20 year old daughter having to spend night at JFK airport.

Do airlines really pay for accommodations due to weather problems in Europe

No, even if the actual delay wasn't down to the weather but the way they decided to organise their flights accordingly. For example, BA will always cancel short haul first. They make that decision but claim it's down to the weather. Well indirectly maybe, but not specifically as they could have flown that particular plane but chose not to, to prioritise a different one. That happened to me once when I was delayed for 8 hours due to fog at Heathrow, but Lufthansa's flights were going.

Imagine phoning your mum for help at 20! Blimey. If you're big enough to get on a plane you're big enough to sort out any travel challenges that go with it. Why can't she book herself into a hotel? That's why you travel with a credit card

Well I sometimes still phone my mum for advice and she phones me for advice too.

And it's not that easy to get a credit card when you are a young adult. I don't have one now actually, as I don't like being in debt, even paying it off in full each month. Also, if the hotel is expensive, she might not have wanted to book it anyway.

I've also just remembered that back in the day my father had lost his wallet and called me, reversed the charges, and asked me if I could pay for his petrol! I think he was on his way back from a trip to France.

How terrible of him!

Also, a few weeks ago DH got stranded in London when there was a problem with the trains due to storms. He messaged me and asked if I could book him into a Premier Inn we'd stayed in before. You know, because I was sitting at home warm with my laptop, and he was standing around in the station so it was much easier for me to do it and send him the reference code.

People can be totally ridiculous on here.

I did this on a business trip where bad weather meant that every hotel within 4 hrs was booked and the wait between time we landed (11.30pm) and when we’d need to check in (4am) wasn’t worth it. I was 27 ish.

tbh I just pulled an all nighter. Had to use online check in to get back through security. Then watched Netflix on my phone oblivious to the world.

would say that I had the “security” of not being particularly attractive. I also pulled allnighters as part of my job (financial deals) so wasn’t worried I’d fall asleep. Was very pissed but no amount of money would move hotels closer.

You totally did the right thing, OP. So much better to be on Mumsnet grumbling about the cost of the hotel with your daughter safe than any other scenario. Shocker about the £40 though.

Hope she’s doing well. Maybe don’t post location next time. It could put her in danger.

I think she’ll be fine either way. but if you can afford it I think it’s great you’ve paid for the hotel. Better safe than sorry. Hope you get reimbursed by travel insurance.

And just to add - a pp compared it to their child travelling in Ghana And Malaysia. Those are two fairly safe countries and I’ve been to all three airports - I think JFK airport would be the least safest out the three.

You did the right thing! Hope she is safely on her way now.

I did a similar thing in my early 20s -but deliberately! Booked a really early flight from a European airport back to the U.K. because it was cheap, naively planning to sleep at the airport. I'd seen pictures on the news of people sleeping in airports with delayed flights so I thought I'd be able to lie down on a bench.

In reality, the benches all had arms in the way, so couldn't lie on them. The airport closed overnight (I'd assumed they were 24/7!). The security or police(?!) allowed me to stay there overnight along with two other lone travellers, a man and a woman, so we were locked in(!) for the night. Security occasionally walked past. There was nothing open other than the toilets and some internet terminals (pre-smartphone days). I ended up staying up all night as was too frightened and uncomfortable to sleep, logged onto a chat forum used by some university friends who took it in turns to keep me company through the night. Airport reopened at 5am ready for flights leaving from 6am. As soon as I landed in the U.K. I headed to a friend's where I slept for the entire day!

My parents still have no idea I did this!

American Airlines will not usually compensate for events beyond their control, either.

https://www.aa.com/i18n/customer-service/support/conditions-of-carriage.jsp

Do airlines really pay for accommodations due to weather problems in Europe?

Ohhhh the carefree days of sleeping in an airport undeterred! I've done it countless times.

You use your bag as a pillow (and thereby blocking anyone pick pocketing you), and put your arm through the strap. It's actually probably one of the safest public places you can sleep - security guards and police just a stone's throw away. And often the big ones always have flights all through the night, so it's not like it's desolate!

I'm sure my Mum was thinking the same thing though, not that it ever crossed my mind at the time.

JetBlue isn’t really all that cowboy. Huge carrier out of JFK. And anyway, there is no lesson because no US carrier will usually pay for delays caused by weather or anything else out of their hands. They’d go broke.

Exactly 👍

It isn't about not asking for help though. It's about assessing your own situation and putting yourself in the best place to get help if you need it.

I doubt if she'll get any sleep. I had to do the same at a different air port and there were announcements and noise throughout the night.

To be fair though, I think if you were going to pick somewhere to get stranded in a city or airport, Singapore would be high on the list of best places to do it. Other than around Orchard Rd, perhaps.

Slightly off-topic but there are some really nice lounges in Changi airport if you have access to them - perhaps unlikely as a young person going off travelling, admittedly!

Stronger together. It's a sign of weakness & more concerning to be afraid to ask for help. Nobody is an Island.

its all in the past now but I once got stuck in an airport because I lost my passport. I got permission to return to the UK with another form of ID the following day but meanwhile I couldn't leave even to an airport hotel becasue no passport. I was exhausted and paid to go into the premium lounge where they had wonderful reclining seats in little cubicles. I slept really well. It wasn't cheap but much cheaper than a hotel. And there were showers, food, etc.

Yes, this.

I've spent many a night sleeping in airports. A night on a bench in Changi Airport seemed much safer than wandering around Singapore looking for a hostel at 9pm at age 20. Even having just watched Bangkok Hilton in Australia!

I sent a postcard home to my parents once a fortnight or so.

Totally understandable. There is absolutely nothing on this earth that would make me less concerned about my children regardless of age. As long as I have breath in my body I'll be there for them as will their father, well done OP.

Glad to read you found a way to get something.

Lesson learnt about choosing cowboy airlines. Have the plan B ready for any such trips in future.

There are plugs at airport to charge mobile phones
Should find free water filling stations near washrooms
Should be able to find chairs or floor to sleep on
Shops to buy food, books, magazines

No need for a hotel

All the comforts & facilities of a big airport

Book a hotel for her for the night.

Glad it all worked out @DaughterStranded

Ignore the resilience brigade out there. There’s a time and a place for that and as a woman who has done some pretty questionable things when left on my own at that age… JFK at night or wandering off to find a hotel is not something I would do even in my ahem advanced years and maturity.

With a friend.. yes then it’s a grand adventure. Tired and alone yeah not so much.

Thanks for the feedback on the hotel too!