Owais Crawford
Air ticketing is the process of securing your boarding pass and ensuring a smooth journey from start to finish. It involves booking a flight, which can be done online or through a travel agent, and ensuring all requirements are met. Air ticketing basics include understanding how to book a flight and the key procedures and requirements involved, such as checking availability, selecting flights, and making payments. An airline ticket is a document or electronic record issued by an airline or travel agency that confirms a passenger's entitlement to a seat on a flight. The ticket is required to obtain a boarding pass during check-in at the airport, which then allows the passenger to board the aircraft.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Air ticketing is the final stage of the flight booking process. |
| Types of tickets | Paper ticket, electronic ticket (e-ticket) |
| Issuing entities | Airlines, travel agencies, travel management companies |
| Ticketing models | Full-service carriers (FSC), low-cost carriers (LCC) |
| Booking process | Online, through a travel agent |
| Booking steps | Selecting destinations and dates, choosing a flight, providing passenger details, payment, receiving confirmation |
| Ticket information | Baggage allowance, fare, taxes, fare basis |
| Ticket usage | Only one passenger can use a ticket, tickets for multiple passengers travelling together are linked |
| Ticket flexibility | Tickets are usually airline-specific, but can be endorsed for use with other airlines; some tickets are refundable |
| Post-booking | Reconfirmation, check-in, obtaining a boarding pass |
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What You'll Learn
Types of air tickets
Airline tickets can be categorised in several ways, including the type of journey, class of service, and fare basis.
Type of Journey
Round-trip tickets allow travellers to return to their original location, often over the same route. Open-jaw tickets are a type of return ticket where the departure locations are not the same each way.
Class of Service
The class of service determines the level of comfort and amenities available to travellers. First-class tickets offer the most comfortable accommodations, spacious seating, extra legroom, high-quality food and drinks, a variety of onboard entertainment, and priority boarding. Premium economy offers added comfort at a lower cost compared to first class. Economy or coach tickets offer the most basic accommodations and are the least expensive.
Fare Basis
The fare basis is represented by an alphanumeric code that indicates the fare rules, including refundability, trip type, routing restrictions, and change penalties.
Fare Types
There are several types of fares available, including:
- Published fares: These are the most common type of fares, purchased directly from an airline website, online aggregator, or travel agency. Prices can fluctuate daily and even multiple times a day.
- Private fares: These are special fares negotiated between airlines and specific organisations, offering exclusive discounts not available to the public.
- Opaque fares: Also known as "blind booking," these fares are offered by online travel agencies without revealing the airline, flight number, or seating until after booking. Travellers agree to these terms in exchange for significant discounts.
- Discount fares: These are reduced-price tickets offered by airlines to stimulate demand and improve profitability. They often come with restrictions such as advance purchase requirements, limited seats, and rules on changes or cancellations.
- Apex fares: These are discounted international or long-distance fares, typically purchased in advance with restrictions on refunds and changes.
- Bereavement fares: These are last-minute discounted fares offered to travellers facing a family emergency, such as the death of a loved one.
- Joint fares: These involve collaboration between two or more airlines, providing a seamless booking process and flexible options for travellers with multiple connecting flights.
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How to book a flight
Airline ticketing is the final stage of the flight booking process. Tickets can be issued by airlines or travel agencies, and they come in two forms: paper tickets or electronic tickets (e-tickets). The latter is more common, as IATA stopped issuing paper tickets in 2008.
Step 1: Compare prices
Before booking, it is worth comparing prices from different agents and websites. This way, you can get the best deal. Call several travel agents and ask for price quotes, and check flight comparison websites like Expedia or Kayak.
Step 2: Choose your flight
When you have found a suitable flight, it is time to book. You can book directly through the airline or via a travel agent. If you have found a good deal through an agent, give them a call and let them know which flight you would like to book. Ask about any extra fees, such as taxes, baggage fees, and upgrade costs.
Step 3: Select your seat
When booking, you will usually have the option to select your seat in advance. It is worth doing this, so you can avoid being stuck in a middle seat or a seat that doesn't recline. Look up the aircraft model to see what the seat plan is like.
Step 4: Payment
Provide the necessary information to purchase your ticket, such as your name and credit card number. The bank will reserve the money on your card when you book, but it can take a few days to verify the payment details.
Step 5: Check-in
After purchasing your ticket, you will receive an itinerary receipt via email. However, you will still need to check-in online or at the airport and receive a boarding pass to be allowed on the plane.
Step 6: Boarding
With your boarding pass and ticket, you can now board the aircraft. Make sure to bring valid identification, as this will be checked at the gate.
