Action News' Nydia Han documents personal travel disruption, gives 6 tips to navigate the mess

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- We've been telling you about travel issues at airports across the nation: from hundreds of delays to cancellations.

Action News' Nydia Han just returned from Miami, Florida, after her own travel nightmare. She documented every step of the way on social media, turning her experience into a lesson for all of us.

Before you get into a bad travel situation, here's some advice fresh off her own days-long saga involving planes, trains, and automobiles.

"I was supposed to be on a 5 p.m. flight. It got delayed, delayed, delayed. Then it was canceled," said Han in her Instagram post.

That is how it all started. So, after multiple flight delays and cancellations, she gave up on flying, rented a car, and started making the 18-hour drive home to Philadelphia from Miami.

But then salvation came in Savannah, Georgia, where she happened to make a pitstop to get some rest.

"I decided to check flights here and I found one going to Baltimore, and I'm going to try to take this flight," Han said in an updated Instagram post.

That flight took off, and from Baltimore she took the train back home to Philadelphia. She says she learned a few lessons from this travel nightmare.

Before you go to the airport, make sure to download Kayak or a similar search app, and all airline apps.

Then, there are a few steps to take when your flight is canceled:

1. Immediately go online to search for new flights, making sure to include all airports near your outbound and return cities.

2. Buy new flights right away. They are refundable within 24 hours, so you can get your money back for the ones you don't use.

3. Do not check a bag right now. Take a carry-on so it's easier to pivot.

4. Make a contingency plan. Can you rent a car and drive? Take a train? Know your options in advance so you can immediately take next steps.

5. If your flight is canceled, you are entitled to a full refund if you don't want to re-book with that airline. Many airlines, including American, are now waiving cancellations and change fees, even for nonrefundable basic economy tickets.

6. Also, be aware that airlines are not required to provide you cash compensation, free meals or lodging for delays. The Trump administration got rid of a proposed rule that would have required airlines to do so, but some airlines offer those things anyway.

You can check out the Department of Transportation dashboard for individual policies.