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| AIRFARE FAQs |
| This page provides answers
to the
most frequently asked questions.
Please scroll through the list to find the information you need. |
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Who is Flights.com?
Flights.com has been a leader in online travel for over 10 years. Our mission is to provide users with the best
travel options throughout the world at the lowest cost. By partnering with professional multi-million dollar agencies and suppliers, we combine
their buying power and great offers into one site. Today, no other site can boast such a worldwide presence that truly makes us a global travel site.
You can also view some customer testimonials about Flights.com or
read more about Flights.com and our history.
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How does Flights.com work? / What is the booking process?
Flights.com combines travel options from multiple travel suppliers and combines several booking engines into one site. This correlation
between Flights.com and our partners allows the user to access worldwide deals that are otherwise restricted from your local countries travel agents and travel sites. Our
database is live and directly connected to airline, hotel, car, and cruise inventory. When you book, you are physically reserving a space on your selected option.
Flights.com does not physically ticket or fulfill your reservation. Depending on your location and departure, your booking is forwarded to the applicable partner(s) serving
your country or departure city. Details of your reservation are forwarded to you by e-mail and all correspondence regarding your reservation should be addressed to the applicable fulfillment partner or agency.
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Why do your partners charge a
service fee?
A service fee is charged at the time of booking in order
to offer you the lowest prices and to have access to their customer care
agents.
This fee varies depending on which Flights.com partner issues your
ticket. |
Am I guarenteed a
ticket(s) once I make a reservation online?
No. Although our booking system is live and connected to airline
inventory, reservations are still subject to airline cancellation.
Furthermore, your credit card must be valid and verified.
After booking, you will receive an auto reply from our system and then
an email confirmation from one of our partners. Please read both of
these
emails and take any appropriate action required (if any) to complete
your purchase. Once your reservation is ticketed, your ticket(s) are
guarenteed by the airline. |
Why do I have to send / fax my credit card information?
Due to the excess of fraud on the internet, some of our fullfillment partners may require that your
credit card copy and identification be faxed / sent to them to verify the
cardholder identity. These reservations are usually only higher $
amounts and do not apply to all reservations. You will be notified by
email should verification be required. In such event, your reservation will NOT be ticketed and your card will NOT be charged
until all of the requested information is obtained.
Please note that your information will be kept strictly confidential as per our privacy policy.
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Can I reserve a
seat assignment?
Airlines
offer reserved seat selection on most flights prior to departure.
Boarding pass issuance is restricted to the day of the flight. You may
request a window or aisle seating on the search form, however your request is not guarenteed. |
How do I request
special meals or other accommodations?
Once your reservation has been ticketed, please contact your respective carrier
to arrange for special meals or other accommodations. Please note that most flights do not offer any type of meal service.
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Can seniors receive a
discount?
Most
airlines have discontinued all senior discounts. |
What are the
restrictions on last-minute bookings?
To
help protect your credit card from fraudulent activity, we take extra
time to verify passenger information and may require fax submission for
large purchases. Therefore, some reservations on our site must be
made at least 72 hours prior to departure (Eastern Standard Time). If
the airline you have selected requires paper tickets you will be
notified of delivery options. If you require paper tickets,
time must be allowed for delivery of the tickets from our partner
locations. |
What is a Major
European / German / US Carrier?
Major airlines are preferred carriers
that have a
committed working
relationship with our partners. These relationships enable us to offer their best
products and service directly to our customers without displaying their
brand identity. These are large carriers that you know well.
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What is an e-ticket?
An e-ticket,
or electronic ticket, represents your reservation for a flight, but is
not in a paper format. You will be supplied a confirmation number as
your proof of purchase. You will not receive a paper ticket. With an
eticket, your name and flight details will be in the airline's
computer. An e-ticket is NOT a
boarding pass. You will still have to
check-in to receive your boarding pass.
PLEASE
NOTE: New regulations require you to present a printed receipt of your
e-ticket purchase in order to receive a boarding pass. Please be
certain to print your confirmation details page or your confirmation
email and bring it with you to the airport. Failure to do so will
result in your inability to board your flight. |
Can I receive a paper
ticket?
Airlines
charge fees for paper tickets issued when electronic ticketing is
available. Therefore, we issue all tickets electronically unless a
paper ticket is required by the airline. When required, paper tickets
do not have additional fees other than shipping charges. |
Why is there sometimes a
credit card fee?
In order for our partners to offer you the lowest fare possible, credit card fees
may apply to some reservations. Vendors charge up to 3% for credit card
processing. Therefore, rather than marking up their fares by 3%, they
offer the option to pay by check or money order to avoid this extra
charge. |
Are taxes included in
the price of my fare?
The
price of the tickets includes taxes and fees which are imposed on air
transportation by government authorities. Taxes and fees, which may
represent a significant portion of the cost of air travel are either
included in the fare or shown separately in the "TAX" box(es) of the
ticket(s) on the last page of the booking. |
Is my ticket refundable
or transferable?
Tickets are NOT
transferable and most are NOT refundable, or incur a substantial
penalty. |
What are the fees for
changing my ticket?
Changes to tickets prior to departure date may
result in large change fees plus additional applicable charges by
either a Flights.com partner or the airline. If you plan not to travel, it is recomended to cancel your booking with the airline and respective fullfillment partner. After your flight departure, your ticket may have NO residual value. |
Is any type of
cancellation insurance available?
Flights.com does not offer any type of insurance. However, as a
benefit to our users, we have partnered with an affiliate to offer
travel insurance through our site. Please visit the "Insurance"
tab above to obtain quotes from 14 different insurance companies. |
What is a back to back
ticket?
