We collect this information as part of the new government program created in 2011.

Secure Flight Passenger Data (SFPD) is a government program that streamlines the security watch-list matching process. It will improve the travel experience for all passengers. SFPD requires all airlines to provide passenger gender, date of birth, redress number (if applicable), and full name as it appears on their valid government-issued identification.

A lot of advertised fares are often hard to find, or always seem impossible to get. This really depends on a lot of factors. Advertisers will often show the price as a base fare. It is important to keep in mind that a base fare is the cost of the air fare before taxes and fees are figured in, and that these fares are often listed with ‘valid dates,’ which are really only a restriction imposed by the airline and do not necessarily represent dates that the fare continues to be available.

Airlines make only a limited number of these fares available, and once they are sold out, they are gone. Base fares continue to be valid, even though they may no longer be available. We realize that this can be extremely frustrating, especially if you have made several unsuccessful searches for your desired fare.

We have found that our customers have been most successful in obtaining these special fares when they are somewhat flexible with their itineraries—the best fares tend to be found most frequently for travel on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Saturdays—and complete their reservations at least 21 days prior to their desired departure date.

Group travel can be tricky. You have a big number of people you have to get from point A to point B, and it can sometimes get expensive. If you are booking group travel, you will need to call the airline directly if you are booking 9 or more passengers on the same itinerary. Otherwise, you might end up paying more.

Airlines group their seating in categories. If there are 4 seats left in category A for $200 and 10 seats in category B for $250, you could end up paying different amounts and the price could continue to climb depending on how many seats are available. This is why the passenger’s number field only goes up to 8 passengers. For this exact reason, working with the airline directly ensures your entire group will be charged the same cost per seat. Groups usually require a deposit and the airlines do charge additional fees.

Buying airline tickets with more advance notice definitely helps ensure you’ll get a good deal. Keeping that in mind, it is not a good idea to purchase your tickets before your plans for travel are finalized and your dates are confirmed because most airlines will charge you penalty fees to make changes to the airline tickets.

The day that you are flying is important. Typically weekdays have better fares. Fridays and Saturdays are usually more expensive versus a Tuesday or Wednesday. Please keep in mind that availability is also a factor so it is always best to check one day before and after the dates you are checking.

Also, airline tickets are priced seasonally. The fares will increase when it’s a more common season that people travel to a particular destination. For example the fares flying into Hawaii in January when it’s cold would cost you less than flying in June when it would be warmer.

Airlines are constantly updating fares throughout the day, but most airlines usually roll out new fares after midnight. As the day progresses seats sell out and the next lowest “cabin” or fares are left, usually resulting in a higher fare.

The best time to look for an airline sale is on Tuesday around 3pm (est.). Why Tuesday? Well, Tuesday is the busiest day for airfare sales. Since Tuesday is when most airlines release airfare sales you can find airlines competing against each other in price.

Please keep in mind that airfares are based on availability so it is always best to check one day before and after the dates you are checking. Advance purchase is also important, the more in advance you purchase the ticket the lower the fare will be. Airlines usually have advance purchases of 3, 7, 14, and 21 days. Don't procrastinate, book early. Always look in advance. Airlines tend to charge more money as the date of departure arrives.

To some it up, fares are based on demand, availability, advance purchase, and seasonality.

The airport with the most delays due to weather is O'Hare International, Chicago (ORD).

The airport with the second most delays is Newark Liberty International (EWR).

The emergency exit path offers a deeper row and offers desirable seating for additional leg room. By federal law, no one under 15 may sit in an exit row, and infants are not permitted in the rows immediately behind or in front of an exit row. Bulkhead seating is directly behind the physical barriers (such as walls, curtains or screens) that separate cabins. A note of caution: not all bulkhead rows are created equal—on some aircraft, the first bulkhead row may be cramped and uncomfortable. Since there is no seat in front of this row, all items must go in the overhead bin.

Exit and Bulkhead seats are not widely available for pre-assignment. Some airlines offer these seat for an a la cart fee at the time of booking/check in; others are on request basis only for assignment upon arrival at the airport. Exit seats may be prohibited for some travels for safety reasons as young children, infants, and passengers with limited or restricted mobility may not be able to open the emergency exit door. To claim a seat in an exit row, arrive at the airport early and check with the airline representative.

The closest airport near the Grand Canyon is the Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG) located about 80 miles away.

The nearest major international airport to the Grand Canyon is Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport located about 250 miles away.

There are 2 airports close to Disneyland. They are Long Beach Airport (LGB) and John Wayne Airport (SNA). Both airports are approximately 14 miles from Disneyland.

