The Early Show

To Travel This Season, Get Smart

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

March 31, 2001 / 7:57 AM EST / CBS

This late spring and summer could mean trouble for many getting to their vacation spots, and some practical advice could save travelers a lot of trouble. Mark Orwoll, managing editor of Travel and Leisure magazine, visited The Saturday Early Show with a few suggestions.

Four airlines are still involved in union contract disputes, and by May will face potential work slowdowns or strikes if the differences are not resolved.

Delta: Pilots' union
Northwest: Mechanics' dispute
United: Flight attendants' dispute
American: Flight attendants and mechanics

But, reports Orwoll, "A lot of people are saying that President Bush isn't going to let that happen. He has a number of emergency powers, including the Presidential Emergency Board, which he's currently used with Northwest mechanics' labor dispute. And I think that he would probably invoke that before he would let two or more airlines go on strike at the same time."

But what should you do if you have a ticket on an airline that is facing a possible strike or slowdown?

E-tickets are not the best thing to have in a situation like this, because an e-ticket only exists in the system of that particular carrier. So if American Airlines goes on strike, a competing airline can't rebook you on one of their flights. A physical ticket is needed for rebooking, so if you have an e-ticket for an airline facing some labor woes, head to your travel agent or the ticket counter at the airport and convert your e-ticket into a physical ticket.
If you suspect your airline might go on strike, call around and see which airlines will accept your ticket and go to your destination. This way, you will not be stuck in line with hundreds of other stranded passengers relying on the airline to rebook you.
If you are planning to go abroad this summer or spring, you might consider checking out international airlines such as Lufthansa or British Airways. Trying to flying internationally is hard enough without a potential strike.
Keep yourself informed by regularly checking such Web sites as Expedia or Travelocity.
If you have tickets to attend a "can't miss" event, like a wedding, a baby shower, or a graduation, it would be a good idea to "double book" on another airline for a refundable ticket, if you have the extra cash. If trouble happens, you can still get to your destination. And if you don’t use the ticket, you can get a full refund.

Your obligation as a passenger:

Get there early. If you don't check in one hour before the flight or 20 minutes at the gate before boarding time, technically most airlines can bump you.

Your rights as a passenger:

If they bump you because they overbooked, they hve to put you on an alternative flight within 60 minutes of your original arrival time.
The alternative flight has to be acceptable to you. For instance, if the next flight on that airline is not suitable to your travel plans and you know that a competing airline has an earlier flight, the airline must book you on the competing airline's flight. This is known as "Rule 240" and you should cite that this is in the contract of carriage if the airline that bumped you says they can't book you on a competing airline's flight.
Rule 240 is only applicable if you've been bumped, not for canceled or delayed flights. And they don't owe you money or an upgrade.
However, if you arrive two hours late at a destination, they have to give you up 100 per cent of your one-way ticket (up to $200).
If you arrive more than two hours late, they owe you up to $400.

Some of these rules vary slightly with each airline, but idea is the same. So you should always check your airline’s contract of carriage. Many airlines post these on their Web sites.

If your flight has been delayed or canceled, there's not much you can do. If the cancelation or delay is due to an act of God, all bets are off. If it’s a labor strike; embargoes, or war, the airline's obligation is to refund the price of the ticket. This doesn't necessarily help you the day you're flying. They don't have to give you a meal or a place to stay overnight because it's not mandated by law. Many airlines do these things because it’s good public relations. But don't count on it.

Cancellations or delays due to mechanical problems are not considered acts of God. They only need to put you on the next flight.

General travel tips:

Always try to take the earliest flight possible. This way, you have the whole day to get to your destination in case something does happen. If a delay happens in the morning, it can create a domino effect for the rest of the day.
Avoid flying Monday mornings or Friday afternoons. These are the highest traffic times at airports.