Iran war is the latest 'worst-case scenario' for travel, expert says. How to minimize the pain of future disruptions

<p>The first three months of the year have brought significant disruptions for travelers.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/02/iran-strikes-disrupt-flights-why-travel-insurance-may-fall-short.html">Iran war</a>, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/23/puerto-vallarta-flights-mexico.html">cartel violence in Mexico</a>, the <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/04/us-airlines-resume-caribbean-flights-after-venezuela-strikes.html">U.S. military operation in Venezuela</a> and a <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/23/weather-flight-cancellations-blizzard-noreaster.html">powerful blizzard on the East Coast</a>, among other things, have collectively disrupted tens of thousands of flights and thrown a wrench into the travel plans of many Americans since the start of 2026. </p>
<p>There's always a level of unpredictability when it comes to travel. But recent events highlight precautions Americans can take to blunt or sidestep travel pain — and dilute any accompanying financial headaches, according to travel advisors and other experts.</p>
<p>"If you think of a worst-case scenario, this is the worst-case scenario," Sofia Markovich, a travel advisor and founder of Sofia's Travel, said of disruptions tied to the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran.</p>
<p>However, travelers can learn something from the situation, she and other travel advisors said.</p>
<p>It seems as if heightened travel volatility may continue in the near-to-intermediate term, the advisors said.</p>
<p>For example, it's unclear how long the war in Iran will last, and how intense the operation will be. President Donald Trump has also <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/07/trump-looks-to-turn-attention-to-western-hemisphere-at-least-for-a-moment-at-a-regional-summit.html">threatened to take military action in Cuba</a>, and earlier this year <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/21/greenland-trump-denmark-timeline-of-diplomatic-tensions.html">expressed his interest in controlling Greenland</a>. An <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/12/senate-dhs-homeland-shutdown-funding-tsa-immigration.html">ongoing shutdown</a> of the Department of Homeland Security may also create more <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/08/tsa-airport-security-line-delays-in-government-shutdown.html">delays and bottlenecks</a> at airport security checkpoints. </p>
<p>"You have to be ready, because you don't know where [the disruption] is going to come from," said Amalia Lazarov, a travel advisor at Travelicious who specializes in trips to the Middle East.</p>
<p>"We will probably see more of it," Lazarov said. "But we can be prepared to handle every situation."</p>
<p>Here are some ways travelers can best insulate themselves, according to travel experts.</p>
<p>Many of their tips add cost to a travel itinerary. However, for those who can afford it, the actions are often worth the higher price tag by bringing peace of mind, they said.</p>
<h2><a href=""/>Nonstop flights instead of layovers</h2>
<p>Booking a flight with a layover instead of flying nonstop to a destination <a href="https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/search/holiday-travel-trends-2025/">saves travelers about 22%</a> on the ticket price, on average, according to a Google Flights analysis published in September. </p>
<p>However, most travel experts recommend flying nonstop, if possible.</p>
<p>That's because a delay on a traveler's first flight could mean missing their second. And a problem with the second flight could mean getting temporarily stranded in a random city.</p>
<p>"My motto is always nonstop flights," Markovich said. "Avoid connections like the plague.</p>
<p>"It's worth it to pay extra versus have a connection, if you can avoid a connection," she said.</p>
<p>For example, Markovich will often drive the 2.5 hours from Birmingham, Alabama, to fly nonstop from Atlanta — a <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/08/here-are-the-top-15-busiest-airports-in-the-world.html">major transit hub</a> with a relatively large roster of nonstop flights — instead of flying from the local airport and taking a multi-leg journey. </p>
<p>This isn't to say nonstop flights are without issue; airlines may cancel those, too, in the event of a significant disruption, Markovich said. But they reduce the overall risk of delays, she said.</p>
<p>Some people have no choice, depending on their departure airport or where they're traveling, experts said.</p>
