ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FLIGHT TICKETS- EPISODE 3

Once the visa has been acquired, the next most important thing is to secure a seat on an airline carrier. Whether or not to go to a specific airline or an agent becomes a tussle sometimes. In today’s episode of “all you need to know about airline tickets”, we explore what it takes and means to employ the services of either of the two: Airline office or An agent.

 

AVAILABILITY

On most weekends and public holidays, the airline city ticketing office (CTO) might be closed for business. However, based on availability of flight, their airport ticketing office (ATO) is opened for business for that day.The agent on the other hand provides a twenty-four hour, seven days a week service. This means that, at any point in time of your travelling life, an agent could work out a ticket for you when they are called.  

 SERVICE CHARGES

Buying a ticket from an airline company does not come with any extra cost as the operational and over head cost are already part of the ticket in the cost. This does not entirely make the the ticket any less cheaper.

The agent takes a service charge primarily because they have fixed and operational cost to settle; salaries and some over head cost. This helps in their business growth.

 OPTIONS

When you enter an airline company office, you have no choice but to buy from them. Supposing you go to Airline A or B, your ticket will surely be from them.

The agent gives you more options. They will basically show you all the flights and their respective routes. The purchasing power now lies on you the client as you might be spoilt for choice.

 CREDIT FACILITY

Traveling could be fun when you don’t have any cost to settle. There are however emergencies. In such cases, you might not exactly get a credit facilities from the airline company, except in rare cases where they give credit to some corporate institutions.

In conclusion, the agent is an extension of the airline office. Services are generally the same except for in most cases when the above are being considered. The final decision to purchase from either of the two lies solely in the hands of the traveler.  

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FLIGHT TICKETS- EPISODE 2

FEATURES OF A FLIGHT TICKET

 

One may be happy to have purchased a flight ticket, but how would you know you have been given your money’s worth? In this episode, we share with you some unique features to be looked out for as any genuine ticket would have them conspicuously displayed for your perusal.

Beyond a name and date, a flight ticket would usually have the following which most passengers do not necessarily pay attention to.

 

Conditions of carriage (Rules)

This rule spells out what items the passenger can either or not bring along the trip.

Eg. Sharp objects, certain foods, alcohol, lotions(soaps, body cream). Ignoring this particular rule will have your priced items seized by customs.

 

Baggage allowance

A flight ticket would also tell you how much baggage you are allowed to carry unto the flight. Exceeding it will result in extra chargs and sin some cases, shedding off some weight to meet the required standards.

 

Check-in-time

Quite a number of passengers fault in this area as they miss the check in time. It is usually written by the agent or flight office personnel and in most cases two hours before the flight departs. Being on time for this is important as it prevents unnecessary delay which comes at a cost to the airline.

However, during this COVID era, it will be best to show up at the airport at least 3 or 4 hours before departure considering the long queues and and a few delays as a result.    

 

 

 

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FLIGHT TICKET: EPISODE 1

FLIGHT TICKET:  PIECE OF PAPER WORTH THOUSANDS

Photo Credit: Ethiopia Airlines

Often, for first timers, the desire to travel is fraught with one if not many challenges. The long queue at the embassy, putting the required documents together and what have you. Then the final day comes and then boooom! The flight is missed because 

certain detailed were missed by the passenger.  

 

To a layman, an airline ticket is an ordinary sheet of paper with printings of words, figures and codes with which a passenger is entitled a seat on a flight. Yes, it could look meaningless but worth hundreds of dollars or its equivalent in any local currency.

 

An airline ticket is said to be a coupon or document which allows its bearer access an air plane, entitling them to the basic niceties provided by the airline.  

 

There are basically three types of air tickets. Promotional tickets, economy and business class tickets and depending on the aircraft type, you would find a first class ticket. Possessing any of them spells out some details which when overlooked could cost some extra money and time to the bearer. So, when next you purchase a flight ticket, ensure you ask all the questions boggling your mind.