6 hidden details in the fine print of plane tickets
A travel writer has revealed a number of secrets about air travel airlines have been hiding in the fine print of their contracts of carriage.
Joe Brancatelli, founder of the business travel site JoeSentMe, outlined these details not as a suggestion of any malevolence on the airline’s part, but a general warning for passengers to be wary.
1. You have signed a contract with the airline, whether you realise it or not
By the act of purchasing a ticket, you’re technically agreeing to the airline’s contract of carriage (COC), which is heavily tilted in the airline’s favour. COCs are generally posted online.
2. The airlines aren’t really obliged to take you anywhere
Look closely at a contact of carriage and you’ll notice airlines generally give themselves a huge concessions in terms of being required to get you where you need to be, when you need to be there. With slight variations, COCs generally state, “Times shown in timetables or elsewhere are not guaranteed and form no part of this contract. Schedules are subject to change without notice.”
3. Class mapping
This doesn’t refer to different levels of airline service (ie Business, Economy), but rather the different fare classes airlines charge for each flight. Mr Brancatelli argues that the practice of class mapping affects passengers who book a multiple stop flights and are automatically bumped into the highest fare class for each segment of the flight. To avoid this, ask about alternate routes.
4. Space in the cabin
For now at least, there are no regulations regarding how much legroom an airline has to give you. Which probably makes a lot of sense if you’ve sat through a crowded economy flight recently.
5. Tickets are no longer exchangeable
There was a time where airlines were willing to book tickets with different carriers as no additional cost as a means of making up for cancelled flights, but this act is fast going the way of the Wright Brothers.
6. Even if your carry on fits it may not necessarily make it on the plane
Going back to airlines COCs, while there are strict regulations about the size and weight of a carry-on bag you’re allowed to take on a plane, in the end of the day it’s the air staff who make the call.
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