Most travelers head to the airport, check in, and let the airline take care of the rest. That’s not good enough. Especially if anything goes wrong — and things DO go wrong. You need be your own advocate, and you need a game plan, backed up with information and technology.
Here are five ways to get an edge over the more complacent travelers around you:
1) Get serious status reports sent to you in real-time.
While airlines offer e-mail, text message, and automated phone call alerts, which update you on the status of your flight, these updates are often too little and too late. For real status updates, sign up for the alerts feature at FlightStats.com. Their updates are very, very detailed, and you’ll know exactly where you stand.
2) Know your alternatives.
Carry the airline’s timetable, or a list of alternate flights to your destination, which can be downloaded or printed from any airline’s website. This is useful when you try for a rebooking or want to go standby. Let’s say flights are delayed two hours across the board. The previous flight might still be waiting to push back from the gate. Check the timetable you brought with you and make a beeline for that earlier flight. Try to stand by and get out early, instead of waiting for hours for your scheduled itinerary.
BONUS: Don’t forget alternate routings if trying to rebook. Just because you’re scheduled to fly from Raleigh to Los Angeles via Chicago doesn’t mean that’s the only route you can take. (E.g., maybe you can fly via Dallas instead.) Having an electronic timetable is great for this. Ask airline agents about specific route alternatives — they may not look them up if you don’t ask for them by name.
3) Playing contract lawyer can be fun.
Though the rules that govern your ticket aren’t pre-printed on your boarding pass, you’re still bound by them. So bring a copy! Since I usually travel with a laptop, I keep a downloaded copy of the airline’s contract of carriage on the hard drive. The contract includes rules such as compensation for being bumped and the infamous “Rule 240″ that lives on in some contracts, governing the transferability of your itinerary to another airline in case of delay. (Knowing the real reason for delays is useful, too.) I also keep screenshots (or PDFs) of terms & conditions pages related to upgrades, frequent flyer mile redemption, etc., in case anyone gives me a hard time. Know your rights, and exert them. I’ve had to break out that legal mumbo jumbo with airline representatives (and their supervisors) on a few occasions, and with paperwork at the ready, I’ve always won.
4) Pre-program airline phone numbers into your cell phone.
While airlines’ 1-800 numbers are increasingly staffed by unempowered outsourced overseas call center personnel, you may need to call and make a change. Best to have the number at the ready, especially if you’re stuck on the plane.
BONUS: If there are big delays, and long lines of people waiting for a customer service desk, try the self-service kiosks. Often, the machine can help, faster than a call to the 800 number can. If the machine can’t help, there’s sometimes a phone attached, and picking it up connects you to an agent — an agent who, in my experience, has been far more empowered than the average call center employee. I’ve used those phones to get on standby lists and make last-minute itinerary changes, while others stood in a long line at the gate, hoping to make the same change. These kiosk phones work, but most people don’t use them.
BONUS 2: Program this number in, too: 1-877-FLYERS-6 (1-877-359-3776). It’s the Stranded Passengers’ Hotline from the Coalition for Airline Passengers’ Bill of Rights. If your plane pulls away from the gate and just sits there ad nauseam, call them and let them know.
5) Check in online, and early
This one should really go without saying, but so many people put it off that it bears repeating. Check in online, and do it as early as you can. The earlier you check in, the less likely you’ll be bumped, and the more likely you’ll be in line for upgrades and clearing standby, if either of those options are in the cards.
BONUS: Check in early even if your flight is delayed. Let’s say your flight is delayed two hours, and you know it’s delayed even before you even head to the airport. Check in before your scheduled departure time, not the rescheduled/delayed time. If you don’t check in by the original time, you’ll still be considered a no-show and could lose your seat. And I recommend against showing up late for a delayed flight. You never know when that 2 hour delay might miraculously turn into a 30-minute delay, leaving you grounded. Don’t laugh, it happens. Better to show up on time and try to stand by for the earlier (delayed) flight.
BONUS 2: Some people mistakenly think you can’t check in online if you have bags to check. That’s not true. Some airports have a bag-drop for those who checked in online, while others make you stand in line. (Just be sure to leave yourself enough time to check the bags.) But checking in early online still has its benefits, no matter if you check bags or carry on.
These tips won’t guarantee that you’ll get where you need to be on time, but you’ll improve your odds.
