Načrtovanje leta - Planning your flight

Ta članek je del serije, ki razlaga standardne postopke, pravila in druge osnove potovanje po zraku. S spodnjo puščico se pomaknite do naslednjega članka: Na letališču →

Za nekatere ljudi je letenje priložnost, da vidijo svet in to storijo v velikem slogu, ko se dvignejo nad Zemljo, za druge pa priložnost, da ure in ure sedijo v neposredni bližini več sto drugih ljudi, ni tista, ki se mu godi. Ne glede na vaše poglede na to obliko prevoza je resnično sodoben potovalni pojav. Na nekaterih poteh je že samo obstoj letalstva skoraj odpravil vse alternativne načine potovanja, zlasti oceanske ladje in tako nekateri cilji niso praktično dosegljivi drugače.

Izbira leta

Če nameravate leteti, boste morda lahko izbirali med več linijami, leti in letalskimi prevozniki.

Letališča

Poglej tudi: Letališke kode Metropolitan Area

Oglejte si vsa letališča na primerni razdalji po kopnem. V mestih, kot je London, imajo večja letališča Heathrow in Gatwick ponujajo več (mednarodnih) prevoznikov s saloni in letališči, medtem ko novejša Luton in Stansted letališča služijo proračunskim letalskim prevoznikom na manjše razdalje, z manj trgovinami in plačljivimi saloni, oddaljena so od središča mesta. Nekateri sistemi za prodajo vozovnic omogočajo iskanje s kodo, ki pokriva več kot eno letališče.

Prevoz z železnico in avtobusom je lahko praktičen tudi na dolge razdalje; na primer Letališče Tokio Narita ima železniške povezave z večino Japonske. Dobro povezano letališče je lahko najboljša možnost tudi za sosednje države. Dunajsko mednarodno letališče ne služi samo vzhodni Avstriji, temveč tudi bližnjim provincam na Češkem, Slovaškem in Madžarskem.

Cilji

Na splošno se splača dvakrat preveriti, ali je kupljena vozovnica namenjena letu, ki gre do vašega dejansko predvidenega cilja, saj si več mest lahko pogosto deli isto ime. Na primer, San Jose se lahko nanaša na mesto v ZDA, mesto v Mehiki ali glavno mesto Kostarike. Bili so celo primeri, ko so potniki proti Sydneyju v Avstraliji pomotoma kupili vozovnico za Sydney v Kanadi, ki je oddaljen 17.056 km (10.598 milj). Preverite Koda letališča cilja, kot tudi odhodna točka in prevozi.

Brez postankov, neposrednih ali tranzitnih

Neposredno v primerjavi z non-stop V svetu letalskih prevoznikov a neposredno let pomeni, da uporablja isto številko leta, vendar lahko na poti še vedno obstaja postanek - to pomeni, da boste morda morali letalo izkrcati s svojo ročno prtljago in v državah, kot so ZDA, celo priseljevati. Poiščite non-stop let, če želite v enem letu priti od točke A do točke B.

Če je odhodno ali ciljno letališče prometno vozlišče in cilji niso drug na drugem koncu sveta, obstaja možnost, da najdete let brez postankov. Alternativa je tranzitna pot, kjer se povežete med dvema ali več leti.

Let brez postankov je običajno najhitrejša in najprimernejša pot. Vendar morda niso cenejši ali se bolje prilegajo vašemu urniku, na primer, če so leti brez postankov redki. Tranzitne poti pomenijo, da se boste ustavili nekje na poti do cilja. "Povezovalni" ali "tranzitni" leti zahtevajo, da zapustite to letalo in se odpeljete do letaliških vrat po drugo, ne da bi zahtevali prijavljeno prtljago.

Verjetno popolnoma osredotočeni na največjo ekonomičnost leta, letalne povezave zelo občasno vključujejo različne letalske družbe, celo različnih letališčih, npr. pristanek v kraju San Fransisco v Kaliforniji (SFO) z nadaljnjim potovanjem iz Oaklanda. Vsako takšno ponudbo si oglejte previdno:

• Če druga letalska družba na istem letališču (razen če si delita kode), potrebujete vsaj nekaj ur med prihodom, da prevzamete svojo prtljago, jo odnesete na ponovni pregled pri drugem letalskem prevozniku in znova preverite varnost.
• Če morate na drugo letališče, razmislite o nočitvi; izzivi pri takšnih prestopih lahko pomenijo zamujen let ... zahtevanje nakupa nove vozovnice ... če ima let prostor.
• Neizpolnitev katerega koli od teh zapletov lahko pomeni, da se pričakovano gospodarstvo izgubi.
• Če načrtujete načrt poti, če kupujete ločene vozovnice za vsak let, to storite ne kombinirajte lete s premajhnim časom med predvidenim prihodom vašega prvega leta in odhodom povezanega leta. To je še posebej pomembno za medcelinske lete med velikimi in prometnimi letališči, kjer obstaja veliko dejavnikov, ki lahko upočasnijo lete in ovirajo prehod na povezanem letališču. Predvidejte vsaj 2-3 ure, da omogočite "običajne" zamude. Če bo šlo vse po načrtih, boste sedeli še kakšno uro ali dve, če pa boste porabili premalo časa in boste zamudili povezavo, lahko pričakujete težave in stroške ter boste sedeli še veliko dlje.

Čas odhoda in prihoda

Če je datum vašega leta prilagodljiv in niti odhod niti cilj niso sredi ničesar, lahko pogosto izbirate med dnevnimi leti. Zasedena pot ima veliko letov na dan.

Pri rezervaciji letov ne pozabite, da se novi dan pri načrtovanju letov začne ob 12. uri. Na primer, če naj bi vaš let odpotoval 1. aprila ob 00:10, boste morali na letališče pristopiti do letališča do 22. oktobra 31. marca. Številni popotniki so zaradi te zmede zamudili lete, tako da so se obrnili na preverjanje namesto tega ob 22:10 1. aprila.

Medtem ko ima poslovni ali vikend popotnik malo možnosti, lahko potrpežljiv popotnik običajno najde cenejši let. Praviloma je ponedeljek zjutraj, petek zvečer in večji prazniki in dogodki preveč rezerviran; ti časi niso samo dražji, ampak tudi manj prijetni tako na krovu, na letališču kot pri letališkem prevozu.

Čas odhoda in prihoda vpliva na razpoložljivost letališkega prevoza in udobja. Če se sredi noči odpeljete ali prispete, se boste morda na obeh letališčih znašli ure in ure, odprtih je malo trgovin in restavracij, če sploh.

Če dobro spite na letalih ali če si lahko privoščite poslovni razred, čez noč prihranite čas in stroške nočitve v hotelu. Pazite se časovni pasovi in jet lag, čeprav.

Letalski prevozniki

Poglej tudi: Letenje s proračunom # Legacy airlines, Letenje s proračunom # Budget airlines

Medtem ko se letalski prevozniki razlikujejo po ceni, kakovosti in ugledu, jih lahko približno razdelimo v te kategorije:

• A podedovani nosilec, imenovano tudi a glavna letalska družba ali prevoznik s polno storitvijo, je letalska družba, pri kateri je raven stroškov in storitev nadpovprečna tudi za ekonomski razred (čeprav se lahko najdejo ugodne ponudbe). Potniki lahko doplačajo sedeže v poslovnem razredu, nekatera letala pa imajo prvi razred. Mnoge od teh letalskih družb imajo dediščino iz časov, ko je bilo letenje razkošje.
  • A prevoznik zastave ali nacionalni letalski prevoznik je zapuščeni prevoznik, ki je ali je bil nekoč v lasti državne vlade. Nekateri so zelo stari (KLM in Avianca letijo že od leta 1919), vendar se danes trudijo ostati konkurenčni. Nosilci zastav običajno dominirajo na domačem letališču, kjer imajo morda cel terminal sami. V nekaterih regijah, zlasti v Perzijskem zalivu, so nosilci zastav še vedno v lasti ali tesno povezani z nacionalno vlado in verjetno upravičenci do številnih odprtih in skritih subvencij. Predvsem zalivski prevozniki so se prodali kot luksuzne blagovne znamke.
• A proračunska letalska družba, nizkocenovni prevoznik, zagonska letalska družba ali brezhiben nosilec ponuja najmanj kopenskih storitev in storitev med letom. Dodatne pristojbine za storitve rezervacije in prijave (razen, če so rezervirane prek spleta in se plačajo vnaprej), zavarovanja, prtljaga, izbira sedežev, obroki in celo voda lahko v skupnem strošku stanejo več kot sama vozovnica. Ti prevozniki običajno niso del letalskega zavezništva in pogosto potujejo na manj prometna letališča, daleč od nominalnega cilja. Običajno proračunski letalski prevozniki prodajajo le vozovnice od točke do točke, pri čemer ne prevzemajo odgovornosti za zamujene povezave. Če nameravate prispeti pozno ponoči, bo morda zračni tranzit čez dan zaprt brez nadomestila. Ko je let poln potnikov, obstaja možnost, da del prtljage ne bo letel s potniki in bo kasneje prispel na drugem letu.
• A regionalni letalski prevoznik deluje na manj prevoženih poteh, običajno z manjšimi letali. Nekatere od njih so v lasti ali so povezane s starejšim prevoznikom. Pričakujte, da bodo cene na takšnih poteh višje od cen med glavnimi vozlišči za isto prevoženo razdaljo.
• A čarterska letalska družba izda letala stranki, kot je potovalni agent. Medtem ko prevladujejo nad letovišče letalski trg, leti se oglašujejo prek potovalne agencije, zato blagovne znamke letalskih družb v javnosti niso dobro poznane.
• Splošno letalstvo vključuje vse vrste nenačrtovanega civilnega letalstva, kot so poslovna letala in grmasta letala. Uporabni so za VIP v naglici ali za dosego osamljenih krajev.

