My flight got canceled in Denver and I was stuck with a $400 hotel bill

This was last month, flying back from a trip. A storm hit and the airline just said good luck, no help. I had to find a place to sleep and the airport hotels were all jacking up their prices. Ended up at a basic spot for $400, which blew my whole budget. I called around and found a cheaper motel 20 minutes away for the next night, but that first charge hurt. Has anyone else had to deal with a sudden cancelation and found a better way to handle the hotel cost?

4 comments

4 Comments

joseph_green133mo ago

Ugh, that's the worst. I got hit with that once and now I always pack a credit card with trip delay insurance. It actually covered a hotel room when my flight got stuck overnight.

adams.river3mo ago

My strategy is just to bring a sleeping bag and claim a spot by the charging stations. The Denver airport floor is surprisingly comfortable after the third hour. I've become an expert at spotting the cleanest carpet squares. It's a free upgrade to what I call "terminal camping," and the vending machine dinner really adds to the experience.

ross.kim14d ago

and that's exactly why my buddy jeff will never fly without his chase sapphire again. @joseph_green13 is spot on about the insurance thing, jeff had the same thing happen in chicago last winter, storm cancelled everything, and his card covered the whole hotel bill plus meals. he was out maybe $50 total after the claim went through. but for people who don't have that, my other trick is to check for nearby hostels on hostelworld or apps like hoteltonight for last minute deals. they saved his ass when the airport hotels were all $300+. still sucks you gotta do that research mid crisis when you're already stressed and tired.

jenny423mo ago

Honestly, that's such a rough spot to be in. I saw a travel blog post that said to always ask the airline for a voucher first, even if they say no help. @joseph_green13 has the right idea with insurance too, it's a lifesaver.