Tips:
- Book directly with the airline if possible, to avoid hassle.
- Be aware of add-ons and bundles offered during the booking process, and skip them if they are not necessary for you.
- Consider purchasing flight insurance to get a refund if your flight is cancelled or there are any problems.
- Download the airline's app, which can be useful for changing your seat, pre-booking meals, and accessing inflight entertainment.
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Boarding passes
A boarding pass is a document provided by an airline during airport check-in. It gives a passenger permission to enter the restricted area of an airport (also known as the airside portion of the airport) and to board the plane for a particular flight. It is comparable to a ticket and must be presented to the airline at the boarding gate.
Passengers can check in online or at the airport check-in counter. Checking in as soon as possible allows passengers to choose their preferred seats. After checking in, passengers will receive a boarding pass via email, which they can print out or use as a mobile boarding pass.
A boarding pass contains a bar code, which is scanned at the boarding gate, and a PNR (Passenger Name Reference). The bar code contains useful information for the airline, such as how many passengers have boarded the plane. The PNR is the flight confirmation number or booking code. It is important to keep the bar code and PNR secure, as they contain sensitive information.
A boarding pass may also indicate the perks a passenger is entitled to, such as lounge access or priority boarding. It is, therefore, presented at the entrance to such facilities to show eligibility. In addition, a boarding pass may be required for a passenger to enter a secure area of an airport.
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Ticket restrictions
Ticket Validity and Transferability
Airline tickets are typically valid for the named passenger only and are non-transferable. Each ticket is associated with a specific passenger and flight, identified by a unique e-ticket number. This means that another individual cannot use someone else's ticket, and proper identification checks are often conducted during boarding to enforce this rule.
Fare Restrictions
Different fare classes have varying restrictions and flexibility options. Unrestricted fares offer more flexibility, with limited or no restrictions on refunds for cancelled flights or changes to the original itinerary. On the other hand, restricted fares come with penalties for changes to the original ticket and have specific requirements, such as advance purchase, Saturday night stay, and minimum or maximum stay restrictions. These tickets are often sold at a discount compared to unrestricted fares.
Specific Practices
Airlines have specific practices in place to prevent passengers from circumventing applicable fare rules. These include prohibiting back-to-back ticketing, throwaway ticketing, and hidden city/point beyond ticketing. Back-to-back ticketing involves combining multiple round-trip restricted fares to bypass minimum stay requirements. Throwaway ticketing refers to using a round-trip excursion fare for one-way travel. Hidden city/point beyond ticketing involves purchasing a fare from a point before or beyond the passenger's actual origin or destination. Violating these rules can result in various consequences, including cancellation of the remaining itinerary, confiscation of unused flight coupons, or refusal of boarding.
Refund and Cancellation Policies
Refund and cancellation policies vary across airlines and fare types. Some tickets may be non-refundable, especially the lower-cost options, while others may offer risk-free cancellation without penalties. It is important to familiarize yourself with the specific rules and restrictions of the airline and the purchased ticket. Additionally, airlines may offer refunds if the fare decreases after purchase, but this often requires the passenger to proactively request it.
Overbooking and Bumping
Airlines commonly overbook their flights by selling more tickets than the aircraft can accommodate. In such cases, the airline may "bump" some passengers, refusing them boarding and providing compensation based on the regulations of the flight. Volunteers for bumping may negotiate their compensation, usually in the form of vouchers for future flights.
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Ticket endorsements
Airline ticketing is the final stage of the flight booking process. It involves verifying payment details and confirming the transaction. Tickets can be issued by airlines, travel agencies, or travel management companies. These tickets can be either paper tickets or electronic tickets (e-tickets).
The specific endorsement format may vary depending on the airline, and agents must ensure that any changes made are accurate. Involuntary changes, such as schedule changes or flight cancellations, may also be reflected in the endorsement.
It is important to note that ticket endorsements do not apply to refunds. In most cases, if a passenger cancels their flight, they will not be eligible for a refund. However, some airlines may offer vouchers or other forms of compensation that can be used for future flights.
Overall, ticket endorsements provide flexibility and convenience for passengers who need to make changes to their flight itineraries. By understanding the endorsement process, passengers can effectively manage their bookings and make the necessary adjustments to their travel plans.
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Frequently asked questions
Air ticketing is the process of booking a flight and ensuring that all requirements are met. It involves checking availability, selecting flights, making payments, and receiving confirmation.
To book an air ticket, you will need to provide your arrival and departure destinations, travel dates, number of passengers, travel class, and personal contact information.
An airline ticket will include information such as baggage allowance, fare, taxes, and the "fare basis", which is an alphanumeric code that identifies the fare.