Ime letalskega prevoznika je lahko varljivo: Norveški - ni norveški prevoznik zastave, ampak neodvisna proračunska letalska družba (čeprav spodobna) in - Hong Kong Airlines ni prevoznik zastave Hongkonga (ta čast gre Cathay Pacific). China Airlines ima sedež na Tajvanu.

V ekonomskem razredu se meja med starejšimi in proračunskimi letalskimi družbami vedno bolj briše, zlasti na letih v Združenih državah Amerike in v manjši meri v Evropi, ki letijo v ekonomskem razredu na starejših letalskih prevoznikih, na splošno zagotavljajo enako raven ugodnosti kot proračunski prevoznik, za popolno storitev pa boste morali leteti prvi ali v poslovnem razredu.

An letalsko zvezo je mreža letalskih prevoznikov, ki zagotavlja mednarodne povezave. Zavezništva pogosto uporabljajo skupna raba kod, kjer lete, rezervirane prek ene letalske družbe, opravlja druga, z bistveno drugačnimi letali.

Obstaja več ocen kakovosti letalskih prevoznikov (na primer Skytrax), ki vam lahko pomaga razumeti primerjavo letalskih prevoznikov glede na raven storitev, pravočasnost in udobje. Takšne ocene so en kazalnik, vendar so nekatere ocene kritizirane s strani poznavalcev letalskih potovanj, npr. Cranky Flyer ali kadar se komentarji / ocene uporabnikov ne strinjajo s splošno oceno zvezd.

Kar zadeva varnost in zaščito, Evropska unija ohranja a seznam letalskih prevoznikov izrecno prepoveduje svoj zračni prostor in čeprav so nekatere od teh prepovedi nedvomno povezane s politiko, vseeno dobro nakazujejo, kateri letalski prevozniki morda niso v skladu z zahodnimi varnostnimi standardi.

Modeli letal

Če ste se odločili za pot, običajno ni veliko izbire med različnimi modeli letal, saj je velikost letala odvisna predvsem od prevožene razdalje in obsega prometa. Uporabljajo se krajše in tišje poti ozko telo letala z enim prehodom in do 6 sedežev v bližini; medtem ko so daljše in bolj prometne poti namenjene uporabi široko telo zrakoplova z dvema prehodoma in 7 do 10 sedeži v bližini. Na nekaterih razmeroma kratkih, a visoko gostotnih poteh (na primer čezkontinentalni leti v ZDA, leti med dvema letalskima družbama / zvezdišči in številni leti med večjimi mesti vzhodne in jugovzhodne Azije) lahko najdemo tako manjša kot večja letala. Večja letala so ponavadi bolj udobna, s širšimi sedeži (tudi ravnimi v poslovnem razredu in več), zabavo med letom in celo obroki. Običajno jemanje večjega letala ni dražje od manjšega pri isti letalski družbi, ni pa vedno najcenejša možnost.

Danes letalski prevozniki redko predstavljajo svoje modele, razen če gre za najsodobnejšo opremo, kot sta Airbus A350 ali Boeing 787. Čeprav so novejša letala na splošno nekoliko bolj udobna in tiha, bo le malo potnikov, vendar bodo navdušenci opazili razliko. med glavnimi letalskimi letali.

Na velikem trgu komercialnih letal sta le dva glavna igralca: Airbus s sedežem v Evropi s svojo linijo A3xx (A320, A330, A350 in A380) in Boeing s sedežem v ZDA s svojo linijo 7x7 (737, 747, 777 , 787). Pri "kratkih skakalnicah" in "skakalnicah" boste našli druge proizvajalce, kot so ATR, Bombardier in Embraer. Konec leta 2010 je Embraer prevzel Boeing, Bombardier pa je večino svojih letalskih projektov prodal Airbusu in Mitsubishiju. Kljub temu pa lahko še vedno najdemo letala z imeni teh proizvajalcev, pa tudi propadla podjetja, kot je McDonnell-Douglas. Bushova letala in druga vozila splošnega letalstva še vedno proizvajajo številne družbe, med katerimi sta Cessna in Gulfstream ena najbolj znanih.

Stroški

Poglej tudi: Letenje po proračunu

Očitno je vožnja v prvem in poslovnem razredu draga, vendar se lahko celo varčne vozovnice na isti poti razlikujejo do faktorja 5. Lahko se soočite s kompromisi, vključno z

• Priložnosti za reprogram ali vračilo kupnine
• Prtljaga dodatki ali večje pristojbine za prtljago
• Sedež v kabinskem razredu
• Prehrana, pijača in postrežba na krovu
• Objekti za prijavo ali preverjanje prtljage do končnega cilja
• Letalska kilometrina ali obračun točk

Celo starejši prevozniki lahko zaračunajo drugo udobje in storitve, tudi če ste kupili polna cena ekonomska vozovnica. Predhodno rezerviranje teh storitev ali storitev na spletu, kjer so na voljo, je lahko cenejše. Če spletna promocija ali prodajno mesto nima sedeža v Evropski uniji ali ZDA, oglaševana cena ne sme vključevati davkov in drugih doplačil. Te cene so lahko doplačane za prtljago, obroke in druge stvari. Na splošno so "dodatki", kot so rezervacija sedežev, obroki, prtljaga, prednostni vkrcanje itd., Cenejši, če jih rezervirate skupaj z vozovnico in dražji, če jih rezervirate kasneje na vratih.

Iskanje poceni vstopnic

Letalske družbe poskušajo leteti s polnimi letali, da povečajo prihodek za vsak let; nato prevzamejo ponudba in povpraševanje, upravljanje donosa in konkurenca. Rezultat so lahko velike razlike v letalskih vozovnicah, odvisno od datuma leta, časa rezervacije in plačila ter razreda vozovnice.

• Rezervirajte zgodaj. Ker se ugodne ponudbe in cene poceni vozovnic hitro polnijo, se karte sčasoma podražijo. Prav tako nimate zahtevka za posebno ponudbo, dokler ne plačate vstopnic. Čas ultra poceni Zadnja minuta ponudbe še niso povsem končane, so pa na voljo večinoma pri prodajalcih, ki želijo nekaj zaslužiti nazaj s potopljeno naložbo neizkoriščenih kontingentov in so morda vredne le, če so v paketu z nastanitvijo ali drugimi stvarmi, ki niso povezane s samim letom. Če ste v svojem cilju dovolj prilagodljivi in ​​lahko živite tako, da sploh ne letite ali plačate več, kot ste upali, vam lahko v zadnjem trenutku še vedno ponudijo kakšne ugodne ponudbe.
• Prazniki so časi velikega povpraševanja. Svetovni velikani vključujejo konec decembra do začetka januarja in julij – avgust. Pazite na lokalne praznike, kot so zlati tedni v Kitajska in Japonska ali velikonočni teden (semana santa) v Latinski Ameriki. Leti ob dejanskih prazničnih dneh, kot je božični dan, so pogosto znižani, prav tako pa tudi leti proti največjemu potovalnemu toku, na primer leti iz Savdske Arabije v času hadža.
• Tranzitni leti je pogosto lahko cenejša od neposredne poti, še posebej, če je omenjena neposredna pot priljubljena.
• V ponedeljek zjutraj in v petek zvečer poslovno potujejo veliko, ponekod v nedeljo zvečer pa leti povratniki.
• Proračunske letalske družbe lahko ponudi poceni vstopnice. Vendar lahko dodatne pristojbine povečajo končne stroške.
• Upoštevajte stroške, čas in težave pri letališkem prevozu - železniška letalska zavezništva lahko odprejo številna odhodna letališča brez dodatnih stroškov ali z majhnimi dodatnimi stroški, medtem ko vas bodo proračunski letalski prevozniki prisilili, da se do njihovega letališča odpeljete na uro vožnje z avtobusom.
• Negativne novice o destinaciji očitno vplivajo na ceno potovanja tam. Čeprav bi bilo neumno leteti na vojno območje in bi morda želeli sami presoditi, ali želite leteti tja, kjer se je stanje na področju človekovih pravic poslabšalo, se bodo morda lahko dogovorili za kraje, ki so bili v zadnjem času deležni slabe tiskovine - četudi neupravičeno.

