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In this post we have tried to answer all questions with regards to reservations, you will learn about various terminologies used in travel industry relating to airlines reservations, we have tried to explain readers in simplest language as possible.

Cancellation: – In an event when a traveler or airline cancels the reservation due to a certain reason it is termed as a cancellation. Cancellation can be classified as a voluntary and involuntary cancellation.

 Voluntary Cancellation: – When a traveller himself cancels his/her reservation due to a personal reason it can be termed as a voluntary cancellation. In case of cancellation, the airline levies a cancellation charge as per fare rules for cancelling the reservation and rest is refunded as per fare rules. Please note cancellation charges depend upon fare booked, booking class, etc.

 In Voluntary cancellation: – In an event when a airline cancels a flight due to inclement weather or a technical reason it is termed as an involuntary cancellation. In such a event the airline provides a full refund for the ticket purchased.

12.Class of Booking:- A class of booking is the class of service in which a reservation has been confirmed. An Airline reservation is classified in three classes viz :- First, Business and Economy. There are few airlines who also offer a premium economy class or business first cabins. The class of service which you are booked in is a major factor determining the fare of a reservation.

1. Airport Codes and City Codes:- Airport codes and city codes are codes designated by IATA for a particular city. This facilitates smooth and easy operation as there are many places with a similar name. For e.g.:- There is a Birmingham in the UK and in the US. Imagine booking someone on a flight from Houston to Birmingham UK instead of Birmingham Alabama. To avoid such errors coding system was introduced.

Click here to find code for any airports or cities worldwide.

2. Airline codes: – A airline code is two digit code which can be alpha or alphanumerical code. This is a designated code for a particular airline instead of the entire name of the airline. You can see this code on the aircraft, your ticket, boarding card, etc. An airline may have a similar name, however, the airline code cannot be the same. For e.g:- Virgin Atlantic’s code is VS and Virgin America is VX and Virgin Australia is VA though all three belong to the Virgin group.

Click Here to check any airline code. 

Availability:- Availability refers to a reservation being available or not as per the inventory for a particular flight. Airline availability is dynamic and reservations are made on a first come first serve basis. The earlier you book the cheaper the fare would be. Hence a ticket purchased a day before your departure is always expensive. However please note this may not be the case always as the airline may introduce saver fares 4months prior departure. Hence if you purchase a ticket 8months in advance may prove to be expensive.

″Tip :- Ticket prices prove to be cheap when booked at the airport just before departure-This is actually a misconception. There is actually a very rare chance that you may even actually get to buy a ticket in case the flight is running full, it is only in event when there are cancellations you may find availability but the airline will not sell the ticket at the same cost. In earlier days this was the case however due to advance revenue management systems the ticket becomes available for the most profitable class of booking in such a scenario. Hence it is advisable to rather plan in advance if you are hoping to buy a cheap air ticket.”

CRS: – CRS is an acronym for Computer Reservation System which is used by an airline and travel agents to make reservations. It is also known as GDS(global distribution system) Airline employees have a modified version of a CRS which is designed for the particular airline only. Whereas a travel agent has a CRS capable to do reservations on various airlines, car rentals and hotels. There are various Computer reservation systems in the market today, however, Amadeus, Apollo, Galileo and Abacus have a major market share.

GDS: – A GDS is acronym for Global Distribution System also known as CRS. It is reservation software (platform) which uses internet and is connected to all major airlines, hotels and car rentals. A GDS is used by all major travel agents for making reservations. If you want to learn more about GDS/CRS you can take our basic course on amadeus or Galileo, these are major systems used by travel agents for making reservations.

Conjunction ticket: – A ticket has basically four coupons. When an itinerary exceeds four legs a fifth leg is issued on a separate ticket and this ticket is known as a conjunction ticket since it is issued in conjunction with the same itinerary. Nowadays the systems are capable of distinguishing itineraries and issue conjunction tickets without any manual intervention as and when required.

Downgrade: – In a situation where a traveller booked in a higher cabin class is asked to move to a lower cabin class it is termed as a downgrade. A downgrade is done in the very rare case when due to a certain technical problem an airline is not able to accommodate a certain passenger. Please note in case of a downgrade traveler is entitled for compensatsion as per airline regulations.

Upgrade: – When a traveller is bumped to a higher cabin class it is called as upgrade. An upgrade is when a passenger is shifted from economy cabin to business class cabin or from business cabin to first class cabin. An upgrade is normally provided to travellers who are part of frequent flyer programs with a airline.An upgrade can be a free upgrade or a upgrade utilizing frequent flyer miles.

E-ticket– E-ticket stands for an Electronic ticket. E-ticket is a virtual document which can be carried on your cell phone or tablet. This is the most common form of a ticket today and almost all airline tickets issued today are e-tickets.  E-tickets have reduced a considerable amount of costs for all the airline and have also made travel a lot easier. Earlier paper tickets used to be issued which had to be safeguarded. However now one need not even carry a ticket since one can simply save it on your cell phone or tablet.  E-ticketing is one of the major reasons for increased air travel.

Fare: – A Fare or Airfare can be described the cost of the ticket or monetary value a passenger pays to the airline for travelling from one point to another. Although the term itself may seem quite simple however how an airfare is derived upon is a complex process and there are various factors which contribute in determining an airfare. Airfares are divided into various categories such as published airfare, agency private fares, corporate fares, military fares, student fare, seamen fare, etc. The cost of airfare primarily depends upon three basic factors which are availability, seasonality and destination besides this there are other contributing factors like, competition, taxes, route and timing of purchase. We will below elaborate in brief on these factors which determine air fare.

a)Availability: – This is one of the prime factors which determine airfare for a particular journey. Availability of space or seat on a flight is one of the biggest factors determining an airfare. In case a flight has limited seats available the airfare for the same will be considerably high as compared to a flight which has ample space available. The airline’s inventory and space control department further divides every class of booking. Economy class is subdivided into different classes of booking which is termed as RBD or reservation and booking designator. An economy class may have several RBD’s for e.g.:- O, H, K, R and Y. “Y” by default is the highest RBD in Economy class. Anything above “Y” is classified as the premium economy or business or first depending upon the inventory. The space control department determines on the number of seats to be sold on a particular RBD. Suppose if an aircraft has 100 seats in economy class then RBD “O” will be allotted 20 seats, RBD “H “ will be allotted 20 seats, RBD “K” will be allotted 30 seats, RBD “R” will be allotted 25 seats and RBD “Y” would be allotted 5 seats. The First RBD will have the least fare and consequent RBD’s will have a higher fare. The airline sells air tickets in this sequence and hence when you purchase early there is a high percentage of getting a lower airfare. Hence when a flight remains unsold there would be high availability and lower airfare.

(TIP: – Airlines at times also sell promotional airfare which is sold way in advance to attract customers. Although these fares are extremely cheap but usually are completely non-refundable and changeable.)

b)Seasonality: – Seasonality can be termed as a specific time period when there is high or low demand for the air travel which spikes up the cost of airfare or reduces the cost of air ticket. Seasonality is determined by analysing the data from previous years and factoring the reasons for sudden increase or decrease in demand. Seasonality is divided as High season, Low season and Shoulder season.

High Season: – When the demand for air travel is higher than the average during a certain period of time then it is called as high season. A high season can be on account of weather or holiday or any other reason during which more people decide to travel. For e.g. :- Around Christmas and New year ticket prices can go high as a huge number of people visit their relatives or take vacations owing to which there is exponential demand for air travel which is pre determined by the airline and ticket costs are spiked up to gain more profits during such periods.

