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Home Aircraft Airlines Airports Destinations Fidelity Programs Travel Travel Tech Travel Tips Air Safety Air Security Features Reviews NEWS News Center RSS News Center Business News World News Events FLIGHTS Flight Schedules Flight Status Travel Deals Travel Links Reservations Contact Us Site Map PUBLICATIONS Online Magazines Newsletters Business & Prof Books & eBooks ORDERS Subscriptions Order Center SERVICES Advertising Marketing Content Info Services Research Surveys CORPORATE About Us Press Center Contact Us	Fly Rights, A Consumer's Guide to Air Travel The elimination of government economic regulation of the airlines has resulted in lower fares and a wide variety of price/service options. In this new commercial environment, consumers have had to take a more active role in choosing their air service by learning to ask a number of questions like the following: Am I more concerned with price or scheduling? Am I willing to fly at an odd hour if it means saving $25? Will the airline penalize me for changing my reservation? What will the airline do for me if it cancels my flight? The following information is designed to explain your rights and responsibilities as an air traveler. We hope it helps you become a resourceful consumer. AIR FARES Because of the emphasis on price competition, consumers may choose from a wide variety of air fares. Some airlines are trying a "back to basics" approach -- offering flights at bargain basement prices with few extras. For fare information, you can contact a travel agent, another ticket outlet or an airline serving the places you want to visit. Ask them to tell you the names of all airlines flying there. A travel agent can find virtually all fares available on his or her computer. Or, if you prefer, you can call each airline to ask about the fares they charge, particularly any special promotional fares they may be offering at the time. You can also pay attention to newspaper and radio ads, where airlines advertise many of the discount plans that apply to your city. Finally, be alert to new companies serving the market. They may offer lower fares or different services than older established airlines. Here are some tips to help you decide among air fares: Be flexible in your travel plans in order to get the lowest fare. The best deals may be limited to travel on certain days of the week or particular hours of the day. After you get a fare quote, ask the reservations agent if you could save even more by leaving a day earlier or later, or by taking a different flight on the same day. Plan as far ahead as you can. Some airlines set aside only a few seats on each flight at the lower rates. The real bargains often sell out very quickly. On the other hand, air carriers sometimes make more discount seats available later. If you had decided against a trip because the discount fare you wanted was not available on the desired date, try again, especially just before the advance-purchase deadline. Some airlines may have discounts that others don't offer. In a large metropolitan area, the fare could depend on which airport you use. Also, a connection (change of planes) or a one-stop flight is sometimes cheaper than a nonstop. Ask questions: Does the air fare include types of service that airlines have traditionally provided, such as meals or free baggage handling? If you have a connection involving two airlines, will your bags be transferred? Can you get advance seat assignments? If you are stranded, will the ticket be good on another carrier at no extra charge and will the first airline pay for meals or hotel rooms during the wait? Many discount fares are non-refundable; if you buy one of these fares and later cancel your trip, you will not get your money back. Some fares also have a penalty for changing flights or dates even if you don't want a refund. You may also have to pay any difference in air fares if your fare is not available on the new flight. Some airlines will not increase the fare after the ticket is issued and paid for. (Simply holding a reservation without a ticket does not guarantee the fare.) Other airlines may reserve the right to collect more money from you if the fare that you had purchased goes up before departure time. Find out from the airline before you buy your ticket what its policy is on assessing fare increases after the ticket is purchased. After you buy your ticket, call the airline or travel agent once or twice before departure to check the fare. Fares change all the time, and if that same fare goes down before you fly, some airlines will refund the difference. But you have to ask. Differences in air fares can be substantial. Careful comparison shopping among airlines does take time, but it can lead to real savings. Other Articles on Airline Passenger Rights Know Your Passenger Rights Air Rage: Readers Speak Out Airplane Horror Stories Poll: Will a new bill of rights really improve air travel? NOTICE We make every effort to keep Fly-Rights up to date, but airlines frequently change the way they do business. So by the time you read this a few of the procedures we have covered may be different. Tenth Revised Edition, September 1994 We hope these tips have been useful. Contact us if you have any suggestions at: feedback@airguideonline.com	Fly Rights Air Fares Reservations and Tickets Delayed and Canceled Flights Overbooking Baggage Smoking Passengers with Disabilities Frequent Flyer Programs Contract Terms Travel Scams Your Health Airline Safety Complaining Other Sources of Info Travel Tips Air Travel Tips Jet Lag Tips Health Tips
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