What to do if the airline cancels your flight or the hotel 'loses' your booking?

Panic is the worst adviser. These situations aren't the end of the world — they're a readiness test, and you have rights and a clear plan. If your flight is cancelled or badly delayed: don't leave the airport; go to your airline's counter — they're obliged to help. By law (the EU's EC 261, Russia's Air Code, and carriers' own rules) you have the right to an alternative flight to your destination (their job to find, not yours) and to care/compensation (meals, a hotel while you wait, sometimes a cash payment), depending on distance and delay. If you bought via a big search engine, its support can help with communication. Always keep the airline's contacts, your e-ticket and booking number to hand. If the hotel 'can't see' your booking: show the voucher or booking number from your email — usually it's their system; if it's not solved on site, call the service you booked through. Large aggregators have leverage over hotels and, if your room was resold, must find you an equivalent at their cost or an upgrade. Keep evidence — screenshots, emails, receipts are your main protection. Prevention: book through trusted platforms with good support, always save offline confirmations, arrive within the stated check-in time, and warn the hotel in advance about a late-night arrival. Your safety is in your hands and your saved documents; calm and knowing your rights solve 99% of problems.