Important Tips to know before traveling through an aeroplane/safety precautions

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Overview
A collection of helpful tips and information to help you protect yourself while traveling.

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Other Information
Top Questions
How can I get the best air fare?
Is there anything I should keep in mind when packing?
What if my flight is delayed?
If something went wrong, how can I file a complaint?
Frequently Asked Questions
For additional information on these topics, click “Other Consumer Tips” above.

Before the flight
How can I get the best air fare?
What factors should I take into account when choosing flights?
What kinds of fees could I end up paying in addition to my fare?
I need to cancel a reservation that I just made. Can I get a refund?
Is there anything I should keep in mind when packing?
My child is flying alone. What preparations should I make?
I want to take my pet with me on this trip. What does that entail?
At the airport
Where and when do I need to check in at the airport?
What should I know about clearing security?
What if my flight is delayed?
What are my options if my flight is canceled?
What are my rights if my flight is oversold?
During the flight
What is the “tarmac delay rule”?
What should I be alert to at my connecting airport?
At your destination
Is there anything I should be alert to when I collect my checked bag?
What if my bag doesn’t show up?
After your trip
If something went wrong, how can I file a complaint?

Before the flight
How can I get the best air fare?
Be flexible in your travel plans.
The best deals may be available only on certain days of the week or particular hours of the day. The lowest fares are often blacked out during holiday periods, but you might be able to get a discount fare if you fly on the holiday itself.

Plan as far ahead as you can.
Most airlines set aside only a limited number of seats on many desirable flights at the lower rates.

Compare fares of different airlines.
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What factors should I take into account when choosing flights?
A connection (change of planes) is sometimes cheaper than a nonstop, but it involves the risk of a misconnection if your first flight is delayed. If you have a connection, make sure your itinerary allows enough connecting time. Flights early in the day are less susceptible to delays.
If you have a choice of nearby airports, your fare could depend on which airport you use.
Also, if the city where you live or the city where you are going is an airline “hub,” fares may be higher than for flights to or from other nearby cities because of reduced competition. You might save money by leaving from another nearby city.

What kinds of fees could I end up paying in addition to my fare?
Most airlines now charge for checked bags.
Some airlines charge a fee for ticketing depending on whether you purchase your ticket on the web, by phone, or at the airport.
Most airlines charge extra for preferred seats.
If you want an advance seat assignment next to your traveling companion or family and the only available adjacent seats include a preferred seat, you might have to pay a fee.

Many airlines offer early boarding for a fee.
Except on longer international flights, you will usually pay for any in-flight meals or snacks, if offered, as well as for any available internet service, video entertainment and audio headsets.
I need to cancel a reservation that I just made. Can I get a refund?
Most air fares require payment when you make the reservation, and most discount fares are non-refundable.
DOT requires airlines to either hold a reservation for 24 hours without payment or refund a paid ticket — even a non-refundable one — if you cancel within 24 hours of purchase and you purchased your ticket more than 7 days before your flight.
Airlines are free to choose between holding a reservation without payment in these circumstances or refunding after payment; they don’t have to offer both options.

Is there anything I should keep in mind when packing?
Avoid putting the following in checked baggage:
Valuables (e.g., cash, jewelry, expensive electronics).
Critical items (e.g., medicine, keys, passport, tour vouchers, business papers).
Irreplaceable items (e.g., heirlooms, original photos).
Fragile items. Consider shipping them in advance. If they must be checked, wrap them carefully in padding.
Perishables
Many airlines limit their liability for loss or damage of these items on domestic trips. Try to carry them on your person or in a carry-on bag.

Put items that you will need during the first 24 hours in a carry-on bag. Although most checked bags arrive on time, some may be delayed for a day or two.
When purchasing a suitcase lock, remember that security inspectors may need to open your checked bags out of your presence.
If you wish to lock your bags, see www.tsa.gov for information on locks that security personnel can open and re-lock. If you use an unapproved lock and your bag is selected for inspection, security staff will break the lock if necessary.

Put a tag on the outside of your baggage with your name, address, and phone numbers.
Most airlines provide free "privacy tags" which conceal this information from passersby. Put the same information inside each bag, and add an address and telephone number where you can be reached during your trip.

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My child is flying alone. What preparations should I make?
Contact the airline well in advance.
Most airlines offer “unaccompanied minor” service. Depending on your child’s age, this service may be mandatory.
Children below a certain age (usually 5 years old) might not be allowed to travel alone.
Older kids might be limited to nonstop or “through” flights depending on their age.
Children above a certain age may not be eligible for unaccompanied-minor service.
Airlines generally charge a substantial fee for unaccompanied-minor service.
Read When Kids Fly Alone.
I want to take my pet with me on my trip. What does that entail?
Most U.S. airlines accept pets.
Some airlines allow you to choose between bringing your pet on your flight as checked or carry-on baggage or shipping it as air cargo.

Check with your airline to learn about restrictions on carrying pets.
Most airlines will not carry pets as checked baggage during the summer and winter although you might be able to ship your pet as air freight at those times. Airlines also embargo animals on very hot and cold days, so always have a backup plan for your pet. Many airlines will not transport snub-nosed and pug-nosed dogs and cats.

You will need to supply an approved kennel.
The kennel for a carry-on pet must fit under the seat, and your airline will probably require that the animal remain in the kennel during the flight and in the airport. Your pet might count as one of your allowed pieces of baggage, and there may be an additional fee for the pet as well.

Check with your airline to learn about all requirements for pets.
You may have to supply a health certificate from a veterinarian, and certain destinations may require a quarantine period upon arrival.

For additional information, see Traveling with Animals.
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At the airport
Where and when do I need to check in at the airport?
Check-in deadlines can vary by airline and airport.
You can find the check-in deadlines for your flights on the airline’s website and perhaps on your e-ticket confirmation.

In most cases, you must be at the gate no later than 10 to 15 minutes before scheduled departure time for domestic flights. For international flights this deadline may be 45 minutes or longer.
Allow time to check a bag and pass through security.
Airlines may impose an earlier deadline for obtaining a boarding pass and seat assignment.
The most common such deadline is 30 minutes before scheduled departure for domestic flights and one hour for international flights.

What should I know about clearing security?
Allow more time than you think you will need to clear security.
Passengers who look like they are 18 or over should bring a government-issued photo ID.
Cabin luggage is generally limited to one carry-on bag plus one personal item (briefcase, purse, etc.).
Size and weight of allowable carry-on bags can vary by airline. This information must be included in your confirmation/itinerary.

Don’t bring sharp items on your person or in your carry-on bag.
TSA has a “3-1-1” rule for liquids, aerosols and gels in carry-on baggage.
Those substances must be in containers that are no more than 3.4 oz. in volume (100 ml), with all such containers in one clear quart-size plastic bag, and one such bag per passenger.

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