Oversold Flights, Bumped Off- Best alternatives

Welcome back..So how was the weekend? Yesterday I was speaking to my one of my friend,who was recently bumped off from his scheduled Airline Travel as the flight was overbooked and the Airline couldn't take passengers more than the seat capacity of the aircraft..

Presently, lots of the major Airlines virtually overbook their flights by 20-40 percent because there tends to be few passenger that do not show up at the airport resulting financial losses to the Airlines. Airlines can be oversold at any time of the year and the percentage is often not disclosed by the airlines.

Now, lets see few best alternatives available for the overbooked flight :

• The Airline would ask for the volunteers,who can take the later flight or is ready to stay back.
• Sometimes, the passengers can be bumped off the flight even though they have not volunteered to take the later flight as the airlines is oversold and there are no seats available. These passengers are still entitled for the compensation.
• Airline staff would give the MCO known as Miscellaneous charge order. Its the travel voucher and can be redeemed for future travel
• MCO is not cash but like a boarding card and the value of their MCO is higher than the cash
• Always remember to check if this MCO can be transferred to other family member so that in case you are unable to use it then your family member can use it.
• Check the validity of the voucher plus if this voucher can be used both for domestic and international travel
• Few Airlines can extend the validity of the voucher.Hence, always remember to explore that option
• Check out the restrictions on the travel voucher, It should not restrict your future travel, your seat should be confirmed, you should be able to use the voucher on the partner airlines as well. For e.g: If you are taking British Airways (BA) from London to New york and American Airlines (AA) for New york to Seattle then you should be able to use the voucher for both the Airlines as BA and AA are one world partner
• Its your right to ask for meal voucher or hotel accommodation in case you are bumped off due oversold flight.

Above are the few best alternatives that's mandatory for all the passengers that are taking Airline Travel. All of us would face this situation one day and its always good to know our rights and keeping in mind these simple steps would ease the stress at the airport.

All the best and Keep Flying !!

Outstanding Tips for Airline Travel cancellations !!

So, how was the weekend?? Let me know your views about the airport list and details...

Remember, I shared the standard Airline policies with regards to the weather related cancellations.Today ,lets focus on some outstanding tips that can save lots of time in organising Airline Travel during weather related cancellations.

• Its always good to call the Airport or Airline before starting from your place as the flight or runway might not be operational due adverse weather conditions.
• Don't waste any time and immediately call the Airline reservation centre to rebook yourself onto the other flight or onto the next available flight
• Always check on the various options like: If any other Airline is operational out of the Airport? If yes, can you be booked on that flight? If not, whats the next flight from the Airport or Can you travel to nearest port to your destination?
• Always keep checking the arrival and departure screens to get the idea of the operating flights
• Ticketing desk at the airport should be able to take care of your booking ,If you are transiting then the Airline staff should be able to book your onward connections as well
• Check the weather condition at your destination as well.

Airline staff is always there to help you so be patient and calm . Remember, shouting or creating havoc at the airport would not help you. Now, you have the rough idea of the Airline policy, so just work around the same and make your decision rationally.

Lets enjoy the Airline Travel and face this cancellation audaciously

List of the Major countries and the Airports

Don't have list of the major Airports or countries? Do you struggle to find the list of major airports in US? Do you have the airport code and don't know if this code belongs to US or Europe?

Don't worry I am here to make your Airline Travel easy. Please check out :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Lists_of_airports for the list of the major Airports in the world.
www.airportlist.com , its quite handy and gives the catalog of US major Airport directory and Airport codes.

Hope these site would help you to plan your airline travel in more better way..

You got to see it to believe it !!

First of foremost I want to thank Nikki for her comment on the Airline policies through the disruption. No, I haven't forgot about my promise of coming back with the survival tips during weather related airline travel cancellation.

However, I couldn't resist myself as I watched the much talked about the daring video of Air New Zealand, where the staff and even the CEO bares it all to promote the brand.

Just see it all and check out the link..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elD38pJX7iE

Lets hear from all of you and please tell me about your thoughts around this promotional campaign...

Enjoy the video !!

Delayed Flight..Best Available Options

Have you ever got stranded at the Airport because of flight cancellation due bad weather?

Often, we come across the news of delayed or cancelled flight due bad weather. This kind of update gives us feeling of improbability as we are totally clueless about the Airline policies and the best available options. Airline travel can be stressful during this time and all we need to check the Airline policy around the bad weather.

Today, I would tell you about the Airline Polices and the best options available during disruption:

1. When the weather is going to affect your Airline travel ,what you can do? During bad weather many of the Airlines bring into play the policies to deal with cancellations and delays. However, always remember to call your specific airline to check the Policy as this can differ from airline to airline.
2. Policy (known as commercial policy) often allows to change your ticket. It gives the flexibility to either change your ticket 07days before or 07 days after the original ticketed flight.
3. Airline would not charge the penalty for changing the date of the ticket. It should be absolutely Free of charge
4. Airlines have tie up with different Airlines and can also give different alternatives and can book you on other carriers (only if they are operating).
5. Full refund can be claimed from the Airline. Airline would give you the refund for the unused journey of the ticket.
6. Airline is not responsible to provide the Hotel accommodation or transport for weather cancellations. This is natural disaster and is not under the Airlines control.