Obstajajo tuje spletne storitve ki primerjajo letalske karte. Številne letalske družbe na svojih spletnih straneh zagotavljajo najcenejše letalske vozovnice, neodvisne spletne strani pa lahko zaračunajo plačilo za njihove storitve.

• Če želite najti poceni let brez ugodnih izkušenj, je dobro preveriti eno od primerjalnih orodij, kot je npr. flylowcostairlines.org.
• Za mednarodna potovanja lahko najboljše ponudbe dobite tako, da rezervirate pri agentu na izhodišču. Poskusite pa iskati spletna mesta za iskanje potovanj, kot sta Momondo in Vayama, da boste razumeli stroške, pogostost letov, poti, čas povezave in skupne čase na poti. Če ste študent ali ste mlajši od 26 let ali starejši od 65 let, so nekatera spletna mesta in agenti prilagojeni tako, da vam nudijo nizke cene.

Uporaba različnih spletnih mest za iskanje letov lahko prinese različne rezultate, npr. Nekatera mesta zaračunavajo pristojbine za rezervacijo prek njih. Vedno preizkusite tudi spletno stran letalskega prevoznika. Spletna mesta za iskanje letov so v nekaterih primerih lahko cenejša, vendar letalske družbe vedno bolj želijo ponuditi najcenejše cene za svoje vozovnice na svojem spletnem mestu.

Pogosti letaki

Poglej tudi: Pogosti letalski programi

Številne letalske družbe ponujajo a reden letalski potnik program zvestobe, nagrajevanje pokroviteljev na podlagi segmentih, točk, milje ali letalski stroški. Poslovni potniki in potniki prvega razreda lahko prejmejo dodatne milje za vsako potovanje.

Razmislite o pridružitvi programu za pogoste letenje - še posebej, če letite veliko. Cena je, da so vaši podatki profilirani in uporabljeni za oglaševanje. Brošure se delijo na letališču, v salonu letalskega prevoznika ali na blagajni letalskega prevoznika. Najpogostejši letalski programi ne zaračunavajo provizije, nekateri pa, kot je Marco Polo Club Cathay Pacific, v zameno za nekaj ugodnosti, kot so namenski števci za prijavo in prednostni vkrcanje.

Nagrade za pogoste letake lahko vključujejo:

• Brezplačni leti in nadgradnje. Morda boste še vedno morali plačati davke in doplačila. Letalski prevozniki pogosto omejijo število sedežev ali nadgradenj, ki jih je mogoče dobiti z "nagradami" ... zlasti na letih na prometnih linijah.
• Unovčenje brezplačnih dobrot (kot so potrošniško blago in bivanje v hotelih) drugim neletnim partnerjem.
• Z veliko točkami lahko postanete elitni članin prejmete ugodnosti, kot so prijava na okencu prvega / poslovnega razreda, zgodnje vkrcanje, prednost v čakalnih seznamih, brezplačne nadgradnje in dostop do letališki saloni. Saloni so na voljo tudi imetnikom nekaterih kreditnih kartic.

Vse vozovnice niso upravičene do zaslužka kilometrov. Lahko zahtevate milje za lete do 12 mesecev po tem, ko ste jih prevzeli, če ste že bili član, ko je bil let opravljen, vendar morate shraniti škrbine za vstopne karte. Pred rezervacijo se je lažje prijaviti s številko letaka.

Travelgrove's je meta iskalnik za kilometre, ki jih lahko zaslužite za vsak let. V sodelovanju z MileBlaster so na voljo tudi dodatki, kot so bonusi na kreditne kartice, hotelski bonusi, posebne ponudbe. Rezultate lahko razvrstite glede na odstotek prostega leta, ki ga lahko pridobite z rezervacijo danega leta.

Zveze letalskih družb lahko dovoli prenos kilometrov med letalskimi prevozniki.

Točke lahko zahtevate od drugih virov; še posebej kreditne kartice. Bivanje v hotelih, najem avtomobilov in celo računi za mobilne telefone vam lahko zberejo točke.

Rezervacija in vstopnice

Fonetična abeceda - koristna je Ko pokličete letalsko družbo ali potovalno agencijo, da spremenijo, najhitreje najdete svojo vozovnico tako, da agenciji za rezervacije sporočite, da jim Zapis imena potnika (PNR) in to črkujte z Natova fonetična abeceda (Alpha, Bravo, CHarlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hhotel, jazndia, Juliet, Kilo, Lima, Mike, Nvečer, Obrazgotina, Papa, Vuebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-žarek, Y.ankee, Zulu). To je veliko lažje, kot če poskušate črkovati svoj priimek, in takoj boste pridobili spoštovanje, če zvenite kot profesionalec.

Rezervacija leta po stari šoli, prek okenca ali po telefonu, je postopek v dveh korakih.

Najprej naredite a rezervacija. Letalski prevoznik bo počakajte sedež za vas do določenega datuma, običajno približno en teden. Če ne plačate pred datumom poteka veljavnosti, rezervacija odpade. Rezervacije lahko prosto spreminjate in prekličete, kar je koristno, če pot ni negotova. Dobite šestznakovno alfanumerično kodo, imenovano sklic na ime potnika ali PNR ki ga navedete za nakup vstopnice.

• Rezerviran sedež bo naveden kot potrjeno v vaši rezervaciji in ne bo odvzet, dokler ne poteče rok. Vendar še ne morete leteti, dokler ne kupite vozovnice. Na vozovnico lahko potrdite samo en sedež v obe smeri.
• Če je let v celoti rezerviran, vendar želite poskusiti nanj, lahko naredite a čakalni seznam rezervacija. Če se čakalni seznam "počisti" (nekdo drug odpove in dobite svoj sedež), se rezervacija na čakalni listi potrdi in vaši predhodno potrjeni sedeži na drugih letih prekličejo. Običajno lahko čakate na več letov, vendar res poceni nespremenljive vozovnice morda ne dovolijo nobenega čakalnega seznama.

Pretvorbo rezervacije v dejansko vozovnico, izdajanje vozovnica, zahteva plačilo ali unovčenje s pogostimi letalskimi točkami / miljami. Glede na vrsto vozovnice - za vašo vozovnico lahko zdaj veljajo nekatere ali vse naslednje omejitve:

• nespremenljiv/neobnovljiv: časa in datuma leta ne morete spremeniti (brez plačila stroške zamenjave). V primeru ponovnih letov, ne glede na to, ali je treba rezervirati ali ne, morate še vedno plačati razliko v ceni.
• nedovoljen: ne morete leteti z drugo letalsko družbo, če ima vaša letalska družba težave (če je vaš let odpovedan, to običajno prepoveduje lokalna zakonodaja)
• nepovratno: denarja ne morete dobiti nazaj, če ne letite (v Severni Ameriki se vozovnica lahko uporabi kot dobropis za drugo vozovnico z doplačilom; marsikje drugje zasežejo celotno vozovnico)
• nepreusmerljivo: ne morete preiti na drugo pot, tudi če je cilj enak
• neprenosljiv: vstopnice ne morete dati ali prodati nekomu drugemu
• brez števila prevoženih kilometrov: na tej vozovnici ne morete zaslužiti milj za pogoste lete
• nerazgradljiv: s pogostimi letalskimi kilometri ne morete nadgraditi v bolj premium razred

Višji kot je razred vozovnic, velja manj teh omejitev. Običajno ima ekonomska vozovnica brez napak vse zgoraj navedene omejitve, medtem ko ima vozovnica prvega ali poslovnega razreda manj, čeprav so cene vozovnic, ki jih ni mogoče povrniti in jih ni mogoče ponovno kupiti, razmeroma pogoste.

Spletna rezervacija, bodisi prek spletnega mesta prevoznika ali neodvisnega konsolidatorja, kot sta Travelocity in Expedia, običajno nima možnosti rezervacije. Običajno se rezervacija in prodaja vozovnic izvedeta naenkrat, zato je za rezervacijo potrebno vnaprejšnje plačilo z debetno / kreditno kartico, PayPalom ali podobno storitvijo, računom ali unovčenjem milj za pogoste lete. Nekatere proračunske letalske družbe zaračunavajo storitev za vozovnice, opravljene po telefonu ali z osebno rezervacijo, nekatere ugodne ponudbe pa so na voljo samo prek spleta. Nekateri prevozniki, zlasti v Evropi, lahko zaračunajo tudi majhen znesek za rezervacije kreditnih kartic in / ali PayPal, kar ne velja za debetne kartice z blagovno znamko VISA ali MasterCard.