<p>If a layover is necessary, be sure to leave ample time in between, Markovich said. For example, for international flights, she recommends a layover of at least three to four hours so there's an adequate time buffer should something go wrong.</p>
<p>Further, try to ensure that the connecting airport carries multiple flights to your final destination, Markovich said. That could help travelers find a new flight for the same day to their destination should something go wrong with their itinerary, she said.</p>
<h2><a href=""/>Refundable tickets</h2>
<p>Travel advisors recommend considering refundable airline tickets instead of nonrefundable fares amid heightened uncertainty.</p>
<p>"It is advisable not to book basic economy or non-changeable flights," Margie Hand, a travel advisor at Andavo Travel, wrote in an e-mail.</p>
<p>Refundable tickets generally cost much more but offer more flexibility than nonrefundable fares, experts said.</p>
<p>For example, travelers who buy a basic economy fare and then want to cancel their flight would generally only get a partial credit toward a future trip with the airline, <a href="https://thepointsguy.com/news/basic-economy-evolution-airlines-cheapest-fares/">according to The Points Guy</a>. Travelers who buy a refundable fare can generally cancel and receive a full refund to their initial payment method. </p>
<p>There may be caveats even with refundable fares, however. For instance, some airlines may charge a fee to issue a refund, while others may give travelers a short window in which to request their refund, <a href="https://www.kayak.com/news/are-plane-tickets-refundable/">according to Kayak</a>.</p>
<p>One potential workaround: Passengers who buy flights using points often don't need to book a pricier fare class in order to get a refund, said Sally French, a travel expert at NerdWallet. It may be easier in these cases to have points redeposited into a traveler's account than to get a cash refund, though such policies vary by airline, French said.</p>
<p>Regardless of the fare type, travelers are entitled to a full refund if they cancel a flight within 24 hours of purchase and the ticket was bought at least a week before departure, <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/aviation-consumer-protection/refunds">according to federal law</a>. That's also true, for example, if the airline cancels a flight and the passenger opts not to accept alternative flights or other compensation from the airline.</p>
<p>Hotels and listings available through sites like AirBnb generally have different refund policies, which travelers should assess, experts said.</p>
<p>"Refundable [airline] tickets are always a help," Lazarov said. "We do recommend it in difficult times."</p>
<p>Sometimes, purchasing a refundable airline ticket is even cheaper than buying travel insurance and may be worthwhile if the bulk of a traveler's cost comes from airfare, she said.</p>
<h2><a href=""/>Travel insurance </h2>
<p>The "easiest and most obvious" way for travelers to protect themselves financially is by buying a travel insurance policy, Hand said. Travel insurance can reimburse policyholders for nonrefundable trip costs beyond airline tickets, including hotels and tours.</p>
<p>However, most travel policies <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/02/iran-strikes-disrupt-flights-why-travel-insurance-may-fall-short.html">don't cover policyholders for acts of war</a>, Hand said. </p>
<p>Hand and other travel experts recommend considering "cancel for any reason" insurance policies. These policies are often much more expensive, but give travelers more flexibility to back out of a trip and get money back from their insurer, they said.</p>
<p>But even these policies come with some restrictions.</p>
<p>For example, policyholders must buy them soon after placing a deposit, and must cancel at least a day or two before the trip's start to qualify for compensation.</p>
<h2><a href=""/>Rebooking and buffer days</h2>
<p>Airlines often rebook passengers onto another flight automatically if they cancel a passenger's original fare.</p>
<p>However, the option an airline has chosen for a passenger may not be the one that leaves soonest, Markovich said. She recommends checking the airline's app or calling the company as soon as possible to check for a more optimal flight.</p>
<p>"They may be putting you on a flight two days later, but there may be earlier availabilities," she said.</p>
<p>Passengers who absolutely can't risk missing the start of their trip — say, for a cruise, group tour or wedding — should also consider building buffer days into their itinerary so even if there's a delay or disruption, they are arriving well before that key event, Hand said.</p>