Air travel is the most convenient way for most people to travel, but it can be completely maddening when something goes wrong. Preparations should be taken before the flight to ensure that no problems crop up.
Using a variety of booking engines can guarantee that you'll find the best ticket prices. Sites like Expedia, Orbitz and Kayak all search multiple carriers to bring you the best price.
Once you've scoured these sites for the best price, be sure to call the airline that the lowest ticket price appears on and ask for additional discounts, because in some cases, there may be additional reductions available.
Check the websites of both the airline you're flying with and the airports you'll be flying through for their policies, instructions and information. By taking advantage of available information about policies such as airport security procedures or airline baggage policies, you can save significant amounts of time as well as stress.
It is also prudent to write down the number for your airline's reservations system, because if a flight is canceled or delayed, calling from your cell phone is much faster than racing all other passengers to the ticket counter.
Keeping records of all your needed documents such as tickets, frequent flier program numbers, as well as an inventory of your packed items is a smart choice. Having the documents on hand in case of emergencies or problems in the airport can avert flight delays as well as missed flights.
For domestic flights, a government-issued photo identification card will suffice. For international flights, a passport is required. Most airlines have an electronic ticket option that allows you to pick up your ticket at the counter in the airport, although you can still have a physical paper ticket mailed to you if you´d like.