Če ste še vedno na čakalni listi za let, na katerega bi se želeli vkrcati, ali če želite vzeti zgodnejši ali poznejši let, kot ste rezervirani, lahko poskusite leteti ostani v pripravljenosti. To pomeni, da se preprosto pokažete na okencu za prijavo na letališču in zaprosite za naslednjega leta. Če je prostora dovolj, vas bodo tam prijavili. Če pa je let videti poln, boste morali počakati, da se let konča zaprto (običajno 30–60 minut pred odhodom) in letalski prevoznik lahko prešteje, koliko sedežev mu je ostalo. Če letite v pripravljenosti, ne računajte na posebne prihranke vozovnic in obratno, če je vozovnica zelo omejena, ne računajte na letenje v pripravljenosti.

Če se ne prijavite do konca, boste razglašeni za ni predstave. Vaš sedež lahko zdaj prejmete v pripravljenosti. Rezultat je odvisen od omejitev in pogojev za vozovnice, kar je lahko popolna izguba cene vozovnice ali pa od nekaterih prilagodljivih vozovnic, ki jih lahko rezervirate za naslednji let. Nakup nove vozovnice za isti dan ali naslednji dan je lahko zelo drag, na primer do 3000 USD za čezatlantski let, zato ne pozabite na let.

Čeprav vam rezervacija zagotavlja sedež, ne zagotavlja cene, ki ste jo navedli. Zato se lahko cena v času rezervacije razlikuje od cene, določene v času nakupa vozovnice. Navedena cena je zagotovljena le, če ste pripravljeni takoj rezervirati. Čeprav je treba večino letov, rezerviranih prek spleta, plačati takoj, lahko nekateri prevozniki ponudijo možnost, da zaklenejo rezervacijo, opravljeno prek spleta, in vozijo do enega tedna za majhno plačilo, ki je povrh celotne cene vozovnice

Omejitve letenja so lahko drakonske - nekatera podjetja celo prepovejo spremembe v stanju pripravljenosti - zato boste za kakršne koli spremembe morali plačati (včasih drago); nekateri tudi ne dovolijo vračila kupnine. Previdno preverite svoje pogoje.

Pisanje vašega imena

Številne letalske družbe zahtevajo, da je ime na vozovnici enako imenu na potniškem potnem listu ali osebnem dokumentu, včasih brez manjših črkovalnih črkovanj. Letalske družbe pogosto veliko zaračunajo za spremembo imena. To še posebej dosledno velja za lete z ameriških letališč, kjer TSA pregleda vse vstopne karte in identifikacijske dokumente, da se zagotovi, da se črkovanje imen natančno ujema.

• Vključiti je treba samo ime in priimek, ne pa tudi srednjega imena.
• Če ime ni tisto, ki se uporablja vsak dan, je treba vključiti prvo in dnevno uporabljeno ime ter priimek. Na primer Hugh Laurie naj napiše James Hugh Laurie, saj je njegovo polno ime zapisano v potnem listu James Hugh Calum Laurie. Če obstajajo dvomi, se držite imena, kot je zapisano na potnem listu (razen srednjega imena).
• Če imate dvojno priimek, je treba vključiti oba (z vezajem, ki je nadomeščen s presledkom)
• Črke z diakritičnimi znaki (na primer É ali Ä) naj bodo napisane kot v belem strojno berljivem območju v potnem listu, kar običajno pomeni odstranjevanje vseh oznak, lahko pa pomeni, da npr. Ä je zapisano AE. Vezaj je treba nadomestiti s presledkom in izpustiti apostrofe. Če se uporablja vizum ali ESTA, je treba vse napisati na enak način.
• Vzdevkov ne smete uporabljati, tudi če jih uporabljate vsak dan. Na primer Bill Clinton bi moral napisati Williama Jeffersona Clintona, saj je to zapisano v potnem listu.
• Če načrtujete let pri spremembi imena, na primer na poroka, ime, ki ga uporabljate, se mora še vedno ujemati z imenom na vašem potnem listu ali osebnem dokumentu. Če potnega lista pred potovanjem ne zamenjajo, uporabite staro ime. Več poročno potovanje so bili uničeni na ta način.
• Dojenčkov ne bi smeli rezervirati pred rojstvom, razen če so starši prepričani glede spola in imena ali če so pripravljeni plačati stroške spremembe imena, če je to mogoče (to je treba preveriti).
• Prihranite si lahko težave pri vnašanju svojega imena vsakič, ko rezervirate, tako da ustvarite račun za uporabo na spletnem mestu letalskega prevoznika (ali spletnega mesta konsolidacije potovanj) ali se vpišete v program letalskih prevoznikov. Ko se vpišete, morate seveda zagotoviti, da se ime, ki ga navedete, ujema z imenom, navedenim v vašem potnem listu. Hkrati lahko navedete tudi druge ustrezne podrobnosti in tako prihranite čas pri rezervaciji.

Vaša vozovnica

Večina letalskih prevoznikov uporablja elektronske vstopnice (e-vstopnice); elektronski zapisi o vsaki podrobnosti rezervacije. Prej so potniki dobili papirnato vozovnico, sestavljeno iz knjižice letalskih kuponov. V večini primerov je potrditev poti s podatki o vašem letu pripravljeni in poslani po e-pošti ali natisnjeni za vašo referenco. Vsebuje edinstven šestznak Zapis imena potnika (PNR), ki se uporablja za identifikacijo vaše rezervacije.

Potnica potrdi številko vozovnice, dovoljenje za prtljago, izračun cene vozovnice in doplačil, način plačila itd. Priloženi so tudi pogoji prevoza, vključno z vašimi pravicami, če se kaj zgodi z leti, pri katerih ste rezervirani.

V teoriji e-vozovnica omogoča, da ob prijavi samo pokažete veljaven osebni dokument. Zaradi varnostnih razlogov nekatera letališča pred vstopom na letališče in / ali ob prijavi zahtevajo izpis potrdnice o potrditvi rezervacije. Poleg tega priseljenske oblasti pogosto zahtevajo dokazilo o potovanju naprej ali nazaj. Vedno imejte s seboj izpis potrdila poti.

Zaradi pomislekov zaradi prevare s kreditno kartico nekateri letalski prevozniki, ko rezervirate let preko interneta s kreditno kartico, to zahtevajo pokaži kreditno kartico za nakup vozovnic na letališču ali v njihovi prodajni blagajni. Če imetnik kreditne kartice ni del potovalne stranke, mora videti kreditno kartico in ne pooblaščeni podpis imetnika kreditne kartice. Če tega ne storite, lahko pride do ponovne izdaje vozovnice z isto (ali višjo) ceno in vračilo prvotne vozovnice po več tednih ali celo mesecih (če je povračljivo; morda bodo potrebne pristojbine za vračilo).

V redkih primerih, ko vam izdajo papirnato vozovnico, vi mora predstavite ga ob prijavi na let. Pazite na svojo vozovnico; brez tega se ne morete prijaviti. Če izgubite vozovnico, pričakujte veliko papirjev in / ali težav: morda boste morali kupiti še eno vozovnico za let, kasneje pa boste morali zaprositi za vračilo ali plačati pristojbino za vstopnico. Da ne omenjam, da bodo nekatere jurisdikcije zahtevale, da vložite policijsko poročilo. Če se torej bojite, da boste izgubili ali pozabili svojo papirnato vozovnico, kadar koli je to mogoče, zahtevajte e-vozovnico. Ko izgubite ali zgrešite izpis potnega lista, lahko vedno preprosto in enostavno natisnete drugo kopijo iz svojega e-poštnega sporočila ali zahtevate od prevoznika / potovalnega agenta, da vam ga spet pošlje po e-pošti.

Načrte potovanja lahko spremenite, ne da bi morali natisniti in dostaviti novo vozovnico. Če vaša letalska družba ponuja spletno ali samopostrežno prijavo v kiosk, jih lahko uporabite za tiskanje vstopnih vozovnic in tako prihranite čas na letališču.

Glavna pomanjkljivost je, da so podatki o vašem letu v računalnikih določene letalske družbe, zato druge letalske družbe do njih nimajo dostopa. To v 99% primerov ni težava, vendar je lahko velik glavobol, če odpoved leta zahteva prehod na let z drugo letalsko družbo. Če se to zgodi, si priskrbite "odobrljivo" papirnato vozovnico prvotne letalske družbe kot rezervno kopijo prej odhod do šalterja druge letalske družbe. Prav tako za zapletene načrte poti, ki vključujejo več letalskih prevoznikov (npr lete okoli sveta), raje se odločite za papirnato vozovnico, še posebej, ker sporazumi o elektronski prodaji vozovnic med letalskimi prevozniki še niso tako pogosti.

Vse destinacije, ki jih ponujajo starejši prevozniki, niso upravičene do e-vozovnic. Toda za destinacije, ki izpolnjujejo pogoje za e-vozovnice, lahko vaš letalski prevoznik zaračuna doplačilo, če se odločite za nakup papirnate vozovnice. Letalske družbe praviloma ne izdajajo več papirnatih vozovnic za večino potovanj.

