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Earnings and pricing updated June 4, 2007

What to Know About Your Rights When You Fly

According to the Air Transport Association, this summer will be the busiest in aviation history with a record number of travelers flying U.S. airlines. Most airlines have cut flight inventory in an effort to be profitable. Fewer flights mean fewer seats resulting in very little wiggle little room for displaced passengers; i.e., those people who miss their flights for one reason or another. Here are a few tips to make travel during peak season more enjoyable in case you become one of the millions of passengers expected to be "displaced" this summer.

Know Your Rights: With flights going out at or near capacity, it's important to know your rights in the event of a flight delay, cancellation or overbooking. Airlines aren't responsible for weather delays and things out of their control. As a result, you won't get reimbursed for your food or hotel stay if your flight is canceled due to a hurricane or thunderstorm. But if your flight is canceled due to mechanical difficulties, you are entitled to some compensation and maybe even a ticket on another airline. Each airline sets its own policy about how it will compensate delayed or stranded passengers. You can find your airline's policy (known as Rule 240) at www.mytravelrights.com. Print this out and keep it with your travel documents. You may need to refer to it. The Department of Transportation requires airlines to keep a copy of Rule 240 available for passengers at every ticket counter, but don't count on that. You need to be the expert. Don't rely on the airlines to inform you of your rights.

Don't Stop: In my opinion, it's almost always worth it to pay for a non-stop flight. I learned this the hard way after getting stranded overnight in Chicago after missing a connection due to a weather delay. Paying $80 more for a non-stop flight would have been a bargain compared to the food and hotel costs. (Remember: airlines don't reimburse you for weather delays or cancellations due to weather.)

I've seen cases where the non-stop flight costs hundreds more than a connecting flight, and I just can't reconcile paying $300 extra to fly non-stop. In those instances, my ideal connection time is 1 to 1 ½ hours between flights since it gives me a reasonable buffer in case the original flight is delayed. And if my first flight gets in on time, I treat myself to a meal or, when available, visit an airport spa while I'm waiting for my connection.

Don't Get Bumped: Some airlines are notorious for overbooking. Like hotels, airlines expect a certain number of no-shows so flights are almost always overbooked to compensate for the no-show factor. With this in mind, it is always best to check-in as early as possible to avoid the bump. Some airlines offer online check-in 24 hours before scheduled flight time. If you check-in online and print your boarding pass before heading to the airport, you'll reduce the chance you'll be involuntarily bumped from an overbooked flight.

How to Avoid a Luggage Nightmare: As a frequent traveler, I avoid checking bags whenever possible. Checking bags takes additional time at the airport and exposes you to the risk of a lost or delayed bag. I regularly travel for up to a week with a single carry-on suitcase; however, sometimes checking bags is unavoidable for longer trips. A few tips to consider when you must check luggage:

1. Take a quick look at the luggage tag as it is being placed on your bag by the ticketing agent. It should have a three letter code (airport code). That code should match your destination. Make sure the agent attaches your luggage receipt to your ticket jacket.
2. Lock your bag using a TSA-approved lock like this one from eBAGS. ($14.99 eBAGS.com) It won't prevent the TSA from opening your bag, but an indicator on the lock will let you know if your bag was opened.
3. Don't want to pay for a special TSA luggage lock? Use a zip-tie as an impromptu luggage lock. To open your bag, scissors would be required. But that's ok by TSA standards. Zip ties won't protect you from a determined thief, but they will deter any casual snoopers.
4. Even when I check a bag, I always pack medicine, essential toiletries, a minimum of one change of clothes and any items I might need for the first 24 hours of my trip in my carry-on bag. If I'm going to the beach, I pack a swimsuit too. And if I'm going on a business trip, I always have at least one professional outfit in my carry-on. Most "lost" luggage turns up within 24-48 hours. If you go prepared with a 24-hour carry-on bag, delayed luggage won't prevent you from enjoying your vacation.

Prepare for the Unexpected: I also carry a bottle of Origins Peace of Mind On-the-Spot Gel ($10.00 Origins.com) with me in case I find myself in the need of some stress relief. It's smaller than 3 ounces, so I can take it through security without worry. It recently came in handy when I was seated next to an extremely smelly passenger during a completely full flight. A little dab under my nose masked the unpleasant odor, and my other seatmate thanked me profusely for sharing the Peace of Mind gel with him while "smelly-guy" was in the bathroom.

Sitting next to a smelly passenger is one of those problems you never think about until it happens. But when you're in that situation, I assure you that it's all you'll be able to think about. So it pays to be prepared.

Try to Relax: It's a shame that so many vacations have to start and end with airplane flights and the associated cramped seats, security hassles, long lines, and delays. Since you don't want to have negative bookends on a great trip, try to view the flight as a positive time to catch up on reading or chill out with new iPod playlist. I have a friend who loves fashion magazines, but she only buys and reads them when she flies. As a result, she has a reason to look forward to a flight rather than a reason to dread it.

Tip: With all of the new restrictions on liquids, make sure you carry only the three ounce maximum container size and your liquids are enclosed in a quart-sized Ziploc bag. For more information on liquid restrictions go to http://www.tsa.gov/311/ or just place your liquids in your checked bags to be sure.

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