Flying in the summer has not been an ideal experience in recent years. It seems like every other day there are headlines about mass delays and cancellations.

When cancellations occur, passengers can end up stranded, miss important events or arrive late for a long-awaited trip. Of course, we cant control the many factors that lead to flights getting canceled, but there are ways to make the experience less painful.

Below, experts share their advice for reducing the risk of a flight cancellation, easing the stress and taking action so you may eventually reach your destination as smoothly as possible.

Expect things to go wrong

The first step to traveling this season is anticipating that things will go wrong thats just the reality as airports and airlines try to cope with staffing shortages, said Julia Menez, host of the Geobreeze Travel podcast.

Managing your expectations is a good way to set yourself up for a better emotional response if a flight cancellation affects your trip. You might also be better equipped with things to keep you occupied at the airport should you find yourself standing in a long line to rebook your itinerary or waiting at the gate for the later flight you have to take.

Read up on what the airline owes you in the event that your flight is canceled. You may be entitled to compensation though it can vary based on the stated reason for the cancellation. The Department of Transportations website includes a guide outlining passengers rights, so you can be prepared to advocate for yourself.

When it comes to flight cancellations, always expect the unexpected, said Martin Jones, CEO of Airport Parking Reservations . Organization and forward planning is essential to avoid that last-minute panic. It is important that you know your rights well ahead of your flight, thereby if your flight is canceled you are aware of what the airline is obliged to do for you as well as what you will need to organize yourself. This could include anything from putting you on another flight to providing accommodation until you can fly.

Choose your flights strategically

With the expectation that things will go wrong in the air travel process, you should build in extra time to reach your destination if possible. If youre traveling for a weekend wedding, consider booking a Thursday flight so that you have the extra day to make it there in the event of cancellations.

Look to travel on less busy days, such as Tuesday-Thursday, and avoid weekend flights, since the more flights are scheduled, the greater the chance for a flight disruption, advised Naveen Dittakavi, founder and CEO of Next Vacay . A quieter period in airports usually results in a smoother travel experience, so stick to weekday travel and try to avoid busy travel periods, such as holiday seasons.

Of course, not everyone has the luxury of flying on a workday or paying for an extra night at a hotel. And theres no real way to know if your flight will actually be canceled or rescheduled. Staff shortages, bad weather and mechanical issues arent necessarily something you can predict or control.

However, there are steps you can take to make complications less likely or even less stressful, Jones said. For example, try picking a flight early on in the day. Not only do morning flights tend to be cheaper, but they are also typically unaffected by previous flight delays, increasing your chances of flying on time.

Dittakavi added that summer thunderstorms are more likely to develop in the afternoon another reason to get moving in the morning. Keep the itinerary as efficient as possible as well.

Try to book a direct flight, Jones emphasized. Direct flights reduce the potential of multiple flight delays or cancellations and also save you the hassle of having to catch connecting flights.