Dokumenti

Potrebuješ letalska vstopna karta za vkrcanje v letalo ... ponavadi samo zato, da bi šli na letališče. Dobite ga s predstavitvijo papirnata vozovnica (če ste ga dobili z enim) in a identifikacija s fotografijo (morda manj za malčke). Če ste vnaprej natisnili vstopno vozovnico, bo osebje letalskega osebja potrdilo potni list in preverilo ročno prtljago.

Če potujete v drugo državo, potrebujete potni list z rokom veljavnosti najmanj šest mesecev po datumu vračila. Odvisno od ciljne države in države povezave boste morda potrebovali tudi eno ali več vizumi. Običajno jih je treba dobiti pred začetkom potovanja. Osebje za prijavo vam lahko zavrne dovoljenje za vkrcanje, če nimate potrebnega in ustreznega vizuma.

Vnaprej se posvetujte s svojim agentom ali letalskim prevoznikom. Brez vse potrebne dokumentacije je vaše potovanje morda ogroženo. The kreditno kartico uporabljen za nakup vozovnice, bo morda potreben tudi za preverjanje vstopne karte, zato prinesite tudi to.

Vsak organ, ki si ogleduje letalske vozovnice, vstopne karte, potne liste ali druge identifikacijske podatke, bo skrbno preučil imena. Pogosto potrebujejo ključne dokumente natančno odražajo vaše polno ime. Prepričajte se, da tisti, ki rezervira vaše potovanje, natančno vpiše vsako polno ime v rezervacije in vozovnice.

Imajo dokumentacijo, da vam pripadajo vsa zdravila, npr. označene steklenice, kopija zdravniškega recepta ... za nekatere države celo več. Po določitvi katere koli mednarodne letalske poti consult official sources that describe limitations on carrying medications and medical devices set by the country of your destination and all en route stops. In some countries, the consequences for carrying illegal items without permission can be substantial, even severe, e.g., in the Middle East, Singapore, Japan. Some Wikivoyage country and airport articles may help with this.

If you bought travel insurance, bring something a copy of the insurer's description of the coverage, the policy number, and how to contact the insurer wherever you are. Share that information with someone at home who would help you use the coverage, or benefit from it.

Povezave

Poglej tudi: Prihod z letalom

Flying from point A to point B often involves a tranzit ali a povezavo in point C, where you have to disembark, find your connecting flight's gate, and re-board, and maybe pass a border checkpoint at the airport. If both flights are on the same ticket, the airlines are responsible for broken connections and will try to get you on the next flight if you miss your flight. This may also be the case if you fly the same airline or alliance, and you have allowed the required connection time between flights.

In 2016, some airlines/alliances were considering an extra baggage fee on connecting flights. To collect the fee, some may require you to exit the secure area of the terminal at the connecting airport, claim your checked baggage, re-check it on your continuing flight, and again go through security check to reach the gate for your next flight. This requires considerable time. Check with the airline regarding any such fee and need for extra time for flights you find interesting. Answers may be cause for you to look for other arrangements.

If you book separate flights on separate tickets (especially on different airlines), making the connection is solely your responsibility. If you are flying on an airline or fare type that doesn't permit last minute changes, you may lose your fare when one airline's delay makes you late for the next one. Paying a little more for a flexible fare on the final connection may not only avoid this risk, but can also let you catch an earlier flight if you make the connection ahead of schedule.

Airlines may consider a connection as tight as 35 minutes to be valid; which might be reasonable if you don't have to clear customs or security checkpoints, and the arrival and departure gates are within the same building. However, you can get unpleasant surprises at unfamiliar airports; gates could be at opposite ends of the terminal, or even in separate terminals. In that case you should have at least 90 minutes from landing to take-off. Add time for border checkpoints; preferably an hour for each. You can use slack time to eat at the airport, where the food is likely better than what you may (or may not!) get in the air. For that matter, if you at your final destination need to get on a scheduled ground transport (especially one with infrequent departures), you should reserve enough time to get through immigration, customs and baggage delivery if applicable, an extra half hour or so for plane delays, plus possible time for standing in line at a busy ticket counter.

On-line travel searchers/arrangers show statistics on how often a given flight arrives on time. Generally, the last flight of the day into a given destination will be delayed more often than earlier flights, as the airlines use that flight to "sweep" travelers whose inbound connecting flights run late. While the statistics alone won't tell you whether vaš particular flight is likely to be delayed, but it's still useful data.

With separately-booked flights, you are responsible for claiming checked baggage, taking it to the next check-in counter, and checking it for the next flight leg.

Border checkpoints

Poglej tudi: Izogibanje potovanjem po ZDA, Mejni prehod, Vizumi

With international connecting flights, check to see if the country where you will be making a connection requires a transit visa to go through their airport. Some countries require all passengers to pass through customs and immigration even if they are just transferring between international flights, e.g., the United States, Canada. You may find it easier if you can avoid passing through these destinations, particularly the United States which has the same requirements for a transit visa as for a tourist visa. Others, such as Hong Kong and Australia, require certain nationalities to obtain a visa even if they plan to remain in the sterile area. You are responsible for procuring all the necessary visas before you fly; request them as early as possible.

Sedež

Poglej tudi: Sedeži na letalih

Comfort is mainly determined by cabin class.

• First Class is at the front of the largest aircraft, with top-level comfort and service.
• Poslovni razred is near the front. Seating is comfortable, and meals and drinks are usually included.
• Premium Economy might have more leg-room than Economy Class; usually at exit rows.
• Economy Class (standard economy ali trener) makes up the bulk of aircraft seating.

Most airlines assign you a seat at booking. In some cases, you can change it. If you check in at the counter with no seat yet assigned, you can ask if a seat is still available. Budget airlines usually have a surcharge for assigned seating.

• Okno seats give a view, and better sleeping comfort, but are further from the aisle, and have less floor space. The wall can be cold.
• Aisle seats may have more leg space, and make it easier to get up. Sleeping comfort is worse, though.
• Middle seats have the disadvantages of both aisle and window seats.
• Large aircraft have 2-3 outer seats near the windows, with 3-4 (or even 5) between the aisles.
• Some seats in each row may have entertainment electronics installed underneath. These intrude on foot room for those seated behind.

There are also some special seat rows:

• Exit row seats have more legroom and easier access to the aisles; some airlines brand them "Economy Plus". There are some drawbacks: armrests are fixed, and you may need to store baggage overhead. Passengers must be able to help operate the exit in case of an emergency evacuation, so passengers with disabilities, pregnant women and children will not be seated in these rows. Tall passengers might be assigned these seats, but there is no guarantee. Ask at check-in and state the reason you want/need one.
• Upfront seats are the first few rows of an airline's economy class section. Passengers seated here may have the advantage of disembarking first, which is useful for international flights and passengers with tight connections.
• Bulkhead seats have no seat in front of them. You may have to store your baggage overhead. They are often reserved for families with small children. You might snag one on check-in or even at the gate, but count on sitting next to a baby. They have the tray table in the armrest. Some bulkhead seats have a bulkhead behind, meaning that the seat cannot be reclined.
• Window seats near the end of the plane may have more elbow room. However, "window seats" in the back row may in fact have no window. In most jet aircraft, seats in the back get more hrupa. They increase the chance to survive a crash. Rear-end rows often have no middle seats, and more room to spread out.
• Seats in the srednji of the aircraft vibrate less from turbulence, decreasing risk for air sickness. The view from window seats in the middle is obstructed by the wings.
• Seats just before the exit row and at the end of a section may not recline.
• Seats near toilets may be affected by odors, and have people queuing outside.
• Seats near the galleys may be exposed to noise, smells, and lights.
• A row of unoccupied seats might be used as a makeshift bed. Watch for such rows as the last passengers are taking seats. The flight attendants are also aware of these rows, and may use them to relocate people.
• Aircrafts that normally have three seats in a bloc may have a few rows that have two seats. These are found near exit rows and the rear of the aircraft as well as the upper deck of some carriers' A380 aircraft.

Websites with seating details are SeatExpert, SeatGuru, in Seatmaestro.

Sitting in extra legroom seats, upfront seats, and two-seat blocs largely used to be free but carriers have realised that not all economy class seats are created equal, and charge more for the privilege of sitting in such areas. These can be paid using credit cards or frequent flyer points. Expect to be charged on the spot if these premium seats have not been reserved/allocated and you wish to sit on them. However, members of an carrier's frequent flyer programme who belong to the upper tiers or who have a premium credit card (e.g. gold and platinum) associated with that airline may be able to book these seats for no extra cost or a reduced rate.

Amending trip details and special requests

Sometimes trip plans fall through for whatever reason or you may have additional requests (e.g. seating or meal preferences). If you purchased your ticket from a travel agency or a consolidator website, contact them or visit their website first before getting in touch with the carrier directly. This is especially the case if you purchased your ticket as part of a package (which includes accommodation and other tours). If you purchased your ticket directly from the carrier, you should contact them directly or go to their website to manage your booking. Legacy carriers support special requests on their web sites.

