I know darling — if it isn’t bad enough that we have been having to shop recently and taking our purchases out of shops in plain bags (or having them couriered to our pied a tere later) so that we are sporting the names like Chanel, Fendi, and Neiman Marcus, now we have to make concessions on our air travel. The bean counters tell us to fly with the masses instead of that sweet Cessna we have time on (wasn’t it tragic enough we were told to sell the Lear?!). Alas, a little planning and a little charm can make your air travel experience a bit less painful.
–Plan to get to the airport at least an hour early, or two during holidays and other busy times; this will pay off with a major reduction of stress. If all goes well, you will have time to relax, shop for last-minute items, or have a leisurely meal before the flight. If all doesn’t go well, you will have a buffer against unexpected delays due to traffic, long lines, or last-minute emergencies, and you’ll still be able to catch your flight in plenty of time.
–Don’t hesitate to use the curbside baggage check service if it’s still available. The usual tip of $1 per bag will save you a great deal of aggravation; you can avoid the long lines at the front desk and go straight to your gate to check in. This is especially valuable when the airport is unusually crowded, when your bags are heavy, or if you are in a hurry to catch your flight.
–If you fly often, join an airline airport club. This will provide you with a more comfortable place to wait than the lobby. They also often provide complimentary beverages and snacks.
–Be nice to ticketing and gate agents; they have great authority over enforcing rules and making exceptions. You are more likely to get what you need if you calmly ask for their help.
Flight Delays
–Find out why your flight is delayed. Call the toll-free number. Find out if other airlines are experiencing similar delays.
–If you believe the delay is due to something other than weather or air traffic problems, then mention your suspicion and ask the airline agent to book you on the next available flight, either on the same airline or a competing one. This is called “Rule 240″, and all airlines are required to conform to it. Use the lingo; ask, “Can you 240 me?” when speaking with an agent. They will know what you mean.
Flight Cancellations
–If your flight is canceled, then make a reservation on the next flight to your destination. Usually, airline personnel will try to book everyone on their next flight out. Often they will put you on a competitor’s next flight only if you request it.
–If on-time arrival is important to you, when you check flights through our reservation system you can rate your options based on their on-time arrival records. Be sure to also check the weather conditions, as they often affect flight schedules.
Getting Bumped
–To avoid getting bumped, you must be at the loading gate at least 10 minutes prior to scheduled departure for a U.S. flight, 20 minutes to/from Bahamas, Canada, and Mexico and 30 to/from all other international points. You must be at the loading gate, not the airport entrance.
–If you get bumped, be sure to ask for a free confirmed round-trip ticket and check that you are booked on the next flight out. If you are a frequent flyer member, then get a travel voucher instead of a free ticket. You will receive frequent flyer points for tickets bought with a travel voucher, but not for a free bump coupon.
–If you ever get involuntarily bumped (after checking in promptly), you can ask to be rebooked or 240ed on another airline. If this flight gets you between one and two hours later than the originally scheduled arrival time, you are entitled to an amount equal to the price of your one-way fare, up to $200. If you are more than two hours late, you are entitled to twice the value of your one-way ticket, up to $400. Often you can also keep your original ticket for a refund or future use.
Lost Bags
–Airlines may reimburse you for out-of-pocket expenses associated with baggage delays. These things include toiletries, some articles of clothing, or some petty cash to buy them. However, you must ask.
–If your bags are lost or damaged and you are asked to estimate the value of your luggage, err on the high side. U.S. regulations require airlines to reimburse you a maximum of $1,250 for the value of the declared content on domestic flights. Airlines will typically depreciate your claim by 30%. International travelers are reimbursed a maximum of approximately $635 per piece of checked baggage, not to exceed two pieces.
Virgin’s billionaire Sir Richard Branson is getting closer to space tourism every day and that means we’re all getting a bit closer.
