Meet me at sundown...or the next time my flight gets delayed, whichever comes first.;)

Concur... I pronounce (or at least I think I do) :p irr-ops, with emphasis on "i"... but it seems YMMV :D

And here's me thinking it was pronounced F$#%-up! :o

Ensure you have medication in your hand-luggage and also have at least a change of underwear in there too if not a change of clothes- when IRROPS happen, you may not get your luggage back during the delay. Advice also helps in the event of lost luggage.

Was there really a reason to resurrect this 7-year old thread?

When you encounter irrops, there are definitely strategies for managing them which depend on your ultimate goal. Usually there are three possible goals: 1) to get to your final destination at or near the time you expected; 2) to gain benefit from the airline in the form of compensation, miles, etc; 3) to minimize any discomfort associated with the irrop. Sometimes you can achieve all three, but it depends on your priority. If you prioritize compensation or benefits, then you will often (but not always) give up arriving on time at your destination.

Once an irrop occurs, you essentially begin a competition with other flyers. If, for example, a flight is cancelled, then the airline has to get 100+ passengers to the same destination with a limited inventory. The faster you can get that inventory allocated to you, the faster you will arrive at your destination (usually). Getting that inventory allocated to you depends on your a) status; b) speed of engaging with a customer service rep, c) class of service.

There are multiple strategies for engaging with customer service during irrops. The four most common are: 1) gate agent; 2) customer service desk at the airport; 3) phone agents; 4) lounge agents. Infrequent flyers will usually target #1 or #2 and wait in long lines. Frequent flyers will normally head to #4 while trying to call #3 on their mobile phones. Of course you have to be entitled to lounge access in order to engage with lounge agents.

Finally, to minimize discomfort, many airlines will offer food or drink vouchers while you wait. Be sure to take advantage of those.

Edited to add: Geez, didn't realize this was a 7 year old thread.

Yes, make sure you get some alcohol in you.