Then the next two are LAX at 33 miles, and then Ontario Airport at 35 miles. Some visitors also use Bob Hope (Burbank/BUR), which is about 40 miles away north of Disneyland.

A lot of airlines are offering WiFi now, but that doesn’t mean every plane has it. When searching for flights on CheapAir.com, our results include each amenity offered by every airline. When searching for WiFi, look for the icon. (This will indicate which flights offer WiFi.

Airlines that offer WiFi are:

Virgin America (all flights)

Airtran Airways (all flights)

American Airlines

United Airlines

Southwest

Delta Airlines

Air Canada

US Airways

JetBlue

Typically weekdays have better fares. Fridays and Saturdays are usually more expensive versus a Tuesday or Wednesday. Please keep in mind that is based on availability so it is always best to check one day before and after the dates you are checking.

Advance purchase is also important, the more in advance you purchase the ticket the lower the fare will be. Airlines usually have advance purchases of 3, 7, 14, and 21 days. Don't procrastinate, book early. Always look in advance. Airlines tend to charge more money as the date of departure arrives. Keeping that in mind it is not a good idea to purchase your tickets before your plans for travel are finalized and your dates are confirmed because most airlines will charge you penalty fees to make changes to the airline tickets.

Yes. Using frequent flyer miles to get discounts and upgrades are why people enroll in them. Most airlines have a minimum number of miles needed to make an upgrade or to get a free flight. These rules and policies on using miles are all different based on which program you are enrolled with. To find the rules for your frequent flyer program we’ve included a list of airline’s frequent flyer programs. To use your miles you will need to either book directly on the airlines website or call them. There is usually a different booking portal for using miles.

Here’s a list of all the Airline Programs:

U.S. & Canada Carriers:

• Air Canada Aeroplan

• Air Tran A Plus Rewards

• Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

• American AAdvantage

• Continental OnePass

• Delta SkyMiles

• Frontier Airlines EarlyReturns

• Hawaiian Airlines Hawaiian Miles

• JetBlue TrueBlue

• Southwest Rapid Rewards

• United Mileage Plus

• US Airways Dividend Miles

• Virgin America Elevate

Latin America Carriers:

• Aerolineas Argentinas Plus Program

• AeroMexico Club Premier

• Latin Pass [now GlobalPass]

• Mexicana Frequenta

• Varig Smiles

European Carriers:

• Aer Lingus Travel Award Bonus Program

• Air France Frequence Plus

• Alitalia Club Mille Miglia

• Austrian Airlines Miles & More

• British Airways Executive Club

• Finnair Plus Bonus Program

• Iberia Iberia Plus

• KLM Flying Dutchman

• LOT Miles & More

• Lufthansa Miles & More

• Olympic Airways Icarus

• SAS EuroBonus

• Swiss TravelClub

• TAP Air Portugal Navigator

• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Asia – Pacific Carriers:

• Air New Zealand Air Points

• All Nippon Airways ANA Mileage Club

• Asiana Asiana Club

• Cathay Pacific Airways Asia Miles

• EVA Evergreen Club

• Japan Airlines JAL Mileage Bank

• Korean Airlines Skypass

• Malaysia Airlines Enrich

• Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Miles

• Qantas Frequent Flyer

• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

There are several ways for you to travel with your pets. Some airlines will allow passengers to carry a pet on board such as a small dog or cat if it is in a proper FAA approved carrier. The airlines do limit the number of pets on board, so if you are traveling with a pet the sooner you inform the airline the better your chances to travel with your pet. The airlines will also charge a fee for this service.

If you are traveling with a larger pet some airlines are equipped to have a pet in the cargo bay, otherwise you must ship your pet. Fees will apply for any of these services.

If a passenger is traveling with a service animal, and has proper paperwork when required, there are no fees and most airlines will accept them as long as there is room on the flight.

In general, airlines don’t charge a parent for one infant under the age of two (if the baby doesn’t get a seat of her own) to travel domestically. Most U.S. based airlines don’t charge an infant fare between the US and Canada, but do charge the same tax as the adult fare.

International fares for infants are around 10% of the adult fare plus the same taxes and fees the adult pays. Most airlines don’t publish international infant fares. To book an infant fare, you will usually need to contact us or the airline to get the proper quote.

Most airlines will allow you to book your infant in advance. The 10% fare is based on what’s available when you book the child, not 10% of the fare you actually paid. So it’s in your best interest to book the infant ticket the same time you book the adult ticket.

When an airline won’t allow you to pay the fee in advance, get a quote from an agent on the telephone, and take his or her name. That gives you a little negotiating power when you get to the airport. You don’t want to end up paying 10% of the full adult fare at the time of departure.