Once you have confirmed your flights, be sure to let the carrier or your travel agent know if you have any special requests. Typical examples include:

• special meals (vegetarian, kosher, medical restrictions, allergies, etc.)
• special seats (exit row seats for tall people, bulkhead seats for baby bassinets)
• airport assistance (wheelchair or unaccompanied minor)

You can check to see what meals to expect on Airlinemeals.net.

Airlines not providing meals in the price of your ticket can be viewed tukaj.

With some airlines, you need to remind the crew about your special meals order before the meals are served, to save them from browsing the passenger list and finding you in the cabin (or even finding your special order after serving you regular meals). Travel agencies have a tendency to lose track of the many requests they get, so if it's res serious it's wise to contact the airline directly and make sure the message has gotten through, and to mention it at check-in.

Special meal requests

Special meals are a variation from the standard food offered by the airline. They generally match a variety of dietary or religions requirements, such as košer, halal, Hindujski, vegetarian, diabetic, Low salt etc. Children's meals are often also available as special meals.

Special meals are offered by some airlines, often they can be ordered as part of the online booking process, or subsequently by managing the booking online. Special meals always need to be ordered at least 24, and sometimes up to 72 hours in advance, and the chances of getting one at check-in or when on the plane are slim (although it can never hurt to ask, as occasionally there are special meals on the plane from people who failed to board).

Special meals are usually served before other meals, this can be especially useful for children's meals. They can be of higher quality, but can also be lacking in some aspects, for example a vegetarian meal could be a vegan meal such as plain vegetables and rice (rather than that spinach and ricotta pasta they may have been hoping for). Kosher meals (which were among the first special meals to be widely available) have a notoriously shoddy reputation in the US, but again, what you'll get will vary widely by airline and on some carriers you'll automatically get a meal that conforms to certain dietary standards. Izraelski flag carrier El Al for one has never served a non-kosher in flight meal in all its existence. Similarly, the carriers of most Muslim-majority countries, including the big three Middle Eastern airlines Emirati, Qatar Airways in Etihad Airways only serve halal meals on their flights.

Unaccompanied minors

Poglej tudi: Potovanje z otroki

Unaccompanied minors are children, typically 12 or younger, for whom the airline assumes some duty to care for them. They will disembark last, and will only be handed over to the person identified on a check-in form. If the assigned person does not meet the child from the flight, the airline reserves the right to return the child to the origin immediately at the guardian's cost.

Some airlines (mainly budget airlines) will not accept unaccompanied minors, and might require that children 12 or under must be accompanied by a guardian 18-years or over. Online booking and child discounts might be unavailable for these children. Generally a child must be over 5 to be accepted as an unaccompanied minor. Sometimes the minimum age for a connecting flight is 8 years or over.

Help with complexities

If all the above planning, flight trade-offs and ticket purchasing seems complex (especially for international travel), look for assistance.

• You may have prijatelji with practical experience. Ask them what they've done to plan, choose airlines, make such arrangements, and prepare for your kind of trip. Objectively balance their experiences with your on-line and other research.
• Consider using a potovalni agent. Ti maja pay a premium, but it will often be worth avoiding the considerable work and hassle of finding and booking the best, practicable tickets by yourself. And the agent may fully or partly pay for his/her services by finding special savings at sites you cannot access, e.g., he/she has access to air travel brokers and consolidators not usable by the public, at times offering better deals. He/she can also arrange special requests (special diets, baby bassinets, wheelchair assistance, etc.) directly with the airline. If you wish, they can advise you on accommodations, airport transfers and guided tours that may save you money (perhaps as a package) compared to arranging each need separately. As above, the fee (if any) you pay for such services is real but often "built into" better airline fares and flight selections.

Prtljaga

Poglej tudi: Letalska prtljaga

There are two basic types of flight baggage. Oddana prtljaga, check-in baggage ali hold baggage is handed to airline staff at check-in, loaded into the hold of the aircraft, and picked up on arrival. Cabin baggage, hand baggage ali carry-on baggage is carried by passengers in the cabin.

Baggage limits

Baggage allowance is stated on your ticket. Weight and size limits differ between airlines and ticket classes; full-service airlines, higher ticket classes and longer flights tend to be more allowing. The airline's website can tell about fees for additional baggage. Cabin baggage is included with the ticket, except for some budget airlines.

Usually, one piece of check-in baggage is included in business class ticket, or at an intercontinental flight. Each additional bag has a fee, usually less when paid in advance. Weight limit for international flights and domestic US flights is usually 23 kg (50 lb) per piece, not to exceed 60 inches (152,4 cm) total for length, width and thickness. Within Europe, it is often 20 kg (44 lb), with total size varying by airline. Checked items may be limited by total weight of all checked pieces, rather than each piece.

S codeshare flights, baggage allowance may differ from the airline indicated by the flight code, and frequent flyers' increased allowance might not apply.

Cabin baggage

On most aircraft (except the smallest), each passenger can bring one piece of baggage within 55×40×20 centimeters (9×14×22 inches; exact dimensions vary between airlines). A cabin suitcase is designed with these dimensions. Though weight is rarely checked, nominal weight limit is sometimes as low as 7 kg. Most airlines also allow a small bag, such as a purse, handbag, or laptop computer bag, and an umbrella but some low-cost carriers may count these against the one hand luggage allowance passengers are entitled to. Passengers can also carry their own outdoor clothing.

Never put high-value or irreplaceable items in your checked baggage. Most travel insurance and airlines will not cover such items when placed in checked baggage. Checked bags do get misplaced/misrouted, or emergencies may happen during flight, and you may need immediate access to something.

Liquids and dangerous objects

IATA guidelines apply the 3-1-1 limits to vse international flights. They impose 100 ml (3.4 oz) limits on liquids, gels and pastes in cabin baggage, including aerosols, toothpaste, deodorant, drinks and water. Containers must fit in a single clear bag/pouch smaller than 20cm x 20cm or 1 quart. Each container inside must meet the 100ml/3.4oz limit. Exceptions are possible, e.g., for medication or baby care items.

Duty-free items purchased airside maja be allowed on board. In the worst case, en-route terminal changes may force you to re-check through security. Even if sealed in a tamper-proof sack, containers of liquids originally bought "airside" elsewhere may not be allowed through "re-check".

Place medications and liquids where they can be easily seen at security check. Ensure that medications are kept in original containers and clearly labeled. Place other liquids in your checked baggage. You may need to demonstrate the harmlessness of any liquid you carry on request by security officials. Expect to discard liquids and gels that don't meet regulations. Bottled water might be bought airside, or refilled in an empty bottle from a bathroom tap.

Sharp or weapon-like objects are prohibited, including pointed scissors, noži, metallic tools, baseball bats, martial arts weapons, as well as "convincing looking" toy weapons. Pack sharp items in your checked bags in ways that don't create risk for baggage inspectors.

The United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have strict rules regarding bringing in food. All food must be declared to customs and inspected, even if the items are permitted, and failure to do so is punishable by fines and a possible jail sentence.

Oprema

• Headphones with electronic plug adapters. For long flights, some carriers provide them, often for a fee.
• The airline's web site should list permitted electronic devices; on board, look in the in-flight magazine to find the "rules". Perhaps even better than all this, treat yourself to a good book... hardcopy or electronic.
• A light jacket, vest, wrap or small blanket.
• On longer flights, a neck pillow or other kind of pillow, something to pad the small of the back
• Slippers
• Nicotine gum for smokers
• Earplugs or noise-canceling headphones
• Sanitizing wipes
• Časopis. Can be used to insulate against the cabin wall.
• Health kit for minor "incidents", e.g., cuts/scratches, stomach upset, slight infections.

Baggage with electronic devices is more likely to be inspected; so pack them to be easily seen. In most countries, laptops and tablet computers are scanned separately; you have to remove it from any cabin baggage holding other items. Make sure its batteries are charged at least enough to "boot" it up for a simple demonstration.

Airport security may confiscate carry-on items they feel are "suspicious", often without recourse. At that point, you would not be able to put those items in your checked baggage, because by then it would already be waiting to be loaded aboard your aircraft.

Carry-on only travel

If you need less baggage, consider taking carry-on only. You don't have to wait to claim baggage, and you might save a baggage fee. Check your ticket for baggage restrictions. However, you can only bring items that pass through airport security. Consider to buy clothes, toiletries and other equipment at the destination. Due to the proliferation of low-cost airlines where the baggage fee sometimes exceeds the ticket price, there are various videos or guides online showing how to fit a week's vacation into a "jacket" and cabin sized backpack. Keep in mind that you may attract more scrutiny trying to pull something like that and checking non pre-booked luggage in at the airport usually costs more than booking it with your flight.

A few airlines actually charge for anything beyond the "personal item" of your hand luggage. If you fly with such an airline paying for checked bags is usually better value anyway.

Alternative baggage delivery

If you want to travel with carry-on only but also have check-in baggage, you can use luggage delivery service. Alternatively, you can use a wardrobe management company like The Traveler's Closet^{[prej mrtva povezava]}.

