I was stranded in Tokyo for 24 hours. I did 3 things right, but made 2 mistakes I'll avoid on all future trips.

"After cruising across Asia, my sister and I thought we were heading back to the United States - until our flight home was unexpectedly canceled. After hours of sitting on the runway, maintenance issues forced our plane to return to the gate. We had wasted our entire day at the airport, so tensions were high as we deplaned and re-immigrated into Japan."

"With little warning, we found ourselves stranded in Tokyo for 24 hours, scrambling to solidify a plan. We had already spent two weeks traveling in Asia and were ready to go home. I did my best to navigate the frustrating (and surprisingly expensive) situation, but even as a seasoned traveler, I made a few avoidable mistakes. Here's how we turned the situation into a memorable experience, and what I'd do differently next time."

"I was stranded in Tokyo for 24 hours when my flight was canceled, but I made the most of it. Travel insurance covered out-of-pocket expenses, and credit-card perks got me into airport lounges. I wish I'd kept every receipt for reimbursement and tried to get on the same flight as my sister. After hours of sitting on the runway, maintenance issues forced our plane to return to the gate."

A flight home was canceled after hours on the runway due to maintenance, forcing deplaning and re-immigration into Japan. The traveler and a sister found themselves stranded in Tokyo for 24 hours and had to scramble to solidify new plans. Travel insurance covered out-of-pocket expenses, and credit-card perks provided access to airport lounges, reducing some discomfort. The delay proved surprisingly expensive and stressful despite travel experience. The traveler missed opportunities by not keeping every receipt for reimbursement and by failing to prioritize rebooking on the same flight as the sister. The situation became memorable through resourceful problem-solving and clear lessons for future disruptions.

Read at Business Insider