Low Season: – When the Demand for air travel is lower than average it can be termed as low season. During such period fewer numbers of passengers choose to travel hence there is a high possibility of inventory wastage (seats going vacant) and as such the airline tries to sell as much as possible by offering discounted prices or promotional fares to lure more travellers.

Shoulder season: – Period between high season and low season is termed as shoulder season.

Hence seasonality can be a detrimental factor for the airfare. An air ticket purchased for travel to New York in March can be comparatively cheap as compared with a ticket purchased for travel in the month of December.

c)Destination: – The destination one travels to is also one of the major factors which determines the airfare. Airfare for a certain destination can be considerably high when there is less competition and flights to the destination are dominated by one or two airlines. As such the airline will have a monopoly over the sector and can charge a premium on flights. For e.g:- there are very few flights which operate to remote island destinations and fare for even a short distance of travel can be considerably high. Similarly, the fare for certain sectors can be considerably high as compared to others. Like fare for New York to Houston will be always on the higher side compared to fare from New York to Austin. The airfare can also vary upon airport chosen, airfare for the main international airport can be high compared to a nearby domestic airport within the same city this is due to airport taxes and parking charges which are levied upon an airline which add up to the airfare. For e.g.: -Travelling to Houston hobby airport instead of Houston bush can save you on the airfare or taking a flight to La Guardia instead of JFK.

d)Competition: – Cutthroat competition amongst airlines to gain an edge over each other in the market can result in less airfare. When a certain sector is dominated by multiple airlines the airfare can go down as the airlines would resort to various tactics to induce more customers while trying to build a customer base over a period of time. This would result in lower airfare for travellers. For e.g.:- Airfare for frequently flown sectors like Chicago to New York can be cheap as compared to a ticket to Buffalo although New York and Buffalo are in the same state.

e)Taxes: – Airport taxes, Fuel taxes and various government taxes also add up to your airfare which also at times plays a dominant role in determining an airfare. Especially when it comes to international air tickets taxes play a huge role. There are certain governments which provide subsidies for an airline which may cut down the cost for the particular airline which reduces its airfare. Many of the middle eastern airlines are government owned and enjoy the benefits of less taxation which reduces the cost and leaving more room for profit. For e.g.:- Major component of Airfare in domestic market constitute of taxes which have to be remitted to various government departments.

f)Route: – The route or itinerary chosen can be one of the biggest factors in determining the cost of the ticket. At times taking a flight with a stopover can save you as much as half the cost of the ticket as compared to a nonstop flight. This may not apply at times to shorter routes but for longer routes or international routes, this can be a detrimental factor.

g)The timing of purchase: – When you purchase your flight ticket most definitely affects the cost of the airfare. Logically earlier you buy there are very high chances you get a lower airfare. A ticket purchased just a day before or a couple of hours before your departure can prove to be a costly affair. If you have firm travel dates it is advisable to purchase tickets at least 3 months in advance. All airlines publish fares which are called advanced purchase fares, tickets on these fares have to be purchased before the designated time period to avail these fares. For e.g.:- United issues a published fare with advance purchase of 45days, which means the ticket has to purchased before 45days of departure to avail the fare. However please note such fares are very restrictive in nature and have very little or no room for flexibility.

(TIP: – There are certain excursion airfares which have minimum stay restriction or a maximum stay restriction. In case a airfare has a minimum stay restriction for three days it means the traveler can only avail this fare when the return date of travel is post 3 days. Similarly a fare also has a maximum stay restriction like 3 months which means the traveler can avail this airfare when his return date is within 3 months of the original travel date.)

Types of Air Fare: – Apart from fares which are issued to all people, in general, an Airline also issues different kinds of airfares catering to the special requirements of all kinds of passengers like students, seamen, corporate, etc. These fares serve varying needs of passengers and have certain benefits and restrictions. Below we will discuss in brief on various kinds of airfares.

Published Fare: – This is the most common form of airfare. A published airfare is a fare which is issued to all public and is not limited only to a special group of travellers. This type of airfare is the most common form of airfare which can be offered by both agent and airline. Published fares are subject to rules and regulations which are common for all travellers.

Private fare or Agency private fare: – Private fare is a fare which is private in nature and selling this type of fare is limited to the agency to which such a fare has been provided. Due to high sales volumes generated by a particular agency the airline may decide to provide them a private fare. This type of fare may be offered at a slight discount to the agent or with special conditions such as free cancellations, changes, etc. This helps the agent to gain an edge over its competition in the market and increase its sales volume. The travel agent may decide to keep the entire discount for himself and sell the ticket on the market value of the fare increasing its profitability or the agent may sell the tickets offering a slight discount to its customers and luring more customers in the bargain. Agency private fares are not offered to all the travel agencies and are limited mostly to big agencies with huge sales volume. The discount offered by the airline is upfront and can range from 2 to 30 per cent depending upon class off booking. Earlier this type of airfares was not uploaded on the GDS and had to be built manually by the travel agent as per fare data provided by the airline but nowadays these type of airfares are uploaded on GDS systems as well. Although private fare has sales restrictions and can be sold by certain travel agencies only but like published fare it can be used for anyone. Airlines do not sell these types of fares and hence cannot make any changes to the reservations which are made confirmed on private fares.

Corporate fare: – Corporate fare is the airfare which can be utilized by employees of a company who are on business travel. This type of airfare is offered to companies by an airline to increase its sales volume. Since business travel segment forms the majority of the passenger volume, the airline offers attractive corporate fares to companies trying to lure more travellers to use their airline over competing airlines. Apart from the discount in fares corporate airfares also offer additional benefits like free cancellations and changes, extra baggage allowance and at times free meals on board. Airline sales managers keep a keen eye on corporate companies and try to attract more travellers from an organization by offering corporate fares. A big corporation has a designated travel management company or a travel agent who usually arranges for all travel. The airline enters into a contract with the company directly instead of the agent however since the agent ultimately has to sell the tickets hence the fares are uploaded on the agents GDS through which the agent can pull up these fares by using a special command for the particular corporate. These type of fares are limited to employees of a particular corporation only and can be only utilized for companies business travel only.

Military fares:– An airline offers special discounts to military personnel. These types of fares are offered at a slight discount to the published fare. This type of fares can be sold by both the airline and the travel agent. The agent making a reservation has to price the reservation using a special command which puts in a designator in the fare specifying the fare was offered to military personnel. This type of fare has the same rules and regulations as a regularly published fare. Click on below link which will redirect you to one of the websites which focuses on military airfares.Click Here.

Student Fares: – This type of fare is offered to students visiting foreign countries to study abroad. The student fare is not offered by all airlines and may or may not offer a discount, however, a student fare allows excess baggage allowance which proves to be useful for a travelling student since the student traveller may have more baggage than a normal traveller. This type of fare is sold by both agent and the airline.

Seamen Fares: – A seamen fare is offered to seamen travellers who would be joining a ship or a vessel. This type of fare may be slightly expensive than the normal airfare but does offer benefits like extra baggage allowance (40kgs of cabin baggage) and free cancellations. Seamen fares are designed considering the uncertainty of the nature of travel and as such this type of fare offers free cancellations, changes and extra baggage allowance. The traveller utilizing this type of fare should have a CDC or a seamen’s book with him while travelling. This type of fare can be utilized only when the traveller would be joining a ship. An agent has to update details such as vessel number in the Special service request informing the airlines which ship the traveller would be joining. Seamen fare can be sold by both agent and the airline but there are special travel management companies who deal primarily with this type of travellers.

Offshore fare: – A Offshore fare is offered to passengers of an offshore oil drilling company. This type of fare is similar to seamen fare offering more baggage allowance and less restriction on cancellations and changes.