CheapAir.com’s exclusive Price Drop Payback lets you buy airfare with confidence. When you buy your ticket from CheapAir, if the price for the same itinerary goes down any time before your trip, we’ll pay you the difference in the form of a travel credit, up to $100 per ticket!

To take advantage of Price Drop Payback, any time after your purchase go to the “My Trips” section of our web site to retrieve your itinerary. From there, with one click we’ll check to see if your fare has gone down. If it has, we’ll issue you a travel credit immediately. You can check your fare every week, every day, or as often as you want. It’s fast and easy.

Price Drop Payback is available only for customers of CheapAir.com. It applies automatically to every ticket that we sell. And best of all, it’s totally free!

Some restrictions apply, so click here for complete terms and conditions.

Each airline has their own policy regarding unaccompanied minors and we strongly recommend you call and speak with a Travel Specialist at 1-800-CHEAP-AIR (1-800-243-2724) if you are planning to have your child fly alone. This way, while the specialist helps you find the best deal on a ticket, they can also ensure there will be no problems and you are fully aware of the policies held by the airline you select.

To help with your planning there are a few general policies held by nearly all airlines. Plan on arriving at the airport at least 30 minutes to an hour earlier than you normally would, as you will have to fill out an "Unaccompanied Minor" form at the airline counter. You will also be asked to provide the name of the adult who will be meeting your child at the destination and that individual will have to provide identification before they can take your child. Also, keep in mind that many airlines do charge a fee for the Unaccompanied Minor service, which can range from $25 to $100, per direction. These fees are not part of the ticket price and must be paid at the counter before they will issue a boarding pass.

There are also certain flights that unaccompanied minors are simply not allowed to fly on. For example, all airlines prohibit them from flying on the last non-stop or connecting flight of the day. This is another reason we recommend you speak to a Travel Specialist as it is not always obvious if a flight is the final one. More than once we've had customers tell us afterward that a child was booked online to fly on the 5:30pm flight only to be turned away at the counter because the customer was not aware it was the last flight. Our agents can review the airlines entire flight inventory and ensure your child is not on that prohibited flight. Also, some airlines have rules stating that minors can only fly unaccompanied on "non-stop" flights and they can and will deny boarding on a connection flight.

Again, much of this information is general to all airlines but each will have their own specific policy. In addition each airline has their own age limit on what they consider an unaccompanied minor so it is important to check that as well. Most allow children 15 and over to fly without a guardian or adult without being considered an unaccompanied minor but this is also something you will want to confirm before booking travel. If you have any questions please call and speak with a specialist at 1-800-CHEAP-AIR (1-800-243-2724) or if you know the airline you will be booking travel on you can also email us at help@cheapair.com and we will be happy to provide you with all of the information you will need.

When we say a fare is not offered on a particular date, we mean that that date does not meet one or more of the requirements of the fare you are looking at.

For example, some fares are valid for travel on Monday through Thursday only, so all Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays will be marked "Not Offered". Similarly, if the fare you are searching for requires a fourteen day advance purchase, it will be shown to be "Not Offered" for departure dates between today and thirteen days out.

Technically all passengers must have a ticket to travel, however an infant traveling as a lap child is considered an exception for most all domestic flights.

An infant is any child under the age of two as of the date of travel. Nearly all domestic flights do not charge or require a ticket for an infant traveling in lap, however most prefer to have the name and date of birth prior to check-in. If this is not provided online at the time of booking you may always contact us or email those details. For international reservations a ticket must be purchased for the infant. In some cases a paper ticket may be required so a valid shipping address will be necessary and additional shipping fees may apply.

In all other cases a ticket will be required.

Domestic flights will typically not charge for an infant traveling as a lap child. An infant is any child under the age of two as of the date of travel. Children in nearly all cases will be charged a full adult fare on domestic flights.

A discount may apply for certain international itineraries for infants and children. Be sure to conduct your search with the number of children and infants included, and be sure date of birth for all passengers provided as infants or children when booking.

Above the boxes where you enter your city of origin and destination, you will see the option “Multiple Destination.” Click this and the site will take you to a new page where you can enter the individual legs of your itinerary.

Use this option when you have a trip that is not round-trip (round-trip is origin to destination and back) and you don’t really want to handle multiple one-way bookings. You can add a new leg by clicking “Add Another Flight.”

Since the website search must condense these options to find the lowest fare, there may be significantly more flight options than you will be given. You may see a flight in one option you like, another flight in another option, but no options that combine the two! Before you pull your hair out trying to find the perfect flight combination on the website, contact our Travel Specialists at any time since they can piece your perfect itinerary together for you.

