Travel Dispatch: What if My Flight Is Canceled on Thanksgiving?
How to navigate lost luggage, delays and other holiday disasters.
Travel Dispatch
November 26, 2025

If you’re traveling this week, you’re one of an estimated 82 million Americans also packing their bags and hoping for a smooth, surprise-free journey.

If something does go array for you — the dreaded phone ping flagging a delay, a luggage carousel that never delivers your bag, or you get bumped from an overbooked flight — this guide tells you exactly what to do next.

An illustration of a person waiting at a delays desk while looking at their phone that shows their family's Thanksgiving dinner.

Weston Wei

How to handle missed flights, lost luggage and other holiday travel disasters

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