MCO: – MCO stands for miscellaneous charges and order.

MPD :- MPD stands for Multipurpose document. This is generally used by airline employees and travel agents when a fee needs to be collected which cannot be added to the main ticket cost. Nowadays Virtual MPD’s or EMD’s are issued instead of MPD’s.This type of document is generally issued for collecting excess baggage fees, reissue charges for certain airlines or a ancillary service,etc.

NUC: – NUC stands for Neutral unit of Construction. It is a unit created by IATA to facilitate fare construction so there would be uniformity in the rate used for deciding a airfare. US dollar is the universal currency and is considered as NUC while constructing a airfare.

No Show :- When a traveler /passenger fails to board the flight or does not cancel the reservation before designated time of boarding the flight it is termed as no-show. For eg :- Gates for all domestic flights close 30min prior to departure and if the passenger fails to reach the gate 30min prior to boarding he would be considered as no-show by the airline. In this scenario the passenger won’t be allowed to board the particular flight. As per normal fare rules most economy class airfares are non refundable in case of no-show and the passenger won’t get any refund in this case. Since its a revenue loss for the airline as the traveller did not reach in time and the airline would be unable to sell that particular seat. In case the passenger is able to cancel the reservation well before time (2-4hrs in case of most airlines) a refund will be processed for him after deducting the requisite cancellation charges and the airline is also able to resale the same space to another passenger. The no-show charges vary from airline to airline the class of service booked, etc.

(TIP: – If a traveler expects he would be possibly get delayed or late it would be ideal to cancel a reservation rather than letting it go as no show.)

 Open Ticket: – A ticket which is open dated is called as a open ticket. This type of ticket is not permitted anymore and cannot be issued. This type of ticket used to offer complete flexibility to the traveler where the traveler can choose to travel on his desired travel date on the particular airline which has issued the ticket. This ticket usually used to be expensive as they had to be issued on full fare economy fares published by IATA.

(TIP :- Though Open tickets have been abolished a person can have a choice of travelling on any date if he chooses a fully refundable fare which offers complete flexibility however this is always subject to availability of space on the flight. A traveler can ask for full fare economy class fare which is fully refundable in case of cancellations or no show. However the traveler has to specify a date at the time of booking. This type of ticket is valid for 1 year from the date of issuance. However before making a reservation one must make sure of no show clause as some airline do allow cancellations but do not permit no show.)

OTB :- OTB stands for Ok to Board. A OK to Board is a documentation process which all travelers from Indian subcontinent travelling to the middle eastern countries like UAE, Qatar,etc have to comply with. A copy of the visa and passport has to sent to the airlines who verify that the traveler has a valid visa and is ok to travel to the country. If the traveler does not comply with this regulation the airline can deny the passenger to board the plane even if the passenger has valid ticket, passport and visa. An OK to board has to be submitted at least 24 hours prior to departure and one has to see that the same is acknowledged.

.Overbooking: – Overbooking can be described as a condition when the airline miscalculates and books more passengers then the number of seats that are available. The airline space control team anticipates that certain number of reservations would be cancelled and hence to maximize profits a airline may overbook a flight. The space control check for the trends and analyses the data from previous years during the same time and also considers various current situations and comes to a conclusion as how to sell the flight to its maximum capacity. However there are chances wherein there may be a miscalculation. During such a situation the airline provides a free ticket on the next flight to the same destination and may also compensate in kind by upgrading or providing redeemable vouchers, lounge access, etc. This is a rarity and very few situations like this arise.

PAX: – A passenger in airline industry is known as a PAX.

Phonetic Alphabet: – Airline staff and travel agents use this method for clear communication over the phone. As per this method every alphabet is recognized by a word which makes it clear for the listener avoiding any mistakes which may occur due to varying accents and pronunciations. Especially for international travel it is compulsory that the name on the reservation has to be as per passport. Below we have listed all Phonetic Alphabets as per international standards.

ALPHA

BRAVO

CHARLIE

DELTA

ECHO

FOX-TROT

GOLF

HOTEL

INDIA

JULIET

KILO

LIMA

MIKE

NOVEMBER

OSCAR

PAPA

QUEBEC

ROMEO

SIERRA

TANGO

UNIFORM

VICTOR

WHISKEY

X-RAY

YANKEE

ZULU

( TIP :- The airline employees use Phonetic alphabets for spelling out a name or a PNR for e.g. :- Suppose Name of a traveller is John Adams which would be spelt by a airline staff as J as in Juliet, O as in Oscar, H is in Hotel, N is November. Last name A as in Alpha, D as in Delta, A as in Alpha again, M as in Mike, S as in Sierra. Similarly if a PNR for a reservation is 5QJ3TM would be spelt as Number 5, Q as in Quebec, J as in Juliet, Number 3, T as in Tango and M as in Mike)

PNR: – PNR stands for passenger name and reservation. A PNR is a booking file made on the CRS which contains all details of the traveler like name, phone number, email address, itinerary, ticket number, frequent flyer number and record locator or reservation code. A PNR is a 6 digit or a 5 digit alpha numeric code generated by the reservation system which acts as a reference for all the information stored in the reservation system. Once all the information is fed into the system the system makes a tentative booking and provides the PNR number. This reservation is not confirmed until and unless a ticket has been issued for the reservation. Till a ticket is issued the reservation is only on hold and not confirmed. The reservation systems nowadays are also connected to the airline website through which a passenger can have access to a particular reservation and can make requisite changes as and when required.

Illustration

(TIP :- The Basic elements for creating a PNR are Phone field ,Reference field or received from (who has asked to make the reservation), Itinerary, Name Field and Ticketing time limit (as to when the reservation will be ticketed).All these 5 Elements “PRINT” together make a PNR.)

Revalidation: – Revalidation can be termed as validating the ticket by the airline for re-usage. A revalidation may take place due to voluntary or involuntary reasons. The airline revalidates a ticket when due to certain reason a flight has been cancelled or delayed and the traveller is shifted to another flight on same day or next day. In such a situation the airline simply revalidates the ticket as per new itinerary instead of reissuing the ticket. Earlier the airline used to apply a sticker on the paper ticket as form of revalidation however now one can revalidate the ticket on GDS itself. A travel agent is also permitted to revalidate a ticket which has been issued by the same travel agency. The major difference between a reissue and revalidation is that there can be no alteration to origin point, destination, stopover points or fare. If a change is required due to change in destination then one has to reissue a ticket instead of revalidating the same. Please note very few airlines allow revalidating of a ticket depending upon fare, class of travel, etc.

Waitlist: – When a reservation is not confirmed due to non availability and is on standby list it is termed as a Waitlist reservation. This type of reservation is not confirmed but can possibly be confirmed in case a availability opens up upon cancellation of other reservation on the same flight. Airlines allow waitlist reservations free of cost and do not charge a cancellation fee for cancelling a waitlist reservation.

(TIP: – Adding a frequent flyer number to a waitlist reservation can help in confirming a reservation. If the traveller is a frequent flyer with a airline the airline would provide preference to such travellers.)

What is ETA/ETD ? 

 ETA stands for Estimated time of arrival and ETD stands for Estimated time of departure. All airlines leave on specified times, however, there may be delays at the time due to technical difficulties or inclement weather, etc. An airline gives an estimated time which is called as estimated time of arrival when arriving to a certain place or an estimated time of departure when the flight will take off.

What is a airline Flight number ?