Usually, but you can’t really find it in the name of “Cheap” Air.

Most people are looking to fly for as cheap as possible. The cheaper you go, the more restrictions to that ticket. Most all tickets sold are non-refundable.

If you really want to go the route of a refundable ticket and pay the cost of such a privilege, we don’t actually let you search for this online. This is because sometimes a fare is offered as a refundable fare ticket but it is not, and in case you really want that refund after all we want to make sure that the price you pay is for what you paid for.

Contact our Travel Specialists at 1.800.CHEAPAIR (1.800.243.2724).

Wow – you either have a large family or you’ve been voted as the champion to organize travel for your group! Whatever the case may be – we are here to help you through the travel booking process.

Booking groups online: you may book up to 9 travelers at a time on line. If your group consists of 10+ travelers, you need to call one of our professional travel representatives to assist you over the phone. Airlines have special rules regarding group bookings of 10 or more people and the best news is sometimes they actually will give you a discounted group rate which you cannot get through any web site. We’re here to help make this process a lot smoother for you. You can take all the credit for planning a successful group trip!

If you are making the reservation over the phone with a Travel Specialist please advise them of any special requests or services the passenger(s) will need. They will then notify the airline so that everything will be ready when the passenger(s) arrive at the airport.

When booking online, after receiving your email confirmation, please email us at help@cheapair.com with the confirmation number and the type of assistance you are requesting. We will notify the airline and then contact you back to confirm the request.

You are not required to advise us (or the airline) of any special needs the passenger(s) may have prior to travel. However, it is recommended, as your request can then be more readily accommodated. You can also always call and speak with a Travel Specialist at 1-800-CHEAP-AIR (1-800-243-2724) if you have any specific questions or concerns with the reservation.

While we do love pets here at CheapAir, we are unfortunately not able to book travel for them. Many airlines have specific (and differing) rules for transporting animals while some simply do not allow them at all. Please contact the airline you are considering flying with and they will tell you how they recommend booking your pet and what their rules and policies are.

We strongly recommend you do not attempt packing your pet into your Carry-On bag as that only works in sitcoms.

Don’t be shy about revealing your age to us … if you’re 65+ let us know! We’ll see if your flights qualify for an additional discount!

How to book: on the home page, click on the “More Search Options” link. Please designate the number of seniors aged 65 and above. Our system will search for the best fares and offer a Senior Discount if it’s available!

We certainly understand that your children will always be your babies – no matter what age! When booking air travel, please follow these rules for a safe, happy and memorable flight with your children:

1. Infants – for domestic U.S. flights, a child under the age of 2 (24 months) may travel on the lap of an adult parent without charge. For international travel, special lap infant fares apply – these are generally 10 percent of the ticket price plus international taxes and surcharges. If you want your infant to travel in his or her own seat, a ticket must be purchased. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved Child Restraint System (CRS), provided by the adult passenger, must be used.

We recommend traveling with a birth certificate for your lap child since proof of age may be requested by airline personnel at the time of departure.

2. Children – all children 2 years and older must travel in their own seat.

3. Unaccompanied Minors – click here for more information. unaccompanied monor.

4. How to book: From the home page, click the “Seniors 65+ or Children” link and enter the number of children traveling in each age category listed.

Red-eye flights are typically flights that depart late at night and arrive early in the morning, outside of the common operational day. Since it is a casual term with uses to other types of flights, you will not find a specific indicator regarding flights as red-eye flights.

In the common use for US and Canada flights, red-eye flights are those that depart from the west coast to arrive on the east coast. They would depart sometime between 10pm to 1am and arrive 5am to 7am. When searching, there would appear next to the time of arrival a +1, which refers to arriving the next day (if departure is before midnight the previous day)

Note that when searching for late night options if any flight departs midnight or later it will show on the next day not the day you may be searching for.

Above the boxes where you enter your city of origin and destination, you will see the option “Multiple Destination.” Click this and the site will take you to a new page where you can enter the individual legs of your itinerary.

Use this option when you have a trip that is not round-trip (round-trip is origin to destination and back) and you don’t really want to handle multiple one-way bookings. You can add a new leg by clicking “Add Another Flight.”

Since the website search must condense these options to find the lowest fare, there may be significantly more flight options than you will be given. You may see a flight in one option you like, another flight in another option, but no options that combine the two! Before you pull your hair out trying to find the perfect flight combination on the website, contact our Travel Specialists at any time since they can piece your perfect itinerary together for you.

