Airlines usually have a flight status or flight tracker section on their websites. I recently came across some web sites that provide more information than the typical airline web site. TIP: Check out these sites for flight status information including maps showing the actual location of the aircraft. http://flightaware.com , http://www.flytecomm.com/cgi-bin/trackflight , http://www.flightview.com/
Frequent fliers know which airplane seats are better than others on the flights they frequent. Travelers also have their favorites; some like bulkhead, some like windows, and some like aisles. Each airline numbers the seats differently, so your favorite row will not have the same number airline to airline. How to keep track or know what seat is what? TIP: Go to www.seatguru.com and you will be able to research everything you need to know about, not only seat configurations, but how each airline differs.
This is a follow up to my tip about flight reminders and alerts. In addition to the airline electronic updates, it is also useful to have access to your home airport or destination airport web site. It is extremely useful when the airport web site provides the overall arrival and departure schedule. The airline gives you information about your single flight while checking the airport site gives information on how the entire airport is running; this is particularly useful during bad weather. TIP: Check the airport web site before leaving for the airport. Here is an example from my home airport: www.grr.org/RTFI.php
The electronic age has provided some nice airline travel enhancements. The major US airlines have features on their web sites that will provide you with electronic reminders and flight updates, for example: delays, cancellations, gate changes, etc… This can be in the form of a cell phone call or an e-mail. Some airlines require you to register your flights on their web sites while other have a “blanket” program that will cover all your flights logged to your frequent flier number. (And if you don’t have one of those, read this tip!) This is a nice way to keep informed. TIP: Do not rely solely on these messages as they are not always 100% accurate – check the arrival/ departure boards in the airport to verify the information. Running to Gate 42 when it was just changed to Gate 20 does not help.
The person behind the ticket counter has all the power! They can do just about anything, within reason, for you whether they admit it or not. TIP: Always smile and ask nicely and inquisitively. (Didn’t get the answer you wanted? – ask the gate agent – they have even more power.) I have been the recipient of this power, it is great!
Airline Customer Service Representatives
When dealing with airline customer service representatives you may not always like the answer they give pertaining to your question or problem. TIP: Try again and again. Ask another person at the airport or call back. You will most likely get a different person. They are large companies and someone different may give you the answer you are looking for. I have found that perseverance with the airlines is a good tool.