 A flight number is a 3 digit or a 4 digit number assigned to a particular flight departing from one point to another. A flight number is assigned in conjunction with the airline code as airlines may have the same flight numbers. For eg :- UA 544 and AA 544 may have the same flight number but are operated by different airlines and on different routes. Hence to avoid confusion the flight number is always displayed in conjunction with the airline code. A flight number which has 3 digits denotes its a pure flight meaning it is operated by the same airline through which you have purchased the ticket. A flight number which has 4 digits denotes it may be a flight which is operated by a partner airline.

What is a Domestic flight ? 

When a flight or airline operates only within borders of a certain country it is termed as a domestic flight. For eg:- Go air operating within India or Great lakes airlines operating within the US.

What is a Charter Flight ? 

 A charter is a private airline service which has a limited number of seats and offers more comfort and service. Some of the big multinational corporation have their own charter planes for their Executives as time is of utmost importance for high level executives. On a charter flight, one does not have to go through check in procedure or have to wait for a flight to take off as scheduled. A charter flight is comparatively smaller compared to a commercial aircraft. Embraer jet is one of the most commonly used aircraft’s by charter flight companies and most corporate houses.

What is a Black box ?

 A block box is a flight recorder normally it is orange in colour and is placed in the front of the aircraft. Its main purpose is to record data in order to assist the aircraft investigation team in event of an unforseen accident.

What does a carrier refer to in travel / airline industry ?

 An airline is commonly known as carrier in airline and travel industry. Every airline has a two letter code also known as carrier code.For eg :- United Airline is denoted as UA, Southwest is Denoted as WN,Jet blue is denoted as B6, etc.

What is meant by Configuration in Airline Industry ? 

Configuration, when referred in context to an airline, applies to the configuration of seating on an aircraft. An aircraft may have different configurations like 3-4-3 or 3-3 or 2-2, etc. For eg:- When an airline employee says that the plane has 3-4-3 configuration it means there are 3 seats on the left 4 seats in the middle and 3 seats on the right of the aircraft.

What is a Code Share flight ?

 A codeshare flight is a flight which is operated by the partner airline of the airline through which you have purchased the ticket. A codeshare flight is denoted by four digits and a flight operated by the ticketing airline itself bears a three digit number. Lufthansa and United are partner airline and have mutually agreed to fly passengers on respective airlines to destinations which one of them do not operate to. For e.g. :- A traveller has booked a ticket on Lufthansa for his travel from Frankfurt to Cedar Rapids, IA since Lufthansa has flights till New York the connecting flight from New York to cedar rapids would be on a United Airlines flight which would be considered as the codeshare flight for Lufthansa. The Flight number for Flight from Frankfurt to New York would be LH 400 whereas the flight number for a flight from New York to Cedar Rapids would be LH 5491

What is a connecting flight ?

  A travel itinerary may compromise of more than one flight. If a passenger has a long travel itinerary or if there are no nonstop flights to a particular destination he may have to get off from one flight and catch another flight to get to his destination. For eg:- If a traveller travelling from London to New Orleans has a flight on United via Newark.I n this scenario, the traveller has two flights one across the Atlantic from London to Newark and another from Newark to New Orleans. The traveller has to get down at Newark airport and get a connecting flight from Newark to New Orleans. While selecting a connecting flight one must ensure there is enough time to catch the connecting flight. Below are two types of connecting flights.

What is meant by an online connection in airline industry ?

 When a traveller has a connecting flight on the same airline then such connection is termed as an online connection. The minimum time required to connect a flight on the same airline may be less as this type of connection is normally determined by the airline itself and there is a high possibility that the arriving flight and departing flight would be on the same terminal or gate area allowing the travellers to catch a connecting flight swiftly. The airline would also take responsibility in case the arriving flight is delayed due to a certain reason and would possibly delay the connecting flight to a certain extent so the passengers would not miss the connection. Hence it would be advisable to travel on flights with an online connection where ever possible.

(TIP :- There are exceptions to this type of connection although both the flights are operated by the same airline. The exception is noted when there are multiple airports serving the same city. For eg :- British Airways offers flight to Jersey from Gatwick airport but major international flights arrive into London Heathrow airport. Although the connecting flight is on the same airline since these are two different airports this does not qualify as an online connection.)

What is meant by an Interline connection in Airline Industry ?

  A interline connection occurs when a traveller has a connecting flight on a different airline. An interline connection may or may not be in the same terminal or gate area. If you see that one ticket has been issued for both arriving and connecting flight it means that the airlines have an interline agreement between them. This would facilitate smooth transfer from one flight to another. Although the Airline may have an interline agreement with the connecting airline and a common ticket may be issued for both the airlines. However, in case of delay of the arriving flights, the connecting flight won’t be delayed but the airline which has issued a ticket to you would make alternate arrangements and book you on the next flight with its partner airline or any other airline depending upon the situation.  However, in case, two separate tickets are issued by a travel agent the connecting airline and airline on which ticket is issued will not be liable for anything since the connection is determined by a travel agent and the traveller itself as per their preference.

(TIP :- When you have two separate tickets issued on connecting flights it is advisable to have enough layover which would cover time in case there is a delay in the arriving flight.)

What is a full service airline ?

  A full-service airline is a term coined for traditional airlines offering all services on board like meals, seats and baggage in the cost of the ticket unlike the modern low-cost airlines which have an option for adding meals, costs for requesting seats and at times cost for check-in baggage. Some Low-cost airlines also charge for cabin baggage and faster check-in or web check-in. Full-service airlines also have a frequent flyer program in conjunction with airline alliances like star alliance or one world and travellers can avail miles or can use miles for travel on partner airlines. Most full-service airlines nowadays are following the business model of low-cost carriers due to tough competition from low-cost carriers. Especially in the US and Europe low-cost carriers and full-service carriers offer almost the same level of service since the full-service carriers have stopped free meals on board and have also started charging for check-in bags and preferred seats.

Gateway city: – A gateway city is the first city or first point through which a traveller enters a country. For eg:- A traveller travelling to Denver via Newark. His first point of entry is Newark which also becomes the gateway city.

GSA: – GSA stands for General Sales Agent, A General Sales Agent is an appointed representative for an airline, hotel, car rental, etc in absence of the organization in that country or city. For Eg:- A travel agency representing a particular airline in a city and acting as their city office for all its customers.

Ground staff:-The airline staff working at the airport facilitating ground operations like security, check in or passenger assistance is known as ground staff.

Jet stream :- Jet streams are air currents found in earth’s atmosphere. All Air travel is influenced by jet streams as all flights use jet streams to cut travel time. This a question which a travel professional would come across at least once in his carrier as why his flight when travelling in the direction from east to west took more time as compared to his flight from west to east. This happens because all flights take advantage of the jet stream which flows in the direction of west to east which propels the aircraft further as opposed to when travelling from east to west the flight has to go against the jet stream. Hence when travelling from west to east the travel time is significantly reduced as compared to when travelling in the other direction.

LCC :- LCC is acronym for Low cost Carrier also know as no frills airline or budget airline. These types of airlines are becoming common today owing to heavy competition in airline industry. This type of airlines offer lower fares and fewer comforts when compared to a traditional full service airline. They operate on a business model making maximum cost savings and providing lower air fares. Though a low cost airline offers decreased ticket prices they charge for all ancillary services like seating, baggage and meals on board which are generally included in the ticket price. Some low cost airlines operate at airports which charge fewer taxes and which have less traffic which would considerably save parking charges and fuel charges. Most low cost carriers sell their tickets online only and thus saving on GDS costs as well. Due to increased competition in airline industry more and more airlines are following this model. Some of the more popular Low cost airlines are Air Asia in South east asia,Ryan air and Easy jet operating in Europe,Indigo,Go air and spice jet in India and Southwest airlines operating in the US which is also the world’s biggest operating low cost carrier. Low cost Carriers have made air travel a lot cheaper and accessible to the common public and are possibly the way forward and future of airline industry.

