Take the Bumps Out of Air Travel
If you are planning on traveling by air anytime soon, don’t be surprised if you encounter overbooking, delays and/or cancellations. Yet also know that there are steps you can take to make your trip smoother:
When you book a flight, ask for its on-time record. Airline reservations personnel are required to provide this information, but only if you ask for it. You also can get on-time performance information from your travel agent or at the Bureau of Transportation Statistics website (www.bts.gov).
Fly early in the day. Flight delays are subject to the domino effect, so you are less likely to encounter a delay the earlier you fly.
Incorporate slack time into your schedule. If you have to be at a meeting at noon, don’t book a flight that arrives an hour or so before. Any delay may cause you to miss your meeting.
Avoid travel on Friday afternoons and evenings. Business travelers are returning home and vacationers are starting their trips. Stay overnight and travel on Saturday instead.
Don’t use electronic tickets. Airlines are encouraging travelers to use these. Even if you have to pay a little more (about $10), get a paper ticket. If your flight is canceled and you have an electronic ticket, you cannot go to another airline without first getting a paper ticket from the airline canceling the flight. Given the long lines that are bound to form, you will be better off if you have a paper ticket from the start.
When you have a paper ticket, don’t wait in line to re-book. Go to a phone and call the airline’s reservations desk or your travel agent. You will re-book much faster.
Join an airport club. If a flight is delayed, you will have a quiet, comfortable place to wait. Most airline clubs include work desks and phone lines for connecting to the Internet.
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