue within the industry. Most airlines oversell so that they can avoid empty seats. However, according to the Department of Transportation, as long as you’ve checked in within that airline’s minimum window of time — typically within a half hour of departure for domestic journeys — and the aircraft carries more than 60 passengers, the airline owes you monetary compensation if you’re bumped. Different delays carry different maximum compensations, and some may even offer a round-trip ticket in lieu of compensation. But, to avoid being bumped altogether, you should try to start the check-in process as soon as possible. After all, late check-ins are more vulnerable to being bumped.

Can you think of any major travel frustrations that we left off our list? Tell us about them in the comments below.