(TIP :- Travelling to the US one can opt for a airline like Southwest which is not only cost effective but also provides 2 pieces of free baggage for domestic travel unlike all other airlines operating within the US which charge for baggage fees. However one needs to take a note as some of the flights operating don’t operate from a city’s primary airport. Like Southwest in Houston operates from Houston Hobby Airport (HOU) instead of George Bush (IAH) from where all major flights operate.)

42.Layover /Transit Time: – Layover is also known as transit time. The time between two connecting flights is termed as layover in airline industry. A minimum connecting time is the minimum time required as per airline and airport authority to connect at flight at a particular airport, whereas a layover is the actual amount of time a traveler spends at the airport between connecting flights. A minimum connecting time has specified times whereas a layover can be anything equal to or more than the minimum connecting time. A layover for a flight can be 45min or 2hrs and 45 min or 8hrs depending upon how a itinerary is constructed. It would be ideal to have enough layover time so the traveler would have appropriate time to catch a connecting flight and at the same time one has to ensure that the traveler does not have to spend unnecessary time at the airport. For eg :- If minimum connecting for a domestic flight is 30min it would be ideal to have a layover of a 1 hour 15 min to a hour.

43.Lounge (airline lounge) :- An airline lounge is a additional service which is provided to first and business class travelers and travelers who hold a elite frequent flyer membership with a airline. The airline lounge is located inside a airport terminal itself where travelers are provided with better seating (reclining), quieter environments, massagers, WiFi, showers, sleeping rooms and at times a free beverage or a small meal during their halt or waiting time at the airport. All airline lounges are serviced by attendants who cater to your needs during your transit or wait time at the airport. Even though you have not bought a business or first class ticket or do not have a higher frequent flyer membership you can still purchase a pass for the lounge by paying a nominal fee. However this may not be available for at all the airports. We have found a website which helps you in booking a lounge. Click on below link to find out more.

Click Here

44.Loading Bridge :- Loading bridge is an enclosed, movable connector which connects an airport terminal gate to an airplane, it is also called as aerobridge or sky bridge.

45.Meal Plan (airline meal plan):-An Airline meal is a meal served to passengers on board on a commercial flight. Airline meals are prepared by professional catering companies which are owned by the airline they or by a catering company. Meals  served on board on all full service airlines are free of cost and are part of ticket cost however low cost airlines charge for any meals on board. Generally across the globe very few airlines offer meals on Domestic flights operating within a countries boundary however there are airlines operating in Asian countries which still offer free meals on board on major domestic flights. Meals are normally offered on all international flights as most of the international flights have travel time beyond 2 hours however many low cost airlines provide a option to purchase a meal online or on board rather than including it in the ticket cost.

The meal plan depends mainly on duration of the flight, if the flight is a short flight for 2 hours or less a small snack and a drink would be provided and in case if it’s a long flight for more than 5 hours full fledged meals are provided to passengers on board and a meal plan is prepared which may include a 3 course meal or a two course meal depending upon the duration. If the flight is beyond 15 hours there would be multiple meals served on board for long haul flights. Apart from this the airline also takes care of any special meal requirements like infant meals for infants, child meal for children or special medical meals like diabetic meals,etc however such requests must be made well in advance to the airline. Below we are listing all major meal codes which airline uses for requesting meals.

AVML – Asian Vegetarian Meal

BBML – Baby Meal

CAKE – Birthday Cake (onScandinavian airlines only)

BLML – Bland Meal

CHML – Children Meal

CLML – Celebration Cake Meal

DBML – Diabetic Meal

FPML – Fruit Platter Meal

GFML – Gluten Intolerant Meal

HFML – High Fibre Meal

HNML – Hindu Non-Vegetarian Meal

OBML – Japanese Obento Meal (onUnited Airlines)

JPML – Japanese Meal (onJapan Airlines)

JNML – Junior Meal

KSML – Kosher Meal

KSMLS – Kosher Meal (Snack)

LCML – Low Calorie Meal

LFML – Low Fat Meal

NBML – No Beef Meal (onChina Airlines)

NFML – No Fish Meal (onLufthansa)

NLML – No Lactose Meal

LPML – Low Protein Meal

PRML – Low Purin Meal

LSML – Low Salt Meal

MOML – Muslim Meal

ORML – Oriental Meal

PFML – Peanut Free Meal

RFML – Refugee Meal (onUnited Airlines)

SFML – Seafood Meal

SPML – Special Meal, Specify Food

VJML – Vegetarian Jain Meal

VLML – Vegetarian Lacto-ovo Meal

VOML – Vegetarian Oriental Meal

RVML – Vegetarian Raw Meal

VVML – Vegetarian Vegan Meal (some airlines require VGML)

(Tip: – All meals have to be requested 24hrs prior to departure. Special meal requests like diabetic meal or low cal meal may require early requests as early as 48hrs prior to departure.)

MCT :- MCT stands for Minimum connecting time. It is the minimum time required to catch a connecting flight. Minimum Connecting timeis the amount of transfer time, agreed in advance between airlines and airport authorities, that is considered sufficient for a passenger to make a connection between an arriving flight and a departing flight. The minimum connecting time for a flight varies from airport to airport.MCT for a international flight is always more compared to a domestic flight as a traveler may have to go through immigration formalities and extended baggage screening. While booking a multi city itinerary for a passenger a agent must ensure MCT for all connecting flights is met with and should preferably leave extra time for a connecting flight so   the passenger does not miss a connecting onward flight.

(TIP :- If you have a traveler travelling to the US and his first gateway city is New York and has a connecting flight from New York to Charlotte. Ensure that the traveler has enough time in new York as this will be his gateway city (first point) where he will have to go through immigration process hence it is essential to give the traveler at least 2 hrs or more considering the number of travelers visiting new York and possibly the traveler may face long immigration queues at the airport. The minimum connecting time in New York is 2hrs however this just may not be sufficient enough since the traveler has to go through immigration and has to remove his baggage for screening purposes at the first point of contact when entering the US. It would be ideal to reserve a connecting flight with a layover of more than 2hrs for such itineraries.)

Nonstop flight/Direct flight:- When a flight does not take a stop and travels direct to its destination is termed as a nonstop flight. Some flights at times halt to board more passengers. For eg :- Air India flight from Bombay to Newark,NJ is a non-stop flight without any stops and Air India flight from Bombay to New York (JFK) takes a halt in Delhi. Both flights technically are non stop flights since both of these flights do not change air crafts.Hence it is advisable to check the itinerary carefully before booking such flights.

Runway: – A runway or runway strip can be simply described as a road or a path from where a flight takes off or lands. According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a runway is a “defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and takeoff of aircraft”. Runways may be a man-made surface (often asphalt, concrete, or a mixture of both) or a natural surface (grass, dirt, gravel, ice, or salt).

• Seating :- The process of designating or assigning a seat for a flight reservation is termed as seating. Seating may not seem important however there are many travellers who are particular about seating and prefer particular seats on a aircraft. An aircraft is divided into First, business and Economy cabins and every cabin has a number of seats which have a designated seat number. For e.g. :- Economy class seats on Boeing 737 are divided into columns of 6 i.e : – A,B,C and D,E,F, Since the economy cabin starts from seat no 14 the seat will be 14A and next to it would be 14B and so forth.  Although majority of seats in economy cabin on an aircraft are almost similar however there are certain seats which offer extra leg space or there are preferable seats like the first row seat or exit row seats, etc. Owing to competition in the industry the airlines have started charging extra money for preferred seating. Nowadays only a few free aisle seats and window seats are made available and one has to pay for the preferred seat or the airline would assign a seat randomly at the time of boarding as per availability. For Many low cost airlines and full service airlines preferred seating provides value able extra profits and hence they do not even display a seat map prior confirming a ticket.

