You have decided to take a trip by air which could be going anywhere local or international; wherever your destination, here’s a few tips to help make the experience a pleasant one.
- Pick your date and stick with it –
No one can see the future so barring sudden emergencies it is pretty important for travelers to be sure of their travel dates. This is because date changes on plane tickets especially the cheaper fares are expensive. Refundable tickets are available but typically cost more. So hold off on actually paying for a ticket till you are sure of your departure and return dates.
- Selecting the right airline –
In the old days you needed a travel agent to handle all your bookings, now you can simply go online to search for airlines with flights to your destination. With so many to choose from the next thing to do is look for reviews from past passengers. These always prove very helpful in the selection process. Taking an airline indigenous to your destination and seeking alternative airports can also help reduce costs and time. Next you should compare flight times and fares because the flight might be cheaper but you might not be able to make that Wednesday morning meeting if the airline doesn’t have Tuesday flights to your destination.
- Choosing the class of ticket –
Typically there are 3 classes of seating on a commercial airplane and they are as follows:
First class which is usually located at the front of the aircraft and is the most expensive fare. The seats are always spacious, comfortable and divided by a curtain partition from the rest of the plane. Passengers in first class are usually VIPs – royalty, celebrities or politicians and always get the best meals and complimentary drinks like champagne, wine etc.
Business/Executive class also has expensive fares and as the name suggests has been designed with the business traveler in mind. With Wi-Fi networks, power ports and collapsible tables for laptops and phones, there’s everything an executive would need to prepare for a meeting or attend to any pressing matters
Economy class is where you have the coach seats, generic meals and dishes. These seats are narrower, set close to each other always separated from the other classes by thick curtains. If you can afford it go ahead splurge for a first class or business class seat. Even if you are on a budget and must choose economy class you can still have a pleasant experience by picking where you seat on the aircraft.
- Always find out the weight limits of your check-in and hand luggage –
Some airlines allow two pieces of hand luggage others insist on just one. The weight limit could also differ from aircraft to aircraft and fare to fare, before purchasing your tickets make exhaustive inquiries and pack accordingly. Overstuffed carry-on luggage won’t fit into the overhead storage bins and will just make you a nuisance..
- Reserve a seat/Check-in promptly-
When you are done picking the class you need to reserve a seat because even within the same fare and class some seats are superior to others. Familiarize yourself with the seating of the popular models of aircraft by checking out sites like SeatExpert.com and SeatGuru.com they have charts that show the best places to seat based on reviews, the location of the lavatories which get used a lot on long haul flights, the exits and leg room. Veteran travelers know not to book aisle seats if you wish to sleep on the flight because people and flight attendants will bump into your armrest. The smell, noise and lights from the lavatories can also be a sleep deterrent.
If you are traveling with an infant you will need to reserve a bassinet and those only go in certain parts of the plane so be sure to inform the agent or airline staff when purchasing the ticket. A tall traveler in economy for instance would be more comfortable seating in the exit row. Since you can’t reserve this seat when checking in online it’s important you get to the airport on time so you can request a seat with leg room when getting your boarding pass. Depending on the model of the plane the number of exit row seats will be less than the demand, so do yourself a favor and be on time.
- Research airlines policies for compensation pending flight delays, overbooking or cancellations-
There is a very real possibility of overbooking especially on popular routes; delays may be because of bad weather or ineffectiveness. Knowing what caused your delay is the difference between an apology and being eligible for a big pay day. Outright cancellations can happen too either because the flight doesn’t have enough passengers to justify the cost of the trip or the airline had no functioning aircraft available. In either case they have inconvenienced the travelers and should fork out some compensation.