Razmislite shipping baggage as cargo, also known as unaccompanied baggage. Many airports have companies that will arrange this for you, and aggregators like xsbaggage can find one for you. Fees can be quite high, and your bags will be shipped separately ...necessarily a few and perhaps several days earlier. Instead of claiming them at your destination airport, you'll have to arrange collection or delivery somewhere else. For international locations, you may need to do customs declarations/claims for them.

Baggage to be checked

Poglej tudi: Seznam pakiranja

Checked baggage allows more weight and volume than your hand baggage, and allows restricted items such as knives and liquids. It is however more exposed to theft, weather, and forceful baggage handling.

Pressurized containers, explosives, hazardous materials and weapons (or items that poglej like weapons) are prohibited, both in cabin and check-in baggage. For the USA, see the TSA's guide to Transporting Special Items. Note also "Carry-on Contents" below.

Consider customizing the outside of your checked baggage with tape, colored belts, etc., so you can find it easily at baggage claim...and no one else can claim it "erroneously".

If you take as much as you are allowed, purchases on your trip may make your bag(s) overweight on your return trip, requiring extra fees. One alternative might be to donate or discard enough used clothing before returning home to offset your purchases. If you plan a lot of shopping, consider packing a collapsible bag for your return trip. Outbound it should induce little weight and so no fee in you check bag(s); homeward bound it can prevent a piece from becoming overweight. To ensure no weight overage, you might use a bathroom weight scale at home. Later, an accurate handheld scale can be useful; lacking that, ask about a scale at the hotel having just packed for your return.

Most airports have baggage carts for rent, but you often need local currency, usually coins. In some countries, you cannot take these carts through security checkpoints. Some airports offer free carts, more often in areas for arriving flights. Most airports and hotels have porters, usually working for tips. Elsewhere, you'll likely be entirely on your own.

Drugi pomisleki

On small aircraft, you might need to check in standard-dimension hand baggage. Most airlines don't charge for such checking, but it increases risk of theft. With airlines that charge extra fees for all checked bags, baggage costs can become punitive. If in doubt, check in advance with your agent or airline for each leg on your itinerary.

Some low cost carriers (e.g. Ryanair) have no free checked baggage allowance and charge per kilo. Large items such as šport equipment might induce more fees, special baggage check-in, and extra time to be claimed on arrival.

Overweight baggage

For checked baggage, every kilo (or centimeter) over the limit may be charged some fixed fee or a percentage of the airfare. This can get expensive, especially on budget airlines.

• Once you place your bag on the scales at check-in, some airlines will not allow you to take out contents; even if they do, it is an embarrassing hassle.
• If you were close to the allowed weights outbound, make sure you wear the same (weights of) clothes back home.

If you know your bags will be definitely overweight, consult your airline. They may offer baggage upgrades before arrival at the airport for less than excess-baggage fees at the airline counter. Pre-booking excess baggage online can come with discounts.

Most airlines have an absolute maximum weight limit for a single checked item, often 32 kg; this is for the health and safety of the baggage handlers loading the aircraft.

As an alternative to excess baggage, consider sending your excess items by post or courier.

Zdravila

Imajo documentation that all zdravila belong to you. Take no more meds than you need on your trip. Keep all in their original containers (over-the-counter and Rx) so that baggage inspectors (especially customs) will have an indicator of what's inside. Make sure that no substance is illegal in any country you will visit or transit. For some countries, you need government permission to carry the meds within its borders.

• Some countries (e.g., Japan) may have unexpected restrictions on basic medications, even at-home over-the-counter items, e.g., anti-histamines. They will be confiscated if discovered.
• The consequences for unauthorized medications can be severe, e.g., immediate confiscation, fine, arrest, possible prison.

How to pack

Pack as much as possible of check-in baggage contents in resealable plastic bags. They help security inspections and repacking, and protect against rain or being soiled. If you choose to seal them (e.g., if zip-lock bags), "burp" them of excess air; otherwise, at altitude the bags may burst. They are equally useful returning, e.g., to keep soiled items separate from other content.

Checked baggage is often tossed about in transit. Fragile items should be carefully packed, or preferably carried in hand baggage. Uporaba a FRAGILE sticker to checked baggage is rarely sufficient to change the way baggage handlers care for bags. Place heavy items toward the bottom of bags. Do not mix heavy and fragile items in the same bag. Any content likely to trigger a manual inspection should be placed where it will be quickly seen as the bag is opened.

For containers of substantial liquids, choose rugged screw-capped bottles with tops not designed to pop open, even if you must buy them separately and manually fill them at home. Otherwise, use new/unopened bottles of product still sealed. Consider taping any pop-open cap tightly to the rest of the container as well as the opening. Put each bottle in a separate, burped and sealed plastic bag to protect other baggage contents. Even better, if your destination(s) have such products for sale, you can save weight, space and bother by buying them there.

Glass containers and other fragile items must be packed well. Put them individually in plastic bags and seal with a knot or their zip-lock. Wrap them in clothes or towels and place them in the middle of your bag between other soft items. The overall bag needs to be tightly packed.

Never put unprocessed film in checked baggage. X-rays destroy unprocessed film. Magnetic tape may be affected by repeated exposure to strong x-rays.

Preventing and recovering lost baggage

Place identification on both the outside and inside of your bag. Rugged, well-attached baggage tags are crucial...with at least name, address, phone. Prefere those that have a flap to cover your identity.

• Copies of your trip itinerary inside and in an outside pocket can be equally useful, including name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, flight number(s) and your itinerary. Airlines or others must have this to locate you or forward your baggage if your tag or the airline tag comes off or baggage gets mis-routed.
• If packing a box, put your name, address and phone numbers in big block letters and numbers on at least 2 opposite sides, plus an itinerary sheet inside. Do not use a return address unless you are shipping something as air freight. Checked baggage should have only ONE address.

If an airline "loses" bags, it often loses one rather than all, except for major delays and flight cancellations. Distribute clothes and other equipment for everyone in the group between bags, so everyone has something to use until the "lost" bag is found. Delayed baggage coming in on a later flight is far more common than truly "lost" baggage (over 24 hrs.) Take a photo of all your checked baggage for identification; this is useful to cross language barriers. Lost or delayed baggage is more common if you depart from a larger airport than a smaller one. This includes transfers en route; the size of your arrival airport is less important. Non-stop flights decrease the risk of baggage hassles.

• As a last resort, airlines can search a worldwide database of the contents of bags that have been misdirected... based on passenger declarations of contents at lost-baggage offices. They do not catalog each item inside a bag, so declare one unique, easily-seen item in your bag to help the airline find it. All the more reason to place copies of your itinerary inside and outside your checked bags.

Two ways to reinforce baggage, are:

• Tightly applying brightly-colored baggage straps. Ensure any strap-ends are well-secured/tucked-in so they won't be snagged in handling. The colors will help you find your checked bags.
• In major departure airports, you may find a baggage-zavijanje storitev. For a fee, they will wrap a piece of baggage in multiple layers of plastic sheeting. (Such wrap is not permitted if your baggage will go through U.S. and some other countries' security screening; they must be able to quickly inspect contents manually.) Wrapping occurs before you present the baggage at the airline counter to be checked. Make sure the weight of the wrap doesn't make the item overweight. Also make sure your name tag is clearly visible...preferably outside the wrap.

Securing your bags

A few steps can help deter damage and tatvina, but can be compromised because items must be ready for security inspections.

Airports do electronic and/or manual inspection of bags. At a manual inspection, the bag is opened. If locked by other than approved locks for that country (e.g., by TSA for the U.S.), inspectors must cut or break them (and perhaps the zipper-pulls they're applied to) to get inside. If you check hard-shelled suitcases with "built-in" locks, consult the airline or your travel agen for usability.

After manual inspection, bags are re-packed and re-secured by inspectors, with your lock, your baggage strap and/or a plastic tie joining the zipper-pulls. If plastic ties have been applied, you might need a cutting tool. Put it in an outside pocket of the suitcase. Inspectors usually leave a note inside an inspected bag.

You may be directed to check one or more bags (that you expect to carry-on) at the ticket counter, aircraft gate or as you step board. Reasons can include:

• You have over-packed one or more of them, or have too many. This can involve a major fee.
• Part of your journey is on a small plane with limited cabin space.
• If one of the last to board, the cabin might run out of space. They announce that those not yet seated must allow large carry-on baggage to be taken to the hold; items will receive special tags. Carry-ons are much more likely to contain valuables, and so are often targeted by thieves. You should lock them after passing the personal security check. If practicable, snugly apply a baggage strap. You'll usually claim "checked carry-ons" at the baggage claim. For smaller aircraft, you may have gate- or ramp-checked your carry-on, and it may well be returned to you as you depart the aircraft.

Some travelers take extra precautions with checked bags...some expensive:

• To locate their bags at baggage claim, they fasten flashers/beepers to the outside that they can trigger by a device they carry.
• Others may place GPS tracking devices inside their baggage that indicate its location...helpful if lost or misrouted.