Generic Seating codes

NW-Non smoking window

NA-Non smoking aisle.

Below is a website which would assist you on seating and will provide you value able information on the subject.

https://www.seatguru.com/

• Stand By: – A stand by refers to passenger who is on waitlist and would be confirmed only upon cancellation or only when all passengers have boarded the aircraft. A stand by ticket is provided to airline staff since it is not a revenue reservation it is the last reservation which is confirmed by the airline, post confirming waitlisted travellers if any.

• Stopover: – A stopover can be described as a stop or a halt in your journey when travelling from one point to another. However as per airline rules and regulations a stopover is defined depending upon various conditions such as time of stoppage, the country where the stop is taken, etc. When travelling domestically a 45 min layover can also be called as a stop however technically this does not classify as a stopover. When travelling internationally normally when an itinerary has a change of flight with a connecting flight on the same day or within 24 hours it is termed as transit and not a stopover, most of countries do not ask for a transit visa when a traveller has a immediate connecting flight within 24hours however some countries do require a transit visa depending upon your nationality. When the layover time between the flight is beyond 24hours it is termed as a stopover and the traveller may need a transit visa in such circumstances depending upon country to country and travellers nationality. Please note there are exception to this rule as there are certain countries where if the layover time between the immediate connecting flights exceeds 8 hours or 12 hours are considered as stopover and requires visa. Hence a agent has to carefully check for required documentation before confirming a itinerary.

• Take off: – When the flight goes air bone it is called as a take off.

• Taxi :- An aircraft upon landing or when stationary has to be transported till the runway. A small vehicle is used to pull the aircraft and take it near the runway and this is called as taxiing. This is done as aircraft wheels do not have a motor and are practically immovable on ground without thrust.

• Tarmac: – A tarmac is the surface or the area from where the aircraft takes off or lands.

• Terminal (airport terminal) :- An airport terminal is a building or complex of buildings at the airport from where passengers embark, disembark or transit for their flights. The terminal is operated by the airport authority or a organization which is appointed to run the airport operations. The airline employees serving at the airport terminal are called as airline ground staff. The terminal has various areas within the building like transit area, baggage claim area, check in counters, airport lounge, immigration counters, etc. Terminal buildings are well designed and mostly use easy and convenient signage in local and English language so people from various backgrounds and cultures can easily navigate through the airport. An airport may have more than one terminal depending upon the number of passengers it caters to. Each terminal building complex has different gates where flights arrive. The airline staffs are stationed in front of the gate where the flight arrives. Then the gate is connected to a sky bridge once the flight is parked and ready for boarding. Normally domestic terminals and international terminals are separated at the airport to avoid confusion among passengers. Each terminal serves numerous airlines however there are certain airports which have a terminal dedicated to a particular airline, like their national airline for that country. For e.g. :- The Terminal 3 at Dubai airport primarily caters only to Emirates flights and Terminal 5 at London’s Heathrow airport is dedicated to British Airways.

Turbulence :- When a flight encounters inclement weather it is termed as turbulence.

In this blog we have tried to explain you on various airline alliances and benefits of creating a frequent flyer account. We have answered some of the most commonly asked questions on frequent flyer programs and how you can reap benefits of using a frequent flyer program.

What is star alliance or skyteam alliance ? 

An airline alliance is an agreement between two or more airlines who have mutually agreed to cooperate with each other on various services rendered by them enabling them to operate more efficiently and at the same time reducing costs and providing additional benefits to its passengers. Currently, there are 6 airline alliances which are Star Alliance, One world, Sky team, Vanilla alliance, Value alliance, and U-Fly alliance. Star Alliance, One world and Sky team are the biggest airline alliances. The member airlines of these alliances help each other by agreeing upon codeshare flights, frequent flier program( For e.g. :- Frequent flier points can be accrued when a passenger travels with an airline within the alliance),  use of airport lounges, through check in on partner airlines, through baggage with partner airlines, etc. By entering an alliance the airline also subsequently adds more destinations for its travelers and possibly more frequent flier points for its customers. Points on partner airlines can be claimed under one frequent flyer program which also subsequently helps in faster membership upgrade (e.g.:- from silver to gold status). Below are links to websites of major airlines alliances we recommend you to go through their websites for better understanding of each airline alliance.

Star Alliance

Sky Team

One World 

What is a frequent flyer program// do airlines operate a loyal program for travelers ? What are benefits of frequent flyer programs ?

 A frequent flyer program is a membership program operated by an airline for all travellers. All Major airlines operate a frequent flyer program for its travellers. There is no membership cost for a frequent flyer program and anyone can become a member. The frequent flyer programs work on a point system where travellers are awarded points for travelling on a particular airline. A point is rewarded for every dollar spent or every mile flew depending upon the airline’s mileage system of calculating frequent flyer points. Business class reservations, premium economy class reservations and first class reservations fetch more points as compared to economy class reservations. More the traveller uses a certain airline more frequent flyer miles get accumulated in his frequent flyer account. This points can be redeemed by the traveller for free tickets, upgrades, etc. All frequent flyer programs operate on a tier system the number of points one accumulates the status of the frequent flyer becomes higher. For eg:- A traveller who has just entered the membership program will have a blue card which will get upgraded to a silver card once he accumulates a certain number of miles (say 100,000 miles) and likewise the status will keep on changing as much as miles one accumulates.

There are a number of benefits which one can reap from entering a frequent flyer program with an airline. Below we have listed some of the benefits.

1.Priority Waitlist.

2.Priority Boarding for Elite Members.

3.Guaranteed seats or free seats with extra space for Elite Members.

4.Excess baggage allowance for Gold or Elite members.

5.Access to lounges at all major airports worldwide.

6.Free upgrades and upgrades using miles.

7.Free tickets using miles.

8.Discounts at restaurants.

9.Shopping cards or gift cards.

All airlines nowadays have also partnered with other airlines, hotel and car rental companies and many other organizations and restaurants so the travellers can accrue more points when a purchase is made with companies which are part of the program. Earlier frequent flyer clubs were only limited to full-service airlines however in today’s world even low-cost carriers like Southwest have a well established frequent flyer program.

(TIP :- Today all major airlines are part of alliances which offer frequent flyer miles for travelling on partner airlines as well. Star Alliance, Skyteam and One world are one of the biggest alliances. If a traveler is frequent flyer with star alliance airline (for eg :- United ) you can ensure that all his subsequent flights can be possibly booked on same airline or partner airline which is part of the alliance so as the traveller can accrue maximum points for his travel which would get accumulated in one frequent flyer account which would enable him to reap maximum benefits.)

What do you mean by upgrade in air travel ? 

When a traveller is bumped to a higher cabin class it is called as upgrade. An upgrade is when a passenger is shifted from economy cabin to business class cabin or from business cabin to first class cabin. An upgrade is normally provided to travellers who are part of frequent flyer programs with a airline.An upgrade can be a free upgrade or a upgrade utilizing frequent flyer miles.

What is free upgrade? // Do airlines upgrade free of cost from economy to business ? 

When a passenger gets upgraded free of cost from one cabin class to the higher cabin class without any cost or without utilizing his frequent flyer miles it is termed as free upgrade. This type of upgrade is possible only when the traveller is a known frequent flyer having a gold or platinum status. In a scenario when the seats possibly would go vacant in a business class cabin the airline may decide to upgrade the reservation of economy class traveller to business class free of charge as a complimentary gesture owing to his customer loyalty. This possibly takes place more at the airport itself when some seats are vacant.

