So you are not really sure about what happens if you arrive late at the airport or if the weather keeps you from flying. It's time to wade through some of the myths and confusion surrounding air travel.
If your flight cancels, you will be compensated
If it is a mechanical issue, crew is unavailable, or some other reason where the airline is at fault, compensation is definitely a possibility! However weather-related issues, or other acts of God like civil disruptions mean the airline does not owe you compensation - no hotel, meals, transportation, etc.. And if you happen to hear force majeure being bandied about in conversation amongst airline personnel then it is something beyond the airline's control.
If you miss your flight you will be booked on the next one out
Not necessarily, and not necessarily for free. It depends on why you missed your flight. Did the public transit go on strike? Then an airline might waive a fee for going on the next flight out. If you are connecting and your flight in was late, an airline may have already protected you on the next flight (and hopefully advised you when you arrived from your previous flight). But if you just showed up late at the airport, the airline is in no way obligated to put you on the next flight, or any flight without charging you a fee. Sometimes you may luck out and go fee-free but it is not guaranteed.
If your flight is cancelled because of a force majeure you will be booked on the next flight
When a flight is cancelled because of something beyond an airline's control they will book you on the next available flight. This does not mean the next flight out, but the next one that has space on it. People who are originally booked on the next flight out are not bumped because your flight cancelled. If space isn't available on the next flight you can certainly request to standby and take your chances.
Flights hold for people who check in late
Not a chance unless you own or run the airline. Many times passengers (in some other city) call up and ask to get them to hold the plane as they were stuck in traffic. If you are allowed late check in flights don't hold as luggage can be removed within minutes. So if you check in late, get yourself to the gate!
If your flight cancels you will be booked on the next available flight regardless of airline
Not so if you are on a low cost airline, and it is more difficult to get this to happen now that tickets are usually electronic, and definitely not if a force majeure caused the cancellation.
If an airline goes bankrupt you will be protected on another airline, or be able to get your money back
Wish this could be true but it usually isn't. You may or may not get a refund eventually from an airline that has stopped operating completely. If the airline that went under had agreements with other airlines then you may be accommodated, most often on a space-available basis.
Non-stop tickets are more expensive than those with connecting flights
Airlines match prices. No airline wants to be a dollar more or less than any of the others, because they know buyers will almost always go to the airline charging even one-dollar less.
Also, airlines are very protective of their market share of non-stops, so they don't want a "connecting" airline infringing on that. However, airlines will charge a premium for non-stop flights during certain times, when everyone wants to fly (Monday mornings, Fridays and Sundays).
Using frequent-flier miles for your dream vacation is a bad idea
It's not exactly a "bad" idea; the problem is 10,000 other folks have the same idea! So you're likely to be frustrated, disappointed and waste a ton of time because you and everyone else are vying for identical dreams (Christmas in Hawaii?). And only a few will see those dreams come true.
Another problem: airlines are ratcheting down their loyalty programs, upping requirements for "free" trips, and, even dumping you if you don't have enough "activity" on your account.
And these days, airplanes are packed with "paying" passengers; there are few empty seats to give away to Frequent Flier customers. You might want to think of getting your dream vacation with Frequent Flier miles as something akin to winning the lottery: chances are, it's not going to happen. You're much better off using your miles for a last minute emergency trip you have to take - one that might cost $1200 simply because it's "last minute"
You can save money with a Saturday night stayover during your trip
Here's a "myth" that's slow to die. It used to be, that the legacy airlines used a "Saturday overnight" as a way to separate "business" and "leisure" travelers.
This is no longer the case, mainly because the low cost airlines tend to have simpler one-way price structures for all flights, and these are now generally matched by the legacy airlines.
You can save money by flying on weekends
Saturday is one of the 3-cheapest days to fly (Tuesday and Wednesday are the others), and is by far the least busy. Airlines drastically cut back their flight schedules for Saturday travel and put out special airfare out that is only good Tue/Wed/Sat to promote Saturday travel.
Sunday is more expensive, of course; leisure travelers are heading home from trips.
Low-cost airlines always have the lowest prices
Low cost carriers do tend to drive the cheapest price point in a city-pair, but, they do not always have the cheapest prices on a given trip.
Legacy airlines don't have any choice; they generally have to match the low cost airlines. So, depending on the day and time-of-day you want to travel, it may actually be cheaper to fly on a legacy airline. How to make sure? Always shop both before you buy.
The best time to buy tickets is at midnight, when prices are lower
The best time to buy your airline ticket is when it is cheapest. Pretty simple, right?
I only wish it was. You see, the exact "start" of an airfare sale is relatively random; it can occur at anytime on any day.
Here's something else to consider: we know that 100% of all travelers want the cheapest airfare; but, the reality is, only about 10% of them are going to get those cheapest tickets (otherwise, the airlines would be out of business in a week).
Book a year in advance to get the best deals
The right time to start looking for air travel is about 4-months before departure; this is the period when the airlines are most active in managing their airfares (and a time when competition really heats up).
If you shop earlier than that, the legacy carriers will charge you a mid-tier price, meaning, you'll over-pay. And most low cost carriers only allow you to purchase 4- to 5-months in advance.
You are more likely to be upgraded if you ask at check-in or at the gate
Let's be frank, airline agents are not thrilled when passengers on a 99 cent ticket come up asking/demanding to be upgraded. For the major airlines, there is usually a list of candidates to upgrade first should it be required such as top tier frequent flyers and passengers who are holding full fare tickets. Sometimes, every so often, if a flight is full and you volunteered to give up your seat then a much bigger, better one up front may be yours.
You are more likely to get bumped up if you check in late
Most airlines will bump off the latest checked in if a flight is full and we can't get volunteers. Some travel journalists advocate this, because my friend work for an airline and She keep telling me what happens on a more frequent basis I would say this is a very, very bad strategy for trying to get upgraded.
If you make a group booking, with your family, or a travel companion, you will be seated together
It would be nice if this was automatically true. If you can book your seat numbers in advance then things will usually work out, but if not don't panic. The gate agent will try and get those seats together and you can also ask the flight attendant to help you.
Coach class fares are always cheaper than first class
One of the airlines' best kept secrets is discounted First Class airfare. These airfares are called "Y-Ups" in airline jargon; they have an 8-letter code that appears similar to a Coach code, but these seats are booked in First Class.
Waiting for last-minute deals is a good idea
Sure, you might find a last-minute bargain if you are so flexible that you can drop everything at a moment's notice, and travel at odd hours on odd days to odd places. But such flights, for the most part, simply don't exist anymore, and waiting 'til the last minute in this market means you'll pay "business traveler" rates (generally 4- to 6- times higher than "advance purchase" Coach fares--you might as well get a "Y-UP")
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