WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. -- The week after thousands of flights were cancelled across the country for inspections, stranding passengers, experts are offering advice for smooth travel.

Kerry Eaton, of Suffield, had a tripped planned to the Bahamas in the midst of the flight cancellations. She said she was one of the lucky passengers.

DOT Offers Flying Tips

"They tell us the airplane we're one isn't one of the affected ones," she said.

The inspections only involved MD-80 aircraft.

American Airlines doesn't fly MD-80s out of Bradley International Airport at all, but many of the airport's travelers found their connecting flights at other airports canceled.

The U.S. Department of Transportation, in its .Fly-Rights Guide To Air Travel, recommends that travelers book connecting flights through the least congested airport to reduce the risk of delay or missing a connection.

The guide also recommends that when possible, travelers select morning flights. The DOT said that a morning departure is less likely to be delayed. A later flight is more likely to be delayed by the ripple effect of any backups during the course of the day.

Veteran travel agent Judy Inguaggiato said that she books most of her clients who fly out of Bradley on morning flights.

"If we're talking Hartford, you do have a better chance than the afternoon," she said.

She said that another benefit of taking an earlier flight is that, if it is delayed or canceled, you may have more options for taking another flight the same day.

Inguaggiato said that many passengers have expressed frustrations with the American Airlines cancellations.

"We do have frustrated people. And we're frustrated because they're frustrated," she said.

She recommended that travelers who are delayed or canceled should let the airline agents handle the re-accommodation.

"Don't do it on your own unless you're prepared to pay," she said.

Inguaggiato said that travelers insurance does not help passengers with delayed or canceled flights.

"Insurance is for sickness or death," she said.

She said travelers with non-refundable tickets won't be able to get their money back, but will be able to reuse the ticket for up to a year after the date of issue.

Get the Fly-Rights Guide To Air Travel