# Travel >> Transportation >> Airports

How to Change Airlines During a Trip

Cuts in air service and flight capacity has led to more air travelers taking circuitous routes to their final destination, changing planes and sometimes airlines. Search engines allow you to find the cheapest air fare by flying more than one airline, but each airline only takes responsibility for its flight. Multi-stop itineraries allow you to customize your trip, but they can also throw a wrench in travel plans if a flight is delayed or canceled. Try to leave enough time between flights so a snafu will not cause you to miss a connecting flight.

Computer with Internet
Printer
Cellphone

Instructions

Changing planes
- 1
  Go to the website of the airport where you are changing planes. Almost every airport has its own website. If the airport does not have a website, it may be so small that navigating the airport will be easy.
- 2
  Find a map of the airport and print it out. This is useful if you are changing terminals when you are changing airlines. Flight attendants may announce gates for connecting flights, but they only do so for flights on their airlines.
- 3
  Bring the phone number for each airline with you. As soon as you land and the flight attendant announces that it is safe to use your cellphone, call the airline and get the gate number for your connecting flight.
- 4
  Use the time while you wait to get off the plane to map out the quickest route to your next flight.
- 5
  Research later flight options so if you are delayed and miss a connecting flight, you know what flight to request.