SPECIAL FEATURE: Island Carriers.

Byline: Katrina Paola B. Alvarez

YOU'VE PACKED YOUR BAGS, booked your hotel, and made it to the check- in counter on time - and yet somehow, you're stuck in town for another day. With freak storms and late planes marooning passengers on a regular basis, is there any way for you to avoid a terminal snafu?

Zach Honig of Frommer's travel guides suggests booking the first flight of the day. This is because departure delays tend to increase as the day progresses and aircraft fly back and forth between destinations. The airplane for the first flight, on the other hand, will most likely be waiting at the gate the night before. It might mean waking up before the crack of dawn to head to the airport, but with it is a guarantee that you'll arrive at your destination on time.

When taking a trip during holiday seasons, …