When you book your reservation online, you will be asked to select a preference, window or aisle. When the booking is completed, our system will automatically find you the seat (by preference) closest to the front of the plane.

If you would like to change your seat to a specific one, you may do so by contacting us. We have direct links to the airlines inventory and can usually change your seat assignment instantly. You can email us help@cheapair.com or call and speak with a Travel Specialist at 1-800-CHEAP-AIR (1-800-243-2724).

If you were not assigned a seat, this means either the airline is not permitting pre-assigned seating at this time or they may only assign seating at Check In. Please note, once you have paid for your ticket, you do have a confirmed seat regardless of whether or not you have a pre-assigned seat number.

Finally, if you find yourself seated next to a screaming baby, there is not much we at CheapAir can do to help you. However all is not lost! It is not uncommon for there to be unsold seats on a flight so you can always ask a flight attendant if there is anywhere else you can be seated. Make sure to smile and hint there may be a bag of peanuts in it for them and you are sure to get rock star treatment.

To get a copy of your itinerary go to the My Trips page. Enter your log in information to access your trips or if you did not create an account, you can enter your booking number and passenger last name. You should see a list of your trips purchased. From this page, you can click on your reservation # to pull up your travel itinerary. In the top right, there is a printer icon which can be clicked to print a copy of your itinerary.

Alternatively, you can always e-mail us Help@CheapAir.com to request a copy of your itinerary.

To check the status of a flight you can click the flight status link on the right in the Traveler's Resources.

There are several ways to reconfirm your itinerary. You can view your itinerary online by using My Trips and either logging in with your e-mail and password or by searching using your booking number and last name. Other ways to reconfirm your itinerary are by e-mailing us at support@cheapair.com or calling us at 1-800-243-2724. Alternatively, you can also reconfirm your itinerary with the airline directly, either by viewing your itinerary online or by calling them.

We recommend that you check-in and confirm your flight reservation with the airline at least 24 hours prior to departure for domestic flights (72 hours for flights to Hawaii and international destinations). Many airlines offer online check-in where you can confirm your seat, verify flight times, and print your boarding pass.

If your flights have changed due to a schedule change, here are some helpful tips.

1. Review your updated flight itinerary – minor changes may have you leaving and/or arriving within minutes of originally booked.

2. Research new schedules online. Online schedules are as up to date as the airline can make them. That means that these are the schedules that you will have available to change to when you contact the airline. Having already looked at the schedules means you spend less time trying to work out a new schedule and doing it beforehand means that you have the chance to speak with any other people who may be on the reservation and insure that they are also going to be able to agree on a change.

3. Begin the call by letting the agent know that you have had a schedule change on your record and reviewing the schedule change policy. Every airline has a policy regarding schedule changes. Allowing the agent to advise you of what the policy is makes sure that you get the current policy and have a chance to ask questions about that policy before getting down to details.

4. Allow the agent to review the details of your reservation with you before you hang up the phone. It is required that the agent on the phone recap the reservation to you before the end of the phone call, but do not be afraid to ask them to repeat themselves. They are human and mistakes can be made. This may save you having to call back again about a mistake in the new record.

5. If you are advised to speak with your travel agent, do not argue the case. Contact your travel agent, more than likely, they are responsible for making sure that your reservation gets changed at no cost to you.

6. Verify the contact information listed on the reservation to ensure it is up to date.

7. Be aware that schedules can possibly change again. As much as airlines do not want to change their schedules, it is unavoidable that it will happen. With the current climate of cutbacks in service and changes in equipment, schedule changes are becoming less of the exception and more the rule. Do not take it personally.

If you miss your flight you should immediately seek assistance with the nearest airline customer service representative.

If you miss your flight due to circumstance that could have been prevented (i.e. sleeping in or not budgeting enough time for check-in/security wait lines/time), the airline may allow you to fly stand-by on a later flight. Be forewarned: some airlines have implemented “same day stand-by” fees. These fees can vary depending on the airline.

Also beware that airlines can suspend your ticket if you do not show up for your scheduled flight. This usually happens within 24 hours of the missed flight. If you miss your flight, you are considered a “no show” and the ticket purchased loses all value.

If you find out that you missed your flight, you can also call the airline and plead your case with them. Depending on the representative, they may open the ticket up for you to use for a future flight. (It’s always worth a shot!)

The time someone needs for a connection varies from one airport to the other and from one flight to another. Usually with a domestic flight it can go from half an hour to one hour, and for international flights it can go from one hour to three hours. Most of the times that you are making a connection the gates are next to each other or in close proximity to avoid any missed flights. As in anything there are exceptions to the norm.