You always have an option of writing into customer relation post your travel, in case you are unhappy with the customer service of the Airlines.

I hope above options would help you to understand the outline of the Airlines commercial policy. Feel free to let me know about your views and experience with the Airline travel cancelled due bad weather.

Watch out the space for best survival tips due weather related cancellations.

Airport Procedure for Unaccompanied Minor

So did you find my previous blog useful ? Did it help you in understanding the Airline Travel procedure better around the Unaccompanied Minors (UM) ?

Today I would share the Airport process for the UM's and passengers with special need taking the Airline Travel. Almost all the major airports have different area for the UM's and special needs passengers. Make sure that you call the Airline or speak to Airline representative after reaching the airport. Now lets elaborate the process a bit :

• All the documents should be completed i.e. the UM should have all the important information on the UM form that includes full address and contact details of the parents or the guardian, photo id, E-ticket copy, itinerary print out and passport with required Visa
• For easy identification of the UM's, the staff usually gives button or cap with young flier label . Make sure that UM doesn't take off this cap or button till the journey ends
• Airline representative would help the UM to clear the security formalities. He would then be escorted by the crew to the flight.
• Parent or the guardian, who has come to leave the child at the airport has to stay at the airport only until the flight is actually airborne. Make sure that you are in contact with the airline staff to ascertain that the child is safe and has started his journey towards the destination.
• The child is looked after by the crew during the flight. Please encourage the child to speak to crew in-case of any problem
• UM and passengers with the special needs are the last one's to leave the plane. Upon reaching the destination the child is being handed over to the Airline airport staff by the crew.
• Airport staff then takes the child to the arrival or special meeting area where the child is then handed over to the parent or the guardian. The guardian has to prove his identity and has to sign the UM form.

Does it sound simple now? Yes, I am glad.

Now, just remember these simple tips and trust me, you would be able to overcome the anxiety around solo young passenger. Please let me know if you have any other query regarding the young passenger taking the Airline Travel.

Until then........Happy Flying !!

Unaccompanied Minors- 7 Best guidelines before Airline Travel

Summer holidays and vacations season had started the trend of unaccompanied Minors known as UM in Airline lingo. Unaccompanied minors are young travelers, who take Airline Travel all alone without presence of the family member or guardian or trusted person.

All the airlines have different rules and regulations regarding the UM. Age is the biggest deciding factor to label the traveler as UM or not. Few airlines accept young passengers starting from age of 5 to 12 years as unaccompanied minors where as other airlines even considers 15 year old as an unaccompanied minor. Its always best to call the Airline to check the exact age for availing the UM service.

Today, I would reveal 7 best guideline for UM's before taking Airline Travel

1. Age limit : As I mentioned earlier,age plays an important role in availing the UM service. This differs from airline to airline .Hence make sure to call the Airline to check the exact UM age and the procedure around the same. Age can be from 05 years old to 12 years old or 05 years to 15 years
2. On-line Booking : Mostly all the major airlines doesn't allow UM to be booked on line as there are formalities that needs to be completed before availing the UM service.
3. Pre booking : UM can't be booked immediately. There has to be at least 48 -72 hours prior notice to book the UM on the airline travel. So if you are planning to avail this service then make sure that booking is done at least 72 hours before departure.
4. UM Service fee : UM service is not free of charge and often the parents have to pay full adult fare for the child plus service fee which can vary from USD 25 to USD 50 per sector. For example if the child is traveling fron London -New york- London then the service fee would be USd100 (USD50 per sector)
5. Forms and declaration : The parent or the guardian has to complete the formality of UM. They have to fill in all the details in the UM form that includes the urgent contact details of the parent, the full address of the parent, who is dropping the child at the airport and the full contact details and address of the guardian or the parent, who is coming to pick up the child from the airport at his final destination. He also has to declare the medical condition of the UM.
6. No UM service : During transit , If the stop is more than 24 hours then no UM service would be available as there is no provision to accommodate UM for such long period of time.
7. Onward carriers : UM service is not available on all the carriers so if you are taking 2 different planes then make sure that you check the UM service and procedures for both the airlines. Service fee and forms would be different for both the airline. Its very important to know if there is UM service agreement between both the airlines i.e. if the unaccompanied Minor is taking London Bangkok on British Airways (BA) and Bangkok to New york on Continental Airlines (CO) then its important to check if BA and CO has agreement and if BA crew would handover the child to CO staff at Bangkok airport?

I can understand that its quite difficult to let the 5 year old fly alone and needs lots of courage. Don't worry all the Airlines are providing the best service for the young solo passenger and in my next blog I would share few tips that would make the Unaccompanied Minor's airline travel comfortable and easy.