What To Do If You Miss Your Flight
Traveling by airplane is quicker and more efficient than traveling by car, but that does not mean that you will not run into problems. Probably the most common problem, as well as the biggest headache, is a missed flight. A missed flight causes a variety of problems. If it was a connecting flight, you will likely miss all of your connections as well. The airplane has to fly with an empty seat, which they do not like, and, often, your bags will not miss their flight, and will arrive at your destination without you. What should you do if you miss your flight? The very first thing that you should do is head to the reservation desk. Tell the clerk that you have missed your flight, and do not leave until you have a plan, in writing, for how you will continue your trip. If missing your flight was your own fault, you may expect to pay, if not the full ticket price, then a penalty on a reissued ticket. If you miss your flight because your connecting flight arrived late, the airline will work with you to get you in the air as soon as possible. In most cases, the airline will put you on the next available flight, with their airline. In some cases, particularly if there is a chance that you can catch a further connection, or the next available flight is not until the next day, the airline may put you on the next available flight with a different airline. Either way, do not leave the area until you know what flight you will be on, and when it departs. Why Miss a Plane? One may miss their flight because of a variety of reasons; some cannot be helped while others are just a mistake. It is rare that you miss a plane because of traffic or oversleeping. Most missed flights occur in connecting flights. Often, the layover time between connecting flights is not sufficient to allow the passenger to disembark and find the terminal for his departing flight. Many airports are large, and for someone who does not travel a great deal, can be confusing to navigate. Once they arrive at the correct terminal, they must still go through security. Another reason for missing connecting flights is if the plane experiences mechanical difficulties. It is common for a plane to sit on the tarmac, passengers on board, while mechanics work to repair a problem on the plane. In this case, the passengers who have a limited amount of layover time may not make their connecting flights. Sometimes, if many of the passengers on board are in danger of missing their connecting flight, the connecting flight may be held, but, as you can imagine, this creates another set of problems on the arrival at the next airport. Weather is another cause of missed flights. Sometimes a plane is held and not allowed to take off because of lightning or heavy winds. Other times a plane may be held while it is deiced. Even if a plane makes it into the air, strong winds or turbulence can slow the plane down in flight, causing is to arrive behind schedule. Mechanical problems are clearly the responsibility of the airline, but weather conditions and tight layover scheduling are not, and the airline may be less accommodating of problems relating to weather or scheduling than they are in problems related to mechanical issues. Where are Your Bags? While you may have missed your flight, it is unlikely that your bags did. They are probably tucked safely away on your original flight. If your arriving flight was delayed long enough that the connecting flight left before your plane arrived, you may be able to collect your bags, but this is not typically how it happens. People are often in the airport when their flight leaves. If you have departed from your plane, but do not make it through security before your connection leaves, there is a good chance that your bags were transferred and are on your original flight. This is one of the reasons that you should always carry any medication as well as a change of clothes with you in your carry on. While the chances are good that you will be reunited with your bags in the future, that will not make you feel any better when you are sitting in the airport lobby, waiting for dawn and the next flight out. Minimize Your Chances of Missing Your Flight The best way to minimize your chance of a missed flight is to allow plenty of time between connecting flights. While no one wants to spend all day in an airport lobby, you should ask the ticket agent for enough time to disembark, visit the restroom and make it to the next terminal. The larger the airport you are flying into, the more time you should allow, as moving from terminal to terminal can take a considerable amount of time. While you cannot control the weather or the mechanics of the plane, you can make sure you have amble time to make your connection.Brian Jenkins is a freelance writer who writes about topics and tips involving the travel industry and special deals, often discussing specific subjects such as cheap flights at http://www.flightcentre.ca/flights/.
Source: www.ArticlePros.com
How To Get The Best Price For A Cruise
You’ve wanted to take that cruise, to experience the excitement of new ports and places with your family. You’ve daydreamed about your place in the sun. You’ve made a million excuses to yourself why you can’t. Perhaps you’ve thought that the cruise of your dreams is out of reach financially. You’re in for a surprise. The cruise industry is one of the fasting growing of the vacation/hospitality industries today. With the popularity of sea cruising growing by leaps and bounds cruise lines are growing and are able to offer more discounts to their customers. You also have the cruise industry at your fingertips through the use of the Internet. Every cruise line has a website where you can check cruises, dates and deals. Each cruise line offers what they call theme packages. These packages are mean to attract a people of a certain lifestyle or age group. If you are traveling with your family you may qualify for a family discount, or, depending on your age, a senior discount. Some cruise lines offer honeymoon discount. It is a little known fact that many cruise lines experience last minute cancellations. When this happens they are eager to fill the empty slots. If you are flexible you may be able to get an excellent last minute deal. Call the cruise line a few days before the ship is set to sail to see if there are any last minute deals. If you become a frequent cruiser you may be able to get a discount as a repeat customer. Many cruise lines give discounts and a good percentage off if you book with them year after year, or, if you are planning more than one cruise in a year, if you book both cruises at the same time. Along with checking for cruise deals online, don’t forget that sometimes a travel agent is worth his/her weight in gold. Check with an experienced travel agent who may be able to help you get deals that aren’t offered to online customers. This travel agent may also be able to help you get the best airfare price . The cruise of your dreams is out there, and it’s within your reach. Do your homework. The information is out there, it’s up to you to find it. This article courtesy of <a href="http://www.cruise-holiday-guide.com" target="_blank">http://www.cruise-holiday-guide.com</a>
Source: www.ArticlePros.com
