Flying tips for cranky passengers
Go to any airport across the globe, you are sure you find at least some passengers who are either irate or unhappy over airline schedules, baggage issues or anything else that can upset the rhythm of individuals. There will be people traveling on last minute vacation packages, cheap airline tickets, last minute tickets, or other types of plane tickets.
Expectations from consumers (read passengers) are always moving in one direction, that is upwards and the service level from the aviation industry manages to keep it on the opposite end, i.e., the service level going down. The number of irate passengers at airports will also therefore proportionately go up. But the passengers themselves can help to some extent to avoid these unsavory situations, though they cannot eliminate them in totality.
Some measures that can help
Some flights or some sectors have a history of chronic delays. Travelers can research on this and FlightStats.com or FlightAware.com are very useful web sites to gather these details. The type of flight tickets are not very relevant for this. You can be using a cheap airline tickets or even a luxury class or Executive class plane tickets. Then, there are airports which are congested all through the year like for e.g., Chicago, Atlanta, New York etc. If you cannot avoid these airports, look for the leaner time slots like mid-day or mid-night. Connecting flights from smaller hubs can keep your trip in better shape.
Being an informed traveler
Always make it a point to read and integrate the “contract of carriage” provided by your carrier, even if you are traveling on cheap airline tickets. If you are on a long haul trip and delays occur en-route there are several things you could be more comfortable with if you have prior knowledge. Flight delays due to weather does not require your carrier to provide you hotel accommodation and other facilities. International Flights originating from or destined to the European Union have more generous rules on delays attributable to the airline. Packing light is another factor which can be of significant help. If you don’t check your baggage, the airlines can find no means to mishandle your baggage and therefore will be compelled to leave you a happier person.
