This is a great thread. Thanks to the OP for starting it.

I've been fortunate in my years of airline travel having experienced few glitches (knock on wood).

However, I am very careful HOW I book. Originating out of major hub helps and then arranging the reservation with a single carrier (even if there are subcontracted legs or code share agreements) so, one entity owns the problem should one develop.

We also minimize aircraft changes when flying long haul and try to find flights where, if there is an intermediate stop, the equipment does not change. That's a lot harder on short haul flights.

Finally, no matter what, we have travel days so that if something does go wrong we just relax at the place where it did and get it sorted out while doing so. In that same approach, for the BVI we plan for 2-3 days on the front and back end of the visit. It reduces stress levels considerably.

Certainly, not everyone is able to do that with work, school, kids schedules etc. But it might be totally worth it to plan that way regardless.