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Strategies for coping with air travel |
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By BETH J. HARPAZ,
AP Travel Editor
 NEW
YORK - In recent weeks, thousands of air passengers have
been stranded by airline bankruptcies and flight
cancellations. And there may be more disruptions ahead as
older jets continue to be scrutinized for safety and the
economy bubbles with trouble.
So what's a traveler to do as the busy summer travel
season draws near?
Pack light, know your options, consider buying travel
insurance - and maybe even take the train instead.
"Flight delays, schedule changes, canceled flights,
bankruptcies and mishandled baggage are pushing flyers'
frustration to an all-time high," Michelle Doucette,
content manager at IgoUgo.com, said in a press release
declaring that "the summer of '08 just might be the
summer of the train."
The travel Web site on Monday posted ideas for train
travel at http://www.igougo.com/travel_blog including
scenic rail trips and visiting cities with landmark
train stations like Philadelphia's 30th Street Station.
If the train is not an option, here are some strategies
for coping with the hassles of air travel in the weeks
ahead.
-Limit luggage to one carry-on bag, advises Susan Foster
of http://www.SmartPacking.com. That way, your
"rebooking options are completely open," she said. If
you must check luggage, don't do it "until you are
positive that your flight is flying and reasonably on
time."
-Do your homework. "Make clear notes about other flights
operated by different airlines that meet your needs,"
said Foster. "Program airline phone numbers into your
cell phone so you can immediately call to rebook
yourself. If you wait for the airline to do this for
you, you will not get a seat."
With details on other flights in hand, you can then ask,
"for example, 'There's a Delta flight at 4:10 that will
get me to my destination, can I get on it?'" said Amy
Ziff, editor at large for Travelocity.
Staying informed also helps you juggle options. Last
week, when American Airlines grounded 300 MD-80 planes
for maintenance, Brett Snyder recommended that
passengers find out what type of plane they had tickets
for, and "start looking for connections that aren't on
MD-80s." Snyder, who blogs about air travel at http://CrankyFlier.com,
also urged passengers to "bring a lot of patience with
you to the airport. ... Being nice can only help you."
-Consider buying trip insurance, which typically runs 4
to 8 percent of the cost of your trip. If your trip is
disrupted by flight delays or cancellations, travel
insurance should cover new tickets, hotel stays and
incidentals. Some policies may also provide refunds if
your plans change and you stay home. And insurance
agents can help you rebook if you're stranded.
The day before Joyce Wehmeier of Pekin, Ill., was
supposed to fly home from a two-week vacation in Hawaii,
she learned that her airline, ATA, had gone out of
business. She and her traveling companion had insurance
with AIG Travel Guard and called the company.
"Miraculously this lady came back on and said, 'I found
two seats tomorrow,'" Wehmeier said. "We needed to go
back to work, so we were just thrilled."
AIG Travel Guard reported more than a 100 percent
increase in calls coming in during the week of the
airline bankruptcies, according to spokeswoman Erin
McKeon.
Many airlines, cruise lines and travel Web sites offer
insurance as an easy one-click add-on when you book
trips online. Other sources for trip insurance include
members of the U.S. Travel Insurance Association and
http://www.InsureMyTrip.com.
-If you do get stranded, seek out discounts, refunds and
vouchers.
If your airline has discontinued service, "call your
credit card company to see if the charge can be
removed," said Anne Banas of http://www.SmarterTravel.com.
"It won't get you rebooked on another flight, but at
least it'll help you get your money back."
Also, "look to see what assistance other airlines are
offering," Banas added. "For example, when ATA recently
closed its doors, Delta and US Airways offered stranded
passengers $100 standby fares. JetBlue offered $50 fares
to SkyBus passengers."
Airlines with delayed or canceled flights are not
required to book you on other carriers. If they do put
you on another airline, "the vast majority of passengers
- those on restricted discounted tickets - will be
forced to pay any price difference in the tickets,"
Banas said. But, she added, "it is possible that gate
agents will make exceptions, so it never hurts to ask."
Banas also advises travelers to "know your rights." The
"Contract of Carriage," usually found on airline Web
sites and also known as "Rule 240," states that if a
cancellation is "due to a problem within the airline's
control, the airline will rebook you on the next
available flight," or refund the unused ticket.
Airlines will often provide vouchers for meals, hotel
and ground transportation for delays of more than four
hours, Banas added.
-Finally, if your airline is in crisis, "take advantage
of the relaxed cancellation and change policies and
cancel or reschedule your trip," said Travelocity's
Ziff. "If your trip is not a mission-critical, it is
best to postpone it."
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