When
coupons from two or more tickets are issued at round trip fares for the
purpose of circumventing restrictions. Airlines and travel agents are
prohibited from issuing such tickets. Each airline reserves the right
to deny transportation to passengers found using tickets in this
manner. Travelers will be responsible for the difference between the
fare paid and the fare of the actual itinerary. |
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Should I still
check-in?
If
you have reserved a seat assignment, you must still check-in. Reserved
seats are subject to cancellation if not claimed at least 45 minutes
prior to scheduled departure time (90 minutes for non-US and overseas
flights). |
What is required when
I check-in?
ALL
ticketed passengers must show a government issued photo identification
at check-in. Children must have a parent present at check-in. Tickets,
or eticket reservations must be in each passenger's name as it appears
on the photo identification. |
What is required with
non-US travel?
An international trip may require valid travel documents such as, but
not limited to:
- passport
- visa
- re-entry permit
- health certificate
- inoculation record
- a ticket for the return journey or
continuance of your trip
- or ANY combination thereof.
Flights.com is NOT responsible
for your travel
documents. You are responsible for acquiring the proper documentation.
Concerns about the required travel documents may be resolved by
contacting the appropriate consulate, embassy, or government agency. |
What is a schedule
change?
Schedule
changes are made by the airline when it changes flight times or numbers
at its discretion. Often schedule
changes are unexpected and at the last minute. You therefore must call
the
airline 24 hours prior to your departure time to check your flight
schedule. |
What are the
luggage limitations?
Luggage limitations differ from carrier to carrier. Please check with your respective airline prior to departure.
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Can I fly stand-by?
Stand-by
availability is at the discretion of the airline and can not be offered
through Flights.com. |
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What services are
offered for children traveling alone?
Tickets
for children under the age of 16 who are travelling alone are not
bookable on this site. For minors under 18, please contact the airline directly to determine what requirements and
fees are involved. |
Do I have to pay full
fare for an infant?
An
infant is a child under two years of age not occupying a seat. Once
children reach their second birthday, they must have a seat. One infant is permitted to travel free on US domestic
flights for each passenger paying an adult fare. Each additional child under 2 years of age accompanying the
same adult passenger will pay the applicable accompanied child's fare
whether or not they are occupying a seat. Please contact the airline
directly for additional information.
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What are International
travel restrictions for children?
In
an effort to prevent international child abduction, many governments
have initiated procedures at entry and exit points, including requiring
documentary evidence of relationship and permission of the parent(s) or
legal guardian not present for the child’s travel. Parents of minor
children (under 18 years old) should carefully document legal custody
prior to traveling. If a minor child is traveling with only one parent,
the absent parent should provide notarized consent. If only one parent
has legal custody, that parent should be prepared to provide such
evidence to airlines and authorities. In cases in which a minor child
is traveling alone or in someone else’s company, both parents (and the
sole, documented custodial parent) should provide notarized consent. If
a child traveling has a different last name from the mother and/or
father, the parents should be prepared to provide evidence to airlines
and authorities, such as a birth certificate or adoption decree, to
prove that they are indeed the parents. |
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What is
Flights.com Refund Policy?
Flights.com strives to find the lowest price for air transportation, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and other travel services.
Flights.com acts only as an independent computer conduit to
secure services of an air carrier, car rental supplier, hotel, or other
travel related supplier. Therefore, we have no control over personnel,
equipment, or operations of these suppliers and shall not be held
liable for any inconvenience, personal injury, property damage, or
other loss incurred as a result of any wrongful acts, omissions, or
default on the part of the suppliers. All grievances must be reported to the respective partner or supplier handling your reservation.
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What type of customer
service is offered?
You are provided with an email
address and / or a phone number to our partners customer care centers. Qualified
and
friendly agents are available to answer your questions and help with any problems. |
What happens if after
I purchase my ticket the airline goes bankrupt before I travel?
If
you have purchased a ticket on a US airline that ceases operations, you
may be able to stand-by for a flight on another US airline. Section 145
of the US Aviation and Transportation Security Act "requires, at a
minimum, that passengers holding valid confirmed tickets, whether paper
or electronic, of the insolvent or bankrupt carrier must be transported
by other carriers who operate on the route for which the passenger is
ticketed on a space-available basis on the date of travel shown on the
ticket or other documentation demonstrating e-ticketing, without
significant additional charges." The amount of additional charges are
at the discretion of the accommodating airline. This provision applies
only on US airlines if you make "alternative arrangement within 60 days
after the date on which that passenger's air transportation was
suspended,interrupted, or discontinued (without regard to the
originally scheduled travel date on the ticket)." Non-US airlines are NOT required to comply with the
above. |
Do I need a visa to
enter the country I am visiting or traveling through?
Every
country has its own laws regarding entrance by non-citizens. Please
check the specific laws governing the country you are visiting. Please visit
http://www.staralliance.com/en/travellers/tools_services/health_visa_form.html
for specific Visa requirements.
It is
your sole responsibility to obtain all necessary documentation prior to
your departure. Regardless of the ticket you purchase, applicable
immigration laws apply.
Please note that a new United States
regulation is in enforcement that
requires citizens from some countries to obtain a visa if their flight
is stopping over in the US, even if the US is not the final destination
.
In addition, citizens from waiver-countries
visiting the US, should be
aware that per the US Department of State, starting October 26, 2004,
travelers entering the United States under the Visa Waiver Program must
have a machine-readable passport. Any traveler without a
machine-readable passport will be required to obtain a visa before
coming to the United States. For more information on US visa
regulations visit http://unitedstatesvisas.gov/index.html.
Please check all appropriate laws for the
the country you are visiting.
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