There are times where the connection times are very important such as when you are connecting to different airlines, or traveling internationally. When connecting from one airline to another it can take more time if the gates are not in the same terminal and therefore require a longer connection time. International flights that require you to go through customs usually require longer connection times also.

Most airlines will offer multiple connections so if you feel you need more time you can purchase a flight with a longer connection. When an airline sells its flight it takes into consideration the connecting time and will only sell flights that give you enough time to connect. To help ensure you make your connecting flight, also see: How can I ensure I will make my connecting flight?

To ensure you make your connecting flight(s), follow these helpful tips:

• During the flight, check the magazines in the seat pocket. Often times, those will have maps of the airports that the airline serves. Use those maps to determine where your arriving and departing gates are located, and what path you must take to get from one to the other.

• Determine how much time you have to make it onto the connecting flight.

• Listen closely to the announcements going on as the plane you're on is taxiing to the gate. If there have been any gate changes for your connecting flight, you'll hear them now, so long as the people around you haven't started up all their loud cell phone conversations.

• Collect all your carry-on items and take them off the plane with you. Baggage handlers will take care of transferring your checked bags from one plane to another; you usually do not need to visit baggage claim. The only instance where you will have to visit the baggage claim is if you are flying internationally, and you have arrived in your country of destination, but have another flight to connect with.

• Make sure that the boarding pass for your connecting flight is on your person.

• After you leave the airplane, you can always ask a gate agent to look up your flight. Many times gate agents are standing just outside the exit door as you enter the airport. If no gate agent is present, check the monitors for gate information.

• If there is an unreasonably short period of time between your connecting flights, contact the airline. It is their responsibility to see that you arrive at your final destination. If they are unable to put you on a later flight the same day, don't be timid in demanding compensation and to be put up at a hotel.

• If you don't have much time to get to the connecting flight, run.

• If you've got plenty of time to kill, lolly-gag around, get something to eat, use a restroom that isn't 18" square. Another thing you could do is to go to the ticketing counter and see if any flights that are going to your destination leave earlier than your flight; if there are, see if you can be placed on a standby list for one of those flights.

Check out our Price Drop Protection program here. Price Drop Protection.

But in general, the answer to this question depends on the airline which you are traveling with. Most airlines will not refund you if the fare goes down on your ticket. However, many times if you contact the airline or booking agent and advise them the fare decreased and express your frustration, they will either offer you a refund or travel voucher. They might even just offer to waive your baggage fees.

If they do not offer a refund and the fare went down substantially you can check to see if you have a refundable ticket. If you have a refundable ticket you can just cancel your current ticket and rebook the lower fare. Please keep in mind that most airlines charge a cancellation fee so the savings could exceed the cancellation fee.

If you have enough frequent flyer miles, you can use them to upgrade a coach ticket to first class. Check with your airline; many have specials throughout the year that make these upgrades easier and more enticing. Each airline may have varying requirements or limitations for the use of frequent flyer miles to upgrade fare class.

Airlines will also allow you to purchase an upgrade at the gate or as you check in. This is done on a space-available basis. If they have several seats free in first class, the airline will make more money by selling upgrades than they will by leaving the seats empty. Also keep in mind that some airline tickets are not allowed to be upgraded to first or business class even if there is space available in the cabin.

To take advantage of Price Drop Payback, any time after your purchase go to the “My Trips” section of our web site to retrieve your itinerary. From there, with one click we’ll check to see if your fare has gone down. If it has, we’ll issue you a travel credit immediately. You can check your fare every week, every day, or as often as you want. It’s fast and easy.

To receive a travel credit, you must re-price your itinerary using the “Price Drop Payback” button. Some restrictions apply, so click here for complete terms and conditions.

Within 24 hours of completing your reservation, usually much sooner, you will be sent a confirmation email including your full itinerary and reservation number. If you did not receive your confirmation email, we recommend that you check the "Bulk" or "Spam" folder in your email to ensure that it was not automatically filtered to that folder by your email service. To help insure prompt delivery of your email confirmation please add mail@cheapair.com to your address book.

Additionally, you may want to add CheapAir.com to your “allowed” senders list so that we can send you confirmation emails and information regarding your future departures. Instructions for adding us to this list, if possible, can be given by your email provider. Here are some common solutions:

Yahoo: If an email you wanted in your Inbox happens to land in your Bulk folder, let Yahoo know by opening the message then clicking the "Not Spam" button.

AOL: Use "Mail and Spam Controls" to add us to your "Customer Sender List". You can add our domain of cheapair.com to make sure you receive your confirmation.