Related:
- Finding the real reason for delays
- Thanksgiving travel tips
- Breakin’ all the rules
- How to lounge in airports
- Shortcuts through the checkpoints at American airports
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December 18th, 2007 at 11:01 am
The point you raised in number 4 is a really great idea, I has this problem where I always needed to contact airlines and I must have wasted so much time
December 18th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
Very nice tips and a timely post. I’ve made several comments on my blog. Mostly I agree with you. A few days ago I got to put it all into practice myself – you can read about it on my blog linked above.
December 19th, 2007 at 6:01 am
Hi,
Nice tips. I learned that it is also important to pack early and keep your bag in the car. Say 3 days before your flight. I once had a flight canceled, from one day to the next. I immediately went to the airport to rebook it and they asked me if I could leave right away. I was going to a conference and it would have been much better to arrive earlier instead of late. Unfortunately I hadn’t packed, so I could not go
Next time I know better.
December 19th, 2007 at 7:10 am
You can google your flight number to get gate/departure & Arrival time and the airline phone number.
Text message your search query to 466453 (‘GOOGLE’ on most devices) and google will text message back results.
For example, text AA123 to get the status on the American flight 123.
December 19th, 2007 at 7:56 am
I used to think and live like this when I lived in Africa. We had slightly different rules of thumb of course – like call the tower to find out if the incoming aircraft is on its way – but the principle was the same. We didn’t trust the people who had taken our money, and lordy, who were flying us across the continent in their plane.
I was so surprised when I got to the States and found a worse shambles.
It is election year. Time to suggest to politicians that they should make the state of the airlines a priority?
December 19th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
Regarding point #4, when the airline cancels a flight and everyone lines up overloading the gate agents, head over to the airlines lounge if available and you can get in. The line is often much shorter and the agents generally seem to be empowered.
December 19th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
The best way to increase flexibility when traveling is: NEVER CHECK A BAG
December 19th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
Great advice… This is the kind of stuff I tried to get across in my Letter to the Editor of USAToday in:
http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2007/10/blame-infrequen.html
However, they (USAToday) edited out the parts I wrote about coming Prepared and ASKING QUESTIONS. Don’t expect anything, except a seat, and a safe arrival. The rest is up to you. You can not expect the Airline is going to just ‘take care of’ you.
Additionally, NEVER check a bag. Especially if your trip is 5 days or less.
Good luck and Happy Holidays!
December 20th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
Personally, I always prepare by putting these things into a folder.
I always print my itinerary in addition to the boarding pass. I also make a sheet of the phone numbers of all airlines and airports, in case my cell phone’s battery dies. Most airports provide diagrams of their terminals, which I always take. Also, sign up for security and flight alerts, which are available from your airline, and oftentimes the airports. Be there as EARLY as possible – you will be given priority if the flight has been overbooked. Look at the TSA’s website to find the average wait times for the hour and day of week for travel. Be prepared. Plan for the worst scenario.
December 20th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
The prior check in and printing boarding passes on line may be even more important in Europe. In Madrid in September the airport was a complete mad-house and the lines wrapped around and through each other. We bypassed the mess and went straight to the counter by showing our pre-printed boarding passes which we were able to print at our hotel.
December 26th, 2007 at 6:36 pm
Wow… I’m fairly well traveled and embarrassed that almost ALL of these suggestions are new to me! I’m going to have to get back up to speed! I especially liked the bringing the different flight options with you. Where can you get one of these lists of other flights?
December 27th, 2007 at 10:14 pm
Depends on the airline.
Generally, go to the airline’s site and look for a “timetable” link.
Some airlines offer a downloadable PDF, and/or an executable file that contains the current timetable.
January 1st, 2008 at 7:34 am
You can also go here to get a good list of timetables just for your airports.
http://travel.airwise.com/schedules/
This way you have other airlines as an option. Sometimes one airline will shift you over to a partner (i.e, Northwest will be willing to put you on a Continental flight)
January 10th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Checking in on-line and early is a bad idea. With some carriers it removes flexibility about changing flights. Even on cheap fares if you cancel BEFORE on-line check in you may be able to recover ‘some’ money or get a credit on another flight.
If you check-in on-line, then cancel the trip – you are screwed.
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May 8th, 2011 at 8:47 pm
these tips are a great source of information and its also important to have travel insurance for the safety of your baggage.