| Reservations and tickets |
Once you decide when and where you want to go, and which airline you want to use, getting reservations and tickets is a fairly simple process. There are a few potential pitfalls, however, and these pointers should help you avoid them.
- If your travel plans fall into a busy period, make your reservations early. Flights for holidays may sell out weeks-sometimes months-ahead of time. Don't buy a standby fare or an 'open return' ticket if you need to fly during a high-demand period. You could be stranded for a week or more before a seat becomes available.
- Verify the on-time performance for any flights that you are considering. This is usually represented by a one-digit code in the reservations computer that shows how often that flight arrived on time (within 15 minutes) during the most recent reported month. For example, an "8" means that flight arrived within 15 minutes of the scheduled arrival time between 80% and 89.9% of the time. If you are deciding between two flights with similar schedules and fares, you may want to choose the one with the better on-time record. (not all airlines are required to maintain such codes.)
- When you make a reservation, be sure your personal information is recorded accurately. Before you hang up, leave the website or the ticket office, review all of the essential information, including the spelling of your name, the flight numbers and travel dates, and the cities you are traveling between. If there is more than one airport at either city, be sure you check which one you'll be using. It's also important to give the airline your home and work telephone numbers so they can let you know if there is any change in their schedule.
- Your (electronic) ticket will show the flight number, departure time, date, and status of your reservation for each flight of your itinerary. The "status" box is important. "OK" means you're confirmed. Anything else means that the reservation is not yet certain (e.g., waitlisted).
- A "direct" (or "through") flight can have one or more stops. Sometimes flights with only one flight number can even involve a change of planes. Ask about your exact routing.
- If you are flying to a small city and your flight number has four digits, you may be booked on a commuter airline that has an agreement with the major carrier in whose name the flight is held out. If you are unsure, verify the airline and the aircraft type.
- When a reservations agent asks you to buy your tickets by a specific time or date, this is a deadline. And if you don't make the deadline, the airline may cancel your reservations without telling you.
- Try to have your (electronic) tickets in hand before you go to the airport. This speeds your check-in and helps you avoid some of the tension you might otherwise feel if you had to wait in a slow-moving ticketing line and worry about missing your flight.
- If your reservations are booked far enough ahead of time, the airline may offer to mail your tickets to you. However, if you don't receive the tickets and the airline's records show that they mailed them, you may have to go through cumbersome lost-ticket procedures (see the end of this chapter). It is safer to check the telephone directory for a conveniently located travel agency or airline ticket office and buy your tickets there, or ask for an electronic ticket.
- As soon as you receive your ticket check to make sure all the information on it is correct, especially the airports (if any of the cities have more than one) and the flight dates. Have any necessary corrections made immediately.
- Bring a photo I.D. when you fly, and have your airline ticket issued using your name as it appears on that I.D. Many airlines are requesting such identification at check-in in order to reduce the re- selling of discount tickets. (Airlines don't permit tickets to be sold or given to other persons.) On international flights, make sure your name is the same on your ticket and your passport. If your name has recently changed and the name on your ticket and your I.D. are different, bring documentation of the change (e.g., a marriage certificate or court order).
- It's a good idea to reconfirm your reservations before you start your trip; flight schedules sometimes change. On international trips, most airlines require that you reconfirm your onward or return reservations at least 72 hours before each flight. If you don't, your reservations may be canceled.
- Check your ticket as you board each flight to ensure that only the correct coupon has been removed by the airline agent.
- is confirmed by the issuance by Carrier or its Authorized Travel Agent of a ticket that reflects space on a specific flight and date and with status "O.K."; or
- is confirmed by a reservations sales agent of Carrier, or upon issuance of a Ticketless travel confirmation number, and the passenger's name is entered into Carrier's reservations system.
Failure of the passenger to honor the check-in time limit will result in cancellation of the passenger's reserved space.
Carrier will refuse to carry any person when such action is necessary to comply with applicable governmental regulation.
When a round trip or multi-segment reservation has been made and the passenger fails to honor his or her reservation for the any portion of the trip, Carrier will cancel, without notification, the remaining portion or the continuing portion of the passenger's reservations.
With some Carriers a reservation for a particular flight is confirmed by the issuance by us of a Confirmation Number. It is not necessary for you to reconfirm a flight for which there is a Confirmation Number.
Tickets issued through Carrier’s Ticket By Mail service expire for purposes of travel ten (10) days after the last confirmed travel date, unless further restricted by rules governing the fare basis; and
Tickets or Ticketless travel authorizations issued with fare restrictions, i.e., nonrefundable tickets, are valid only on the flight and date shown on the ticket or Ticketless travel authorization. If a Customer purchases transportation with fare restrictions but chooses not to travel on the flight and date for which the ticket or Ticketless travel authorization is issued, the fare paid may, within one (1) year from the date of purchase, be applied toward the purchase of another ticket; however, the new ticket may, without penalty or fee, be more expensive or subject to different terms, conditions, or restrictions. No cash refund or credit card adjustments will be made for tickets with fare restrictions, i.e., "non-refundable," "valid only on flight date shown on ticket," etc.
Tickets are not transferable unless specific thereon, but Carrier is not liable to the owner of a ticket for honoring or refunding such ticket when presented by another person.
Carrier will provide Prepaid Ticketing Advice (PTA) for its Customers who make payments at the appropriate fare for tickets to be secured at a separate time and/or location for reserved and confirmed travel between any two points on its system. Such pre-purchased tickets can only be secured from a ticket counter of Carrier and may not be secured later that 90 days after the last travel date for which prepayment is made. Valid identification of the passenger will be required at the time of ticketing. Carrier will impose a service charge (see Carrier for details) for each PTA transaction. This service charge is not subject to discount and will not be refunded.
Lost Tickets - When a passenger loses his/her ticket or a portion of his/her ticket, the passenger will be required to purchase another ticket, at published fares, before transportation will be furnished between the points covered by the lost ticket. Carrier will not replace or refund lost tickets.
The evidence of the contract for carriage is the Ticket. The Ticket, these Conditions of Carriage and Carrier's Regulations (including applicable Tariffs) together constitute the terms and conditions of the contract of carriage between you and us. These Conditions of Carriage and the Carrier's Regulations are accessible in full on the Website and copies may be obtained from Carrier's offices at the addresses stated at the end of these Conditions of Carriage and at check-in.
When a reservation was made on the Internet, a confirmation message will be received by e-mail with a 'Reservation Number'. This number is customer's proof of purchase. Simply present this number at the Carrier's desk at the airport, with a valid passport/ID, and a boarding pass will be issued.
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