The last few weeks have been a fraught period for both travel companies and travellers with many travellers suffering major delays to their travel.
Many travel companies have struggled under the sheer volume of customer enquiries and travellers have been left disillusioned after receiving little or no information.
So what can we learn from this situation as, sure as night follows day, it will happen again.
The common theme of travellers' complaints was not necessarily that they were frustrated about the weather or any other specific delay but that there was, in many cases, almost a complete lack of information.
There was very much the feeling from travellers that once the travel company has my money it is not that bothered.
My personal experience is an example of this. Just before Christmas, I was stuck on the M20 on the way to the airport for four hours in the snow.
Firstly, I didn't see a single gritting lorry - sorry, I digress.
More importantly, I had no information about my flight apart from the fact that I heard snippets on the radio that the major airports were closed or running a skeleton service.
It was early in the morning, so I could not contact my travel company as their office was closed and the airline number was permanently engaged.
So there I was, stuck on a motorway with three young kids, no idea whether I was going to miss my flight or even whether it was worth struggling to continue my journey if everything was closed.
Perhaps irrationally, I was getting increasingly angry with everyone. I was angry with the Airline for not letting me know what was going on.
I was also angry with my travel company as they were not around.
They said when I booked the holiday that I should book with them as they would look after me and that they differentiate themselves by their good customer service.
But where were they when I wanted them? I presume great customer service meant that they would look after me if an issue occurred during the hours of 9am to 5.30pm GMT.
I will have to remember that when I am in Australia next year.
As I was sitting in my car on the motorway, watching an impromptu English vs France lorry driver snowball fight in the outside lane, I was thinking even my children's schools provide information updates on any disruption or trip, and out of school hours.
I also remembered that I get a text confirmation from my dentist and doctor and I even receive text confirmation with car details from local taxi firms.
It has even just been reported that one Taxi firm is now texting a picture of their driver with this confirmation to the booker for security.
However, in travel, a company can send me to the other side of the world but not ensure that they can effectively communicate with me or in fact other travellers, especially in larger numbers.
It was especially frustrating for me as I knew that mobile travel systems are in place already with broadcast functionality, have a very low cost of entry and have also had great customer feedback.
I will not book with the same company again and I wonder how many customers who experience equally frustrating situations will decide to book with a company that will keep them informed?
In addition to this, from our experience at Travel Buddy, travellers are willing to pay for such a service.
Adam Winterflood is managing director at Travel Buddy, a text alert information provider for the travel industry
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