If you don't receive your confirmation email, you can also verify your reservations online by logging onto www.CheapAir.com and checking "My Trips". You can also email our support staff at help@cheapair.com and ask us to resend the confirmation email by email or fax and we will be happy to do so.

"Re-confirming" simply means having us review your trip itinerary to confirm that there have been no unannounced schedule changes that may affect your trip. The easiest way to do this is to email help@cheapair.com with your confirmation number and ask us to reconfirm your trip.

We will check with the airline and quickly email you back with your re-confirmation. If there have been any changes that have impacted your itinerary we will contact you and if necessary contact the airline on your behalf to make sure you are taken care of.

If you need an immediate re-confirmation you can also call and speak with a Travel Specialist at 1-800-CHEAP-AIR (1-800-243-2724).

Note also that the baggage allowance for international travel may be destination specific. Click on the "view policy" link for specific airline policy.  

Please be advised, airlines can also charge fees if the baggage is 'oversized'. Oversized luggage is defined as any bag over 50 lbs. and larger than 62 linear inches (height x length x width).

Carry-On Bag

On most airlines passengers are allowed to bring one (1) carry-on bag, plus one (1) additional personal item such as a purse, briefcase or laptop. 
This limit applies to travelers boarding all flights departing from the U.S. airports for both domestic and international destinations.  The maximum size carry-on bag for most airlines is 45 linear inches (the total of the height, width, and depth of the bag.)  Anything larger must be checked.  Check the links below for specific baggage policies.
**Spirit Airlines does charge for Carry-On bags.  Please click the link to their web site listed below for fees.**

Checked Baggage Chart

Domestic Trips / International Trips
Fees are per flight unless otherwise noted.

Carrier	Checked 1st bag	Checked 2nd bag	Oversize/ Overweight bag
AirTran View policy	$20	$25	$49–$79
Alaska View policy	$20	$20	$50–$75
American View policy	$25	$35	$50–$150
Continental View policy	$25*	$35*	$50–$150
Delta View policy	$25	$35	$90–$175
Frontier View policy	$20	$30	$75
JetBlue View policy	No fee	$30	$50–$100
Midwest View policy	$20	$30	$75
Spirit Airlines View policy	$38*	$45*	$50-$150
Sun Country View policy	$20	$30	$75
United View policy	$25*	$35*	$125–$175
US Airways View policy	$25*	$35*	$100–$200
Virgin America View policy	$25	$25	$50–$100

International Trips / Domestic Trips

Carrier	Checked 1st bag	Checked 2nd bag	Oversize/ Overweight bag
AeroMexico View policy	No fee	No fee	$100–$200
Air Canada View policy	No fee	$30 CAD	$75–$100
Air France View policy	No fee	No fee	$50–$150
American View policy	No fee	$60	$50–$150
British Air View policy	No fee	No fee	$50–$150
Continental View policy	No fee**	$20**	$50–$150*
Delta View policy	No fee**	No fee**	$90–$175
Lufthansa View policy	No fee	No fee	$50–$200
Mexicana View policy	No fee	$40	$50+
United View policy	No fee	$50	$125
US Airways View policy	$25**	$35**	$65–$200

Checked Bags
*   Airline offers a discount if you pre pay online their web site.
** Airline has different policies based on destination of travel.

Oversize/Overweight Bags
* Excess baggage Embargo Rules/Please see details by viewing the baggage policy on airlines official website. 

Nope. As long as you know your Cheapair.com booking number, you are able to view your itinerary online.

Simply go to "my Trips"-use the "Search by Booking Number" option.

Yes, if available. If you would like to change your seat to a specific one, you may do so by contacting us. We have direct links to the airlines’ inventory and can usually change your seat assignment instantly. You can email us help@cheapair.com or call and speak with a Travel Specialist at 1-800-CHEAP-AIR (1-800-243-2724).

If you have been pre-assigned a seat that you do not favor it and there are no better options, do not fret quite yet. During the check-in process, some seats, held for preferred passengers (those who travel often with them) or bulkhead seating close to the front of the cabin, held for check-in for those with wheelchairs for example, may become available for selection. Be sure to check-in early!

Call us immediately! 1.800.CHEAPAIR (1.800.243.2724) The longer you wait to bring up a problem with the selected itinerary, names, or other issues, the less likely we will be able to take swift action to fix the problem. If you are trying to contact us after our call center is closed be sure to call first thing in the morning. If we are able to do anything, in most all cases, it is during our normal business hours.

Keep in mind that changes to any ticket may incur a fee to make a correction.

