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in a certain number of days after the
reservation was made. Other tickets normally have
to be picked up no later than 30 minutes before the
flight.
You must appear at the gate at least 10 minutes before
departure, even if you already have a boarding pass and
seat assignment.
In addition to the ticketing deadline, each airline has
a check-in deadline, which is the amount of time
before scheduled departure that you must present
yourself to the airline at the airport. For domestic
flights most carriers have a deadline of 10 minutes
before scheduled departure, but some can be an hour
or longer. (Many airlines require passengers with
advance seat assignments to check in 30 minutes
before scheduled departure, even if they already
have advance boarding passes. If you miss this
deadline you may lose the specific seats you were
promised, although not the reservation itself.)
Check-in deadlines on international flights can be as
much as three hours before scheduled departure
time, due partially to security procedures. Some
airlines may simply require you to be at the
ticket/baggage counter by this time; most, however,
require that you get all the way to the boarding area.
If you miss the ticketing or check-in deadline, you
may have lost your reservation and your right to
compensation if the flight is oversold.
As noted above, no compensation is due if the
airline arranges substitute transportation which is
scheduled to arrive at your destination within one
hour of your originally scheduled arrival time.
If the airline must substitute a smaller plane for the
one it originally planned to use, the carrier isn't
required to pay people who are bumped as a result.
The rules do not apply to charter flights, or to
scheduled flights operated with planes that hold 60
or fewer passengers. They don't apply to
international flights inbound to the United States,
although some airlines on these routes may follow
them voluntarily. Also, if you are flying between
two foreign cities from Paris to Rome, for
example—these rules will not apply. The European
Community has a rule on bumpings that occur in an
EC country; ask the airline for details, or contact
DOT.
The best way to avoid getting 'bumped' is to check in
early.
The most effective way to reduce the risk
of being bumped is to get to the airport early. On
oversold flights the last passengers to check in are
usually the first to be bumped, even if they have met
the check-in deadline. Allow extra time; assume that
the airport access road is backed up, the parking lot
is full, and there is a long line at the check-in
counter. However, if you arrive so early that your
airline has another flight to your destination leaving
before the one that you are booked on, either switch
to the earlier flight or don't check your bag until
after the first flight leaves. If you check your bag
right away, it might get put on the earlier flight and
remain unattended at your destination airport for
hours.
Airlines may offer free transportation on
future flights in place of a check for denied boarding
compensation. However, if you are bumped
involuntarily you have the right to insist on a check
if that is your preference. Once you cash the check
(or accept the free flight), you will probably lose the
right to demand more money from the airline later
on. However, if being bumped costs you more
money than the airline will pay you at the airport,
you can try to negotiate a higher settlement with
their complaint department. If this doesn't work,
you usually have 30 days from the date on the check
to decide if you want to accept the amount of the
check. You are always free to decline the check and
take the airline to court to try to obtain more
compensation. The government's denied boarding
regulation spells out the airlines' minimum
obligation to people they bump involuntarily.
Finally, don't be a “no-show.” If you are
holding confirmed reservations you don't plan to
use, notify the airline. If you don't, they will cancel
all onward or return reservations on your trip.
Between the time you check your luggage in and the
time you claim it at your destination, it may have
passed through a maze of conveyor belts and
baggage carts; once airborne, baggage may tumble
around the cargo compartment if the plane hits
rough air. In all fairness to the airlines, however,
relatively few bags are damaged or lost. With some
common-sense packing and other precautions, your
bags will probably be among the ones that arrive
safely.
Packing
You can pack to avoid problems. Some items should
never be put into a bag you plan to check into the
cargo compartment:
Small valuables: cash, credit cards, jewelry,
cameras.
Critical items: medicine, keys, passport, tour
vouchers, business papers.
Irreplaceable items: manuscript, heirlooms.
Fragile items: eyeglasses, glass containers,
liquids.
Things like this should be carried on your person or
packed in a carry-on bag that will fit under the seat.
Remember, the only way to be sure your valuables
are not damaged or lost is to keep them with you.
Even if your bag is not lost, it could be
delayed for a day or two. Don't put perishables in a
checked bag; they may spoil if it is delayed. It is
wise to put items that you will need during the first
24 hours in a carry-on bag (e.g. toiletries, a change
of underwear).
Check with the airline for its limits on the
size, weight, or number of carry-on pieces. (There is
no single federal standard.) If you are using more
than one airline, check on all of them. Inquire about
your flight; different airplanes can have different
limits. Don't assume that the flight will have
unlimited closet space for carry-on garment bags;
some may have to be c
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