How to upgrade my ticket to business class without paying the extra cost ? // How to upgrade using miles ?

 When a passenger wants to voluntarily upgrade his reservation he can do so either by paying the extra cost or utilizing his frequent flyer miles which he has accumulated over time. This is one of the major benefits of frequent flyer membership wherein the members get upgraded to a higher cabin class using their frequent flyer miles without any cost. However most airlines have only a certain number of seats allotted for a upgrade and once this seats are exhausted the traveller has to pay any additional charges that may apply.

(TIP :- Choosing a flight during non peak hours increases the chances of upgrades as the seats during non peak hours possibly would go vacant)

What is chauffeur service on emirates?

A chauffeur service is a car service offered by some airlines for business and first class passengers as a complimentary pick up and drop off from their designated address. The passenger needs to request for the chauffeur service at least 24 hours prior to departure. Emirates and Etihad airlines are some of the major airlines currently offering chauffeur service for its business class passengers.

If you have any further questions which need to be answered do let us know, email us at admin@talearnings.com or message us on our facebook page.

How to Check In for a flight ? 

Check in is the procedure of confirming your attendance for your flight. By checking in one ensures that the traveller will be on board and will be taking the flight. Once the check-in process is completed the airline staff provides a card called as a boarding card which provides information like your seat number, the gate number where the flight will arrive,etc. Below we will discuss check in process step by step in brief.

1.Once you reach the airport well in time for your flight locate the airline counter for your flight.

2.Upon locating the airline counter see if the check in for your flight has commenced or not which will be displayed on the screen beside each counter.

3.Once you queue up for checking in ensure you have all required documents like passport, visa, and a copy of your ticket or e-boarding pass handy.

The airline agent will look up for your reservation on the system and may ask for your meal preference or seat preference if the same has not been assigned as yet.

4. Post this you have to place your check-in bag (big bag which goes inside the aircraft) on the ramp beside the counter. The Machine will weigh your bag and the airline representative will tag your baggage.

5. Once the bag is weighed the airline employee will give you a boarding card and baggage tags which are normally pasted on the back of your boarding card. Some airlines also provide you tags for your cabin baggage. You have to tag your cabin baggage personally and fill in required information like your name, contact number and flight number.

Nowadays airlines have started self-check-in kiosks at the airport facilitating a faster check-in process. One can also check in for flights online by doing a web check-in or a mobile check-in which fastens the check in procedure and traveller just has to drop their bags at baggage drop.

What is a baggage tag?  

A baggage tag is a sticker which is attached to your bag by the airline employee which identifies your baggage. Every airline has a different baggage tag specifying passengers name, flight number, PNR and a barcode. Earlier bags used to be the segregated basis of names on tags alone however nowadays due to advancement in technology a bar code differentiates every bag and is sorted accordingly. When a passenger checks in for a flight the airline employee tags the bag and puts a sticker on the back of the boarding card which is acts as a receipt for your baggage. In event of lost baggage this proves to be influential and hence it is necessary to keep it safe. A cabin bag is simply tagged with a normal tag or a sticker which a passenger himself has to fill in. The airport security screens this bag as well and stamps the tag post-screening.

What is a Boarding card /Boarding pass?

 A boarding card or boarding pass is a card which the airline employee provides to the passenger upon checking in him for the flight. A boarding card confirms that the traveller will be on board for the flight. A boarding card shows travellers name the record locator, seat number, ticket number, gate number, class of cabin, etc.

 illustration

What is Baggage allowance ? What is baggage allowance in airline? 

 Baggage allowance is the amount of luggage that an airline allows a traveler to carry for its travel. Every airline has a restriction on amount of luggage a traveler can carry. Baggage allowance can be classified as carry on baggage and checked in baggage.

Cabin Baggage/Carry on baggage/Hand Baggage:-  Carry on baggage or cabin baggage is the baggage which a passenger is allowed to carry on the aircraft or cabin which can be stored in the overhead bin. All major airlines allow cabin baggage free of charge, however, there are certain rules that need to be followed. A cabin bag should not weigh more than 7kgs in weight and should be as per specified dimension by the airline. For eg:- Emirates allows 1 cabin bag weighing up to 7kgs of weight however it should be as per the following dimension  55 x 38 x 20 (length+width+height). Some airlines also allow you to carry a personal item on board apart from this allowance like a laptop or a small bag, however, this is complete as per airline regulations. Hence before your flight, you can always check for baggage rules on the airline website. Besides these regulations Cabin baggage has also a restriction on carrying Liquids, gels or flammable objects. Essential things like medicine may require a prescription and policies vary from airline to airline.

 Checked Baggage/Tagged Baggage:-

Checked baggage is baggage allowance which is checked in and is stored in the luggage compartment of the aircraft. Checked baggage is of two types depending on which type of baggage policy the airline adopts.

1.Piece concept: –A piece concept allows a traveller to carry a piece of luggage as per specified dimensions, weight and size. As per this concept a piece can be defined as a bag which weighs not more than 23kgs or 50 pounds and should be not more than 62 inches or 158 centimetres in dimension(length+width+height) .(**However please note the dimensions and weight mentioned may vary from airline to airline. ).Some airlines offer one piece of luggage while others offer 2 piece however it is important to check for specified dimensions as well.   A traveller has to abide by these regulations else the airline will consider it as excess baggage. In an event when the bags are over permissible weight limit or do not meet the set parameters in such a case the passenger is liable to pay a excess baggage fee. Some of major airlines today allow purchasing excess baggage online. If a traveler is aware about baggage policy but has a excess baggage and wants to carry the same he can choose to purchase excess luggage allowance online or at the airport, however pre paying for baggage online costs less. Currently all airlines do not have this facility but major airlines do allow to purchase excess baggage allowance.

 (TIP:- None of the airlines in the US allow for free baggage allowance for domestic travel (within the us) except for South west airlines and Jet blue. All airlines charge a fee for checked bag first piece of luggage will cost $25 and second piece $ 35, only carry on bag is free of charge, however some low cost airlines do charge for cabin bags as well. )

2.Weight concept: – This type of baggage policy has no restrictions on dimensions but has restriction on weight. As per this policy a traveller is allowed to carry a bag weighing a certain amount as per baggage policy as checked baggage. If the weight of the bag exceeds specified limit the traveller is liable to pay for excess baggage. Most airlines allows two bags however a single bag should not exceed 32kgs .In case when the bag weighs more than the allowance excess baggage fees apply. As per IATA regulation excess baggage is calculates as 1.5 percent of the full fare economy fare for each kg of excess baggage. The airline will charge for a minimum of 6kgs of excess baggage. What this means is even though passenger has 3kgs or 6kgs of excess baggage he will be charged for 6kgs as per rule. Below we shall explain the calculation in brief.

Baggage allowance for BOM-SIN is 20 kgs however it is found that the passenger has 3 kgs of excess baggage. The Calculation as per IATA regulation will be as per below.

Y class fare for same flight is $500.

Hence $500 x 1.5% = $ 7.5

That is $ 7.5 for each kg of excess baggage.

However the minimum excess baggage allowed is for 6kg.

Hence $7.5 x 6= $ 45 even though there is only 3kgs of excess baggage.

In case it is found that the excess baggage is 9kgs it would be $ 7.5 x 9 = $ 67.50.

Above calculation applies only for international flights as per IATA regulation. However all major airlines now follow a different way for calculating excess baggage which is relatively cheaper than above method. All major airlines have a chart on their website displaying exact charges for excess baggage.

