You may think that delayed flights are always bad news.
For the most part, they are.
Passengers can be stranded for days on end when this happens, and connecting flights can be easily missed when a delay happens.
Typical delays are a few hours to a few minutes, or some can be delayed for days if not canceled outright.
If you are the passenger on the flight that has been delayed, you know it can mess up your day.
However, if you are in need of a last minute flight, and there are no seats to be found, this might be something that may actually help you.
There are a few things that happen with delayed flights.
These things often throw passengers off course.
If someone is taking a one way, non stop flight, there usually is no problem other than that they have to wait awhile to get on the plane and they arrive late to their destination.
Those that are connecting flights are going to have a huge problem.
Depending on what happens with them, you may find a way to get that last minute flight through delayed flights.
Typically, when a passenger is on a connecting flight, and delayed flights threaten to make them miss that connection, the airline will do anything that they can to get them on another flight so that they can catch the connection.
Though all airlines will try to do this for all passengers, they try really hard for international flights.
If someone is coming through and their next flight is delayed, causing them to miss the connection after that, they may get moved and a seat can open up on delayed flights that were not there before.
What you can do is do what most airlines tell you to do if you need a flight right now but nothing is available.
You should get on the stand by list.
If the flight you want is booked, but becomes one of many delayed flights, some seats may open up.
You can be on stand by for all flight that would work for you and your timetable, but one that is delayed may be the answer to your prayers.
There are never guarantees, of course, but if someone is moved so they don't miss a connecting flight, that seat can open up for you.
On the other hand, if you are one of those passengers that is being effected by delayed flights, make sure you call a representative (or visit the service desk at the airport) of the airline through which you are flying.
They will want to make sure you do not miss you next flight because of the delay, and they may be able to get you on a different flight, even one through a different airline.
They can not always help, but they do want to get you where you are going on time.
This is one time when going online will not help.
Call the airline directly and ask for help caused by their delay.