Being stuck is a mix of two problems: the flight problem and the night problem. People often spend all their energy on the first and then discover at midnight that the terminal is closing and the last train has gone.
Deal with them in parallel. Ten minutes spent on where you will sleep is worth as much as an hour in the rebooking queue.
First, establish the facts
When is your next confirmed departure, does the terminal stay open overnight, and is the airline providing accommodation. Those three answers decide everything else.
Not all airports allow passengers to stay overnight, and some close entire piers after the last departure. Ask staff directly rather than assuming you can settle in.
Step by step
Step 1: Lock in the next flight
Get a confirmed seat, even if it is late tomorrow, before you start looking for a bed. A confirmed booking also strengthens any request for hotel support and gives you a fixed point to plan around.
Step 2: Ask the airline about accommodation
If the disruption is within the airline's control, hotel and transport are often provided. Ask at the desk while it is still staffed. Late at night the desks empty out and your options narrow to what you arrange yourself.
Step 3: Choose where you will actually sleep
Options in rough order of comfort: an airline provided hotel, a nearby airport hotel booked yourself, a transit hotel or sleep pod inside the terminal, a twenty four hour lounge, then the terminal itself. Prices near airports rise fast during disruptions, so book early.
Step 4: Set yourself up safely for the night
Pick a well lit area near other travellers and within sight of staff or cameras. Keep your bag strap around your arm or leg, keep documents on your body, and set at least two alarms. A layer of clothing, an eye mask and earplugs make a large difference.
Step 5: Reset in the morning
Wash, eat something proper and re confirm the flight before you relax. Check the departure board rather than trusting yesterday's information, and keep all your receipts together for the claim you will file afterwards.
Staying comfortable overnight
- Fill a water bottle after security, night shops are limited.
- Charging points near gates are usually free, seats near them are not always available later.
- Some airports have quiet rooms or family areas, worth locating early.
- If you have a card with lounge access, check the closing time before relying on it.