(TIP: – In case more than 1 passenger is travelling you can ask the airline to pool the bags in case baggage for one person is more than other. However a single bag should not weigh more than 32kgs of weight.)

Who is considered as a child passenger ?

As per airline regulations a traveler who is older than 2 years old but younger than years old is termed as a child. A child passenger is eligible for a 25 percent discount on a normal fare however this discount may not apply on saver fares and rules may vary from airline to airline.

(Tip:- A child fare is offered only by full service airlines and mostly only on international routes. A low cost airline like Southwest or Ryan air or easy jet does not offer child fares, although they do offer infant fares.)

At what age is a passenger considered as an Adult by an airline ?

As per airline regulation any person who is 12 years or older is termed as an adult and a normal adult fare shall be charged for such a passenger.

Between what age is a passenger considered as an infant by an airline ? 

A traveler between 0 to 2 years of age is termed as an infant traveler. An infant traveler has to pay only 10 percent of the fare and taxes as applicable. Some domestic airlines allow infant travelers to travel free. An infant traveler does not hold a seat however the airlines do provide for a bassinet upon request. An infant traveler when traveling internationally is also allowed baggage up to 10 kgs as check in baggage.

(TIP: – In case a traveler wants an infant to be seated he can purchase a child ticket instead of an infant ticket which allows a seat. However one must ensure to update meal preference as infant meal instead of child meal)

What is meant by a Transit passenger ?

 A transit passenger is a passenger who has a connecting flight to a destination on the same day or next day. When a traveler has a long itinerary and has to get multiple flights to reach a destination then the traveler may have to transit through several airports and countries. A transiting passenger can wait in the transit area at the airport until his scheduled connecting flight is ready for boarding. It may happen that the connecting flight would be after 5 or 6 hours and during this time the traveler will have to wait in the transit area. If the transit time is beyond 6 to 8 hours the passenger can choose to buy a lounge pass or can stay at a transit hotel within the terminal building or close by to the airport. A transiting passenger at times may require a visa when the transit time is more than 24 hours however in case the delay is on account of a missed connection due to weather or technical difficulty then it would be considered as an exception. Today there are airports like the Dubai airport or Singapore’s changi airport which provide many amenities for transiting passengers like duty free shopping, massagers, restaurants, fast food chain restaurants, etc. Singapore’s changi airport even boasts a theater and a small amusement park for its transiting passengers.

http://www.worldairportawards.com/awards/world_airport_rating.html

What do you mean by an Unaccompanied minor ?

A traveler below 18 years of age who is not accompanied by an adult is termed as an unaccompanied minor as per airline rules. As per airline rules all travelers below 18 years of age have to be accompanied by an adult traveler, In the event when a minor is traveling alone the airline asks for the parent or legal guardian to fill out a form called as UMNR form which is a undertaking indemnifying the airline and authorizing a person to meet the child upon arrival. Airlines normally charge a fee for unaccompanied minors and rules on UMNR vary from airline to airline. However it is advised to verify all details like connecting flights, layovers, code share flights etc while making a reservation for such a passenger.

Do airlines provide assistance for wheelchair passengers ? How to request a Wheelchair ?

Travelers who have physical disability or have a current medical condition due to which they require assistance for boarding the flight are provided with special assistance and such passengers are termed as wheelchair passengers as per travel terminology. There are travelers with permanent physical condition and there are travelers who have a current medical condition for which they are being treated for. Under the second circumstance the passenger needs to obtain a prior certificate from a doctor authorizing him to travel. The traveler has to submit this certificate to the airline and has to notify the exact cause of illness so proper care can be taken by the crew when on board. As part of assisting the ailing travelers the airline provides them wheelchairs so such travelers can be escorted to their seats or ramp as per requirement.

WCHR :- Passengers requiring assistance till the aircraft by wheelchair but are able to move to their seat and cabin without any assistance are known as WCHR or Wheelchair assistance till ramp.

WCHC :- Passengers who are unable to use aircraft steps but are able to walk up their seats are known as WCHC or wheelchair till cabin.

WCHS :- Passengers who are completely immobile and cannot move till their seat are provided special assistance and escorted and seated till the seat. Such passengers are termed as WCHS or wheelchair till seat.

It is mandatory to intimate the airline at least 24 hrs prior to the flight in case of such passengers and the airline sends out a confirmation when necessary arrangements are made.

What are Stretcher case passengers and what is the process to reserve a stretcher case in event of a medical condition ?

When a traveler is bed ridden due to certain sickness or a severe medical condition and cannot be seated then a stretcher case has to be booked for such a traveler. A stretcher case passenger is allowed only post acquiring medical clearance and a doctor or paramedical needs to accompany such a passenger on their journey. Stretcher case passengers need to pay 3 to 7 times of full fare economy class fare (highest economy) as per rule. Most of the airlines do not allow personal oxygen cylinders on board however the airline would provide for the same with additional charges as per rules. Check in baggage allowance for such a passenger is 6 times of a normal economy class passenger however cabin baggage is restricted to rules that apply for one passenger. Ticket for such a passenger needs to be reserved at least 24 hrs prior to departure depending upon airline regulations. Before making any reservations for such a passenger a travel agent must check for all required details with the airline pertaining to this type of passenger.

Can Expecting mothers / Pregnant women travel by air ?

Mothers who are expecting are allowed to travel on all airlines without any medical clearance till the 28^th week of pregnancy as long as there are no pregnancy complications. Post 28^th weeks of pregnancy the expectant mother will require a medical clearance for travel. Any airline post 28^th week asks for a medical certificate stating fitness for traveling, the number of weeks of pregnancy and estimated date of delivery. After verifying this certificate the airline allows expectant mothers to travel. While making a reservation for expectant mothers one should check for all requirements with the airline.

Can I book a flight for someone else using my credit card?

Yes, you can book a flight for anyone using your credit card, however some airlines and some countries in Asia and Africa have restrictions that the card holder has to be the traveler. In such cases you need to contact the airline and carry a copy of the card to be presented at time of check in. Most budget airlines do not accept a third party credit card as a form of payment hence its important to verify prior to booking with a budget airline.

What happens if you cancel a basic economy flight on Southwest Airlines?

Most of the tickets with southwest airlines are non refundable however you can keep the credit for up to 1 year from date of issuance. This credit can be used for your future travel with Southwest, please note the credit is non-transferable and has to be used by the same traveler.

Is it better to book directly through the airline? How do you book your flight?

This is more a personal choice of how you want to book your flight ticket and what is the purpose of your travel, if you would be changing your ticket     your ticket several times it would be ideal to use services of a travel agency and if you wont be changing dates and are certain on your travel dates go for booking with airline directly, always check card offers with certain websites before booking your travel.However if you are traveling internationally it would be ideal to book through a agent who would explain you with all travel formalities especially in the current covid situation traveling internationally with various regulations, it would be good to have your bookings done through a travel agent.

If we select seats while booking the flight tickets, then again do we have to select the seats while web check-in?

Most airlines nowadays charge for pre seating if you have booked on cheap fares and all budget airlines charge for seating since this is now looked by all airlines as an alternate source of income. So if you have confirmed seats at time of booking and have paid for the same you don’t need to select seats again the same seats would be assigned to you. But if you have not booked paid seats some airlines will allow you to assign seats at time of check in or auto assign any seats without your preference.

Is the booking reference the same as the flight number?

A booking reference also known as a PNR or passenger name record is a reference to your booking. A flight number is a number given to your flight for a particular root, both are entirely different things.

How can I book bus tickets in India ?

For booking bus tickets in India use a website like redbus.com they offer bookings for most cities in india.

Identify island countries in Pacific ocean on a map.

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