If you did not enter your frequent flyer number when you booked your trip, be sure to bring the preferred program number for that airline with you at travel. Present it when you check-in and ask the ticket counter or gate agent to add it to your reservation.

You can also email us at help@cheapair.com and we will be happy to update your current reservation with your frequent flyer information.

Please note: storing your frequent flyer information to My Account AFTER you make your purchase will NOT add it to any of your current reservations. However, once stored, frequent flyer information will automatically get added to all future reservations.

This depends greatly on the airline that you have purchased your ticket from. Airlines have penalty fees that can range from $75.00 - $300.00 to make a change to your ticket. In addition to the penalty fee, they will charge you the difference in fare between the old ticket and the new ticket, often referred to as “add/collect” or additional monies collected.

Basically what the airlines do is take the ticket you currently have and use the value of that towards whatever ticket you want to change it to and charge you the current fare. So if you purchased a ticket 3 months before your travel and call to change your flight a day before you could wind up paying quite a bit because you are now purchasing a last minute ticket. Even if you just want to change to a different time they will still impose the same fees.

If the value of your ticket is less than the penalty fee that the airline will charge you to make the change it would be more cost efficient to just purchase a new ticket. For example if the airline penalty is $175.00 and the value of your ticket is $100.00 you would pay them $75.00 more than if you just bought a new ticket.

Also if your flight is scheduled to depart and you are not sure what date you need to change your flight to, most airlines will allow you to cancel and hold a credit with them for about a year. They will still charge you the penalty fee to make the change but they will not charge you until you call back to use your credit or redeem your voucher. They will most likely be non-transferable so the ticket must remain in the same passengers’ name. If you would like to change your airline ticket, please call our offices at 1-800-273-2724.

If you need to change your ticketed flights, such as the dates, destinations, or times, your ticket must be reissued. In most all cases, airlines will charge a fee for exchanging a ticket.

The typical reissue fee charged by the airline is $150 for a domestic ticket, $200 or more for an international ticket. Fees assessed by the airline vary greatly depending on the type of ticket (domestic or international), as well as vary depending on the airline and even the flights and fares available. Furthermore, if the difference in the fare at the time of reissue for your new itinerary is greater than the original airfare, you will be required to pay the difference in addition to the reissue fee.

Please note that CheapAir.com (along with all travel agencies and websites) do not control the fees set by the airline and have no authority to waive them.

Some tickets do not allow any changes, even with a fee. As well, there may be other restrictions that will apply to what may or may not be changed on a ticketed flight. Once again these are restrictions set forth by the airline and we have no authority to waive or modify any details provided by the airline.

Some general rules to keep in mind are:

• Tickets may not be exchanged from one airline to another.

• You cannot change the name on an airline ticket or give the ticket to someone else to use (non-transferrable).

• Tickets usually cannot be exchanged if you did not cancel your itinerary prior to the scheduled departure time of your original flight. This is called a “no show” and the airline considers your ticket to be null and void with no further value for an exchange. (Note: There are some airlines that require itineraries to be canceled 24 hours prior to originally scheduled flight to retain credit)

• If you have already taken a portion of your flight, additional restrictions up to and including no changes permitted may apply.

Changes to tickets cannot be made online. When you are considering a change or ready to make a change, contact our Travel Specialists at 1.800.CHEAPAIR (1.800.243.2724). A fee will be assessed per ticket for this service in addition to any fees assessed by the airline.

Until an exchange is confirmed and processed, all details regarding fees, restrictions, or quotes for differences in fare are not guaranteed and may change at any time without notice.

If you have received a paper ticket(s) and need to make a change, they must be sent to our office before we can confirm a change. We cannot process the exchange until we receive the original ticket.

Most tickets are not transferrable to another person. There are a couple airlines that allow the credit of a canceled reservation to be used for another person, however a penalty will apply.

In all cases a ticketed passenger’s name cannot be changed to another name. If the airline allows credit to be used for another person the original ticket must be canceled and the fare and flights for the canceled ticket are not guaranteed.

Special assistance at the airport should always be reconfirmed directly with the airline at the time of booking and just prior to travel (aircraft changes may affect requests). The ability to accommodate special needs varies greatly by airline and aircraft.

We recommend contacting the airline directly for each segment of you trip (e.g. if you are flying internationally on two airlines, contact both airlines).

You may receive an email notification or phone call from your online travel agency or from the airline to notify you of a schedule change. When booking flights several weeks or months in advance, your flights could change several times before your scheduled departure date.

Head off any issues or surprises before your departure date by checking and your flights ahead of time. Review your itinerary online at periodic intervals if your flights are scheduled several months in advance. Reconfirm your flights by calling your airline directly 3 