Dodging the hassles

If you like trouble-free travel, forget about going anywhere during the summer.

It seems as though everyone — and their kids, pets and grannies — is on the road, clogging rooms, seats and rental cars. And that means more chances for things to go wrong. Like missing a flight because of long security lines, paying five-star rates for two-star hotels or getting stranded when the rental company runs out of cars.

To ensure that your dream vacation doesn't become a nightmare, we offer answers to some commonly asked questions that may help you avoid similar summertime troubles.

You wait and wait and miss the flight

Question: I missed my flight because I was stuck in lines at the airport. Does the airline or the Transportation Security Administration owe me anything?

Answer: Unfortunately, no. The trip from curbside to gate is your responsibility, regardless of airport obstacle courses. That's why airlines tell passengers to arrive at least two hours ahead.

If you're late but manage to make it to the gate shortly before takeoff, you could still be out of luck: The airline may have given away your seat.

"Passengers must meet the check-in cutoff [time] or they're ineligible for denied-boarding compensation, even if security lines are the cause," says Bill Moseley, a Department of Transportation spokesman. Cutoff times usually are 10 to 20 minutes before takeoff.

LAX travelers got some relief last week when three security lanes were added at crowded Terminal 1 (Southwest). Terminal 7 (United), another bottleneck, will have two additional lanes by December, says TSA spokesman Nico Melendez.

When Mother Nature is to blame

Question: My flight was delayed because of thunderstorms. What are my rights?

Answer: Weather is the No. 1 cause of flight cancellations and delays in summer. The Federal Aviation Administration recently announced that it would hold planes on the ground rather than cancel flights for severe weather this summer. Travelers may be left to fend for themselves at the airport if their flight is delayed.

Federal law does not require carriers to provide passengers with food, lodging or other services when schedule changes are caused by circumstances beyond their control, such as a line of thunderstorms stretching from Illinois to Texas. Nor do most airlines' customer-service plans — the carriers' service pledge to passengers — include provisions for delays caused by weather. (Links to all plans can be found at airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/customerservice.htm.)

Northwest and Continental are the exception: They'll try to secure discount hotel reservations for cancellations or provide snack vouchers for delays exceeding 60 minutes.

Your best hedge against getting caught by bad weather? Book the earliest nonstop of the day.

Flight attendants who cross the line

Question: The flight attendant treated me rudely. What recourse do I have?

Answer: Air rage is not just for passengers anymore. Crowded planes, the lack of amenities and in-flight weather delays are pushing flight attendants too.

Whatever you do, don't yell back. It can be misinterpreted as a threat, and you could be arrested under the Tokyo Convention, which governs in-flight activity. The law gives flight attendants reasonable power to ensure the safety of the aircraft, says Al Anolik, travel attorney and author of "The Frequent Traveler's Guide."