From: bechtler@asdg.dec.com (Laurie Bechtler)
Subject: here's a stab at a FAQ post -- comments/additions solicited
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: 10 APR 92 16:31:15    


(Note -- I have never done this before so I am not sure of protocol
other than it's supposed to be posted once a month.  I do not wish
to archive any information at my site.  Where I knew information
was incomplete or possibly inaccurate, I put ??--> as an invitation
for comment.  But please comment on any parts.      ---Laurie)


The charter of REC.TRAVEL.AIR is to serve as a discussion group for
issues related to air travel (surprise!).  This monthly posting of
frequently asked questions (FAQ) is intended to prevent the recurrence of
specific questions or types of questions that are either unanswerable, or
are asked seemingly weekly.  

As with any newsgroup, it is best to read it for a few weeks before
posting anything, in order to see what topics are currently being
discussed.  


1.  WHAT IS THE CHEAPEST FARE FROM X TO Y ON (DATE)?

    Why ask the net?  A travel agent is the best contact for this type of
inquiry.  He/she has access to a computer system that shows flights for
all airlines and can give you fares and availability for various
combinations.  That's their job!  Travel agents do not charge you a
commission for giving you this information; they are paid by the
airlines.  If you feel that a travel agent is not giving you complete
information, try another agent.  If you feel that you could have gotten a
better fare yourself, then do it yourself.  The variability of fares on a
continuous basis is due to the airlines, not to travel agents.  

    This probably won't make you feel better, but you will most likely
NEVER KNOW what the cheapest available fare for your trip would have
been.  There are just too many variables and changes in pricing.  You can
only search until you find an acceptable deal.  Be aware, however, that
if the price on your ticket (your specific airline, date and route) does
go down, you will be refunded the difference in price.  


2.  WHAT OTHER OPTIONS EXIST FOR FINDING SCHEDULES AND FARES?

??-->
    The Official Airline Guide (OAG) is published monthly and costs $?
to subscribe.  It does not contain fare information.  Netters who have
access to the OAG may or may not have the time or inclination to look
things up for you.  Your local library may carry the OAG.

    If you live near an airport you can pick up current schedules for
each airline individually.  These are changed often, however, and not all
airlines serve all airports.  

??-->
    You can contact EAASY-SABRE through the Prodigy, GEnie, or Compuserve
bulletin boards.  The service does not itself cost anything, but there
are subscription fees for each bulletin board (what's the right word
here?).  There are NO COMPLETELY FREE ON-LINE SOURCES of schedule or fare
information.  Netters who subscribe to these services may or may not be
interested in spending time and money to answer your question.

     You can call each airline individually and inquire about the trip
you are planning.  This may require 6 or 7 calls to get all the possible
flights, but the service is free.  If you do not know the 800 number for
a particular airline, call 800 directory information at 800-555-1212.
(There are local numbers available in many locations; check your
telephone book.)  Here is a partial list of airline national reservation
numbers:

     American        800-433-7300
     Continental     800-525-0280
     Delta           800-221-1212
     Northwest       800-225-2525
     TWA             800-221-2000
     United          800-241-6522
     USAir           800-428-4322


3.  HOW DO I FIND A GOOD TRAVEL AGENT?

    Ask your friends for recommendations.  Or, look in the phone book.
Choose one for convenient location, as it is preferable to visit the
agent in person than to make lengthy inquiries over the phone.  Many
agents will get to know you and record your preferences for seat
selection, meals, etc. so that you do not have to remember to ask for
these each time.  

    If you do not like the service you are receiving, try another agent.
Do not blame the travel agent for fare and schedule craziness -- blame
the airlines.  And please do not take up the travel agent's time with
lengthy inquiries, only to buy the ticket direct from the airline.  This
does not benefit you in any way, and hurts the travel agent.  The job may
seem glamorous, but there are so many agents that most do not make a
fortune in their jobs (witness the sometimes shabby offices).  


4.  WHAT ARE TICKET CONSOLIDATORS?

??-->
    Ticket consolidators, or "bucket shops," buy up blocks of unsold
seats and sell them at a discount.  They are not the same as travel
agents and these tickets will not be available through travel agents.
The tickets are usually on regularly scheduled airlines.  Many
consolidators will not take credit cards, since their profit margins are
presumably slim.  Most consolidators are located on the coasts.  If you
buy a Sunday New York Times or Los Angeles Times you can probably find a
few addresses in the travel section.  Providing addresses here is of
limited use since shops can go out of business.  Asking people on the net
for the names of shops they have dealt with personally is reasonable.  


5.  WHAT ARE AIR COURIER SERVICES?

<Information courtesy of David F.>

In a courier flight, a courier company sells you a low priced ticket.  In
exchange for this, you let them use the baggage allowance for their
freight.  Here is a description of how the process works:

There are no refunds if you cancel and advance notice is generally
short -- less than two weeks. Couriers don't get an airline ticket till
arriving at the airport.  A representative of the freight company
which has bought the ticket checks in the items to be escorted as the
courier's personal luggage and gives the claim check, ticket and
boarding pass to the courier.  On arrival, the courier turns over the
claim check to a representative of the courier company.  He or she does
not normally touch the freight.

"The Air Courier's Handbook" ($10 to Big City Books, P.O. Box
19667, Sacramento, CA, 95819)

"A Simple Guide to Courier Travel" (ordered by calling
1-800-344-9375, or by writing to Guide, P.O. Box 2394, Lake Oswego,
OR  97035.  Cost: $15.95)


6.  WHAT IS AIRHITCH?   

??-->
    Airhitch is a company that promises low fares to travelers who can be
flexible about their travel times and dates.  You provide a window of
time and destination, and they give you short notice of an available
flight.  Some horror stories have been related about not being able to
return from Europe without traveling to 4 or 5 different airports to try
to get on a flight.  


7.  WHERE CAN I ADDRESS COMPLAINTS ABOUT AIR TRAVEL?

??-->

8.  WHAT IS THE USUAL BAGGAGE LOSS LIABILITY?

    Not much.  Read your ticket. 


9.  IS IT OKAY TO SELL A TICKET OR USE ANOTHER PERSON'S TICKET?

??-->
    It is not ILLEGAL to sell tickets or portions thereof, or to travel
on someone else's ticket -- that is, no one will arrest you.  HOWEVER,
most (if not all) airlines have reserved the right to deny this activity.
They may check the ID of a traveller, and may confiscate a ticket on the
spot.  You have no recourse against this.  It is a risk you take when
using someone else's ticket.  Special fare tickets, such as student
vouchers, are checked more often than standard tickets.  

    So don't be surprised if no one offers to buy the one-half of a
round-trip ticket you are trying to sell.

    The reasons behind this are varied, and are a recurring topic of
conversation on the net.  Just read for a few weeks; it will come up
again.  


10.  HOW SAFE ARE CHARTER FLIGHTS?
11.  HOW MUCH DO PILOTS/STEWARD-PERSONS MAKE?
12.  WHICH IS THE BIGGEST AIRPORT?
13.  HOW MANY VARIETIES OF 747 ARE THERE?
14.  HOW ABOUT THAT CRASH IN (PLACE)?

These are the kind of discussions that are expected in the newsgroup!
Enjoy.


--FOR FURTHER READING:

Two monthly newsletters containing tips on discount travel (1990 prices):

Travel Secrets: $30 for 12 monthly issues, Box 2325 New York, NY 10108
Travel Unlimited: $25 for 12 monthly issues, Box 1058,  Allston Mass. 02134

Newsgroups: rec.travel.air