Special luggage

It is usually possible to bring special oversize luggage, in top of your main check-in bag. This can be sports equipment (golf, skis, bicycle etc), musical instrument etc. They should be prebooked, and you should ask before booking your main ticket if they are allowed. Some flights don't allow such luggage. If you travel with expensive sports equipment (SCUBA gear, parachute, etc.), chances are you might be allowed to take them into the aircraft cabin. Chances are higher if your destination is used to that kind of equipment. Taking SCUBA gear to Egypt and a parachute to Dubai should be hassle free, but the other way around, taking it on board might be declined.

There is an extra fee, which can be $400 for a long-distance return ticket. Wheel-chairs and baby-strollers are normally allowed without extra cost, but should also be prebooked.

Clothing

Poglej tudi: Clothing

The days of wearing one's "Sunday Best" on a plane are now mostly gone and even business travelers or celebrities will nowadays dress for comforts more than looks. That said, there's no need to be disheveled or forego a shower. Even if you sleep at the airport, there's usually an option to clean yourself. Outside baggage allowance, passengers can wear as much clothes as they prefer, including heavy outdoor clothes... within reasonable limits. Cabin temperature may vary in-flight, especially when flying overnight. Dress in adjustable plasti.

• Uporabi soft jacket for warmth.
• Blankets and pillows are usually offered on long flights, and/or in business class. Other passengers can consider to bring them.
• Warm socks/slipper-socks can be useful. Wear your shoes when walking to the toilet, as their floors may be wet, even filthy. Cabin walls and cabin air near exit doors can get cold. If you have a window seat, you'll likely need something to insulate against the wall...even a few sheets of newspaper can help remarkably. If near an exit door, you may need all the clothing layers you can access, especially if you can't get a blanket.

It has been said that passengers who fly in a business suit receive better service. While wearing a suit instead of packing it can save baggage space, you risk soiling it.

Airplane interiors can be filthy, especially on budget airlines. Consider wearing something in-flight that you can doff soon after disembarking to wash/clean it later. Če traveling for business, put at least one business outfit in your hand baggage.

When leaving a cold region for a warm one, you can leave winter wear at home if air transit is short. Consider leaving winter garments with friends if they take you to the airport and pick you up on return.

For travel to a cold region from warm, use layers and carry at least a lined jacket; it may be some time before you get the clothes from your checked baggage.

Ostani varen

Poglej tudi: Nasvet za živčne letake, Flight and health

While the risk for lethal accidents is very low on commercial airlines, delays and cancellations are frequent.

• Check government sources and reliable news sources for travel warnings. If they show potential for trouble (strikes, political unrest, natural disasters, etc), check with your agent, airline or airport (e.g., website) about your travel. Whether or not you are a U.S. citizen, you may be interested in the U.S. State Department's travel warnings and those by other relevant governments. Those warnings can affect departures from U.S. or other airports to areas having a warning, in departures from such locales to your country.
• Consider the safety record of the airline, the aircraft it uses, and airport reputations if flying into smaller airfields or developing countries. Also look for flight segments you've been offered under a code-sharing arrangement, where you book on a reputable airline but actually fly on a different one for any part of your trip. You may then be flying an airline or aircraft with a poorer or unknown safety record, or that has baggage capacity less than you may need for your trip. Note that airlines from developing countries (such as Air Zimbabwe) can have outstanding safety records, so don't make assumptions. The Evropska unija bans a bunch of airlines from its airspace. The list is a matter of public record, but the reasons are sometimes arguably political. That said, you may want to follow the EU's lead in not using an airline even if the reason is "political".

Če imate health issues, consult your doctor and ensure the airline knows about any condition that might be problematic for flying well before the start of the trip – even before you pay for tickets. Airlines can often help you if you have physical limitations or some medical condition.

Fifty countries worldwide, including China, South Africa, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand require that insecticides (usually residual types) be used on planes. If the airline (e.g., Hawaiian Airlines) does not use residual insecticide, the plane may be sprayed in-flight. If you are sensitive to such chemicals, ask in-advance what is used.

Zavarovanje

Main article: Potovalno zavarovanje

Travel insurance cost depends on trip cost and duration, age of travelers, level of coverage requested for certain problems, and destination country.

Airline insurance purchased with the ticket will often focus only on the airline's responsibilities, while a quality, overall travel policy will cover most/all risks of your end-to-end trip. You may obtain better rates for a general policy by buying a it through or from an association you belong to, e.g., AAA, AA, AARP. Very-frequent travelers should consider long-term (annual) policies; coverage can be equivalent while costing much less per trip.

Flight insurance (for death or major dismemberment while flying to a single destination) has also become a very poor investment. The probability is extremely low that you or your relatives will receive kaj benefit...because flying has become so safe.

Pre-flight checks

Reconfirming your flight

In general, it is no longer necessary to call the airline to reconfirm flights, as reservation systems are fairly reliable. Check the reservation online, and call the airline only if there are problems.

The main exceptions are when you are flying way off the beaten track on an airline that doesn't (or looks like it doesn't!) do computerized reservations, especially when there won't be another flight for a week. Off the beaten track in Indonezija, for example, it's wise to reconfirm not just once but twice — although you may still get bumped off if a VIP and his harem show up at the last minute.

Checking your reservation

Double-check that your itinerary is still correct. Not only can you check that everything is order, but also you can see whether any waitlists have cleared, flight times have changed, your special requests are recorded, etc. Most legacy carriers offer checking through a website, smartphone app, and telephone. Check in good time, as in case of flight cancellation or overbooking, you might be able to catch an earlier flight. If your carrier changes the itinerary. they or your agent will try to contact you, but they may not reach you in time. There are a number of online services for reservation checking; however, you'll have to figure out which reservation system was used to do the booking. This is usually printed at the top of your itinerary, but if all else fails you can always ask the agent.

• Abacus/Sabre
• Amadeus
• Apollo/Galileo
• Though Worldspan also offers such information, it is now accessible only to those with a valid Worldspan server installation, and ready to use ID and GDS for sign-on.

Budget airline flights often will not show up in these systems.

V primerih severe weather (e.g. blizzard, fog) or recent airport closures, get in touch with your airline before you leave home to see whether your flight is delayed or cancelled. If your flight is cancelled, and you have been put on the waitlist for a future flight, don't come to the airport, until the airline informed you that you can fly on the flight for which you are waitlisted. Check occasionally to learn of any progress.

Spletna prijava

Poglej tudi: At_the_airport#Check-in

Most carriers now offer online check-in of some form where passengers can at least initiate the check-in process on an internet-enabled device (e.g. personal computer, smartphone, tablet) before arriving at the airport. The online check-in window opens anytime from 24 hours (especially for flights involving the US) to 30 days (for low cost carriers based in Europe) before departure. Nowadays, online check-in may be the only way to initiate the check-in process for some low-cost carriers (e.g. Ryanair). To begin online check-in, passengers have to log on to their carrier's website or open their carrier's mobile app (which can be downloaded from their device's app store). They will need the booking reference or their username and password for the airline's website (if they booked the flight while logged on using their account) and follow instructions from there. For international flights, passengers may also need to supply details found in their passports. They can select their preferred seats, add extra bags, provide their frequent flyer number for mileage accrual, and purchase other extras (depending on the carrier). At the end of the process, passengers may be given the option to print their boarding card or download it to their phones.

Za nekatere lete spletna prijava morda ni mogoča ali ima omejitve, tudi če letalska družba redno ponuja spletno prijavo. To še posebej velja, če potnik leti na progi, kjer mora osebje videti dodatne dokumente (npr. Vizum) in opraviti dodatna varnostna preverjanja. Tudi če je mogoča spletna prijava in potniki nimajo vreč, jih lahko prevoznik še vedno zahteva, da nadaljujejo z določeno pisarno na letališču za več pregledov.

Če potnik iz kakršnega koli razloga ne more prijaviti on-line ali natisniti / prenesti svoje vstopne kartice, kioski za prijavo na letališču delujejo na enak način in izdajo vstopno izkaznico. Ko je del spletne prijave končan, jih lahko potniki s torbami odložijo na določeni letalski mizi na letališču, da nadaljujejo postopek.

Posebna mehanika prijave se razlikuje glede na prevoznika; pred odhodom od doma preverite spletno mesto svojega prevoznika.

Druge metode oddaljene prijave

Nekateri prevozniki ponujajo tudi prijave na postajah izven letaliških prostorov. Ponujene zmogljivosti so podobne tistim v a tradicionalna prijava postajo na letališču, vendar lahko pogosto pridejo z doplačilom ali pa jo lahko koristijo le potniki, ki potujejo na določen način do letališča (npr. letališki vlak). V vse redkejših primerih lahko nekateri prevozniki ponudijo tudi SMS ali telefonsko prijavo, s katero potnik ob prihodu na letališče prispe do določene pisarne.

Poglej tudi

• Potovalne osnove

Končano? Premaknite se na naslednji odsek tega vodnika: Na letališču →