With summer finally here, many consumers are beginning to plan their vacation getaway. While dreaming of island sun, many travelers fail to factor uncertainties that can come with flying – such as unpredictable weather patterns, aviation system issues and maintenance or crew problems – into their travel plans. The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) is advising vacationers to plan ahead when traveling this summer to ensure safety and timeliness.
“To avoid troubles in the sky, people need to have a plan and be aware of what their options are if there are delays,” said Dana Badgerow, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau. “With the burden and chaos that can come from a delayed or cancelled flight, it’s important for travelers to be as prepared as they can be for that eventuality.”
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) advises consumers to be proactive when it comes to planning a getaway trip. According to The Bureau of Transportation’s 2011 Statistics, 25.5 percent of all flights were reported to be delayed.
The BBB and the U.S. Department of Transportation advise travelers to keep the following things in mind when booking and securing their flights this summer:
Timing is everything. When booking your flight, remember that a departure early in the day is less likely to be delayed than a later flight, due in part to the “ripple” effects of delays throughout the day. Also, if an early flight does get delayed or canceled, you may have more rerouting options. If you book the last flight of the day and it is canceled, you could get stuck overnight wherever you are.
Know your rights with a canceled flight. If your flight is canceled, most airlines will rebook you on their next flight to your destination on which space is available, at no additional charge. If this involves a significant delay, find out if another carrier has seats and ask the first airline to endorse your ticket to that carrier. Unfortunately, compensation is required by law only when you are “bumped” from a flight that is oversold. Airlines almost always refuse to pay passengers for financial losses resulting from a delayed flight.
Secure your payment. Consider paying by credit card, which provides certain protections under Federal credit regulations. For example, in all recent airline bankruptcies passengers who had charged their fare and were not provided service were able to have their credit card company credit their account for the amount of the fare.
For more travel tips, visit
www.bbb.org/us/consumer-tips-travel.
