--When do you pull the plug?--

One of my co-workers was trying to get back from Charlotte (to O'Hare) this evening. The weather was predicted to be horrible at O'Hare including tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm warnings, and hail (I know that is a bit redundant, but the hail is what supposedly canceled all the flights). At 2pm Charlotte-time all flights up to 8pm were canceled and the 8pm one was the only one left. I suggested he just cut his losses and go get a hotel room, have a nice dinner, and get a good night's rest because there was a good chance his flight would be canceled.

It was. But not until 9:30pm his time. (So he waited at the airport from 2pm until 9:30pm to find out what we both suspected -- they would cancel his flight...)

So at what point do you cut your losses and just give up on something?

I think it is human nature to hold on to hope that a situation will turn itself around, but how to balance that with common sense? I suppose part of it is based on experience. I have been doing business travel for 22+ years. I know the signs... And there is the desire to "get home" that might cloud judgment.

I guess the only advice I can give about this is if you have a gut-hunch that the airline is going to cancel your flight, AND you have "status" with the airline, cut your losses and ask to be re-booked on the next day's flight. I'm told you want to be on the earlier flights if possible, but from my perspective, if that means getting up at 5am, the heck with that...

I guess this has a broader business application: be self-aware of your situation to know when to cut your losses and change your approach. The weather -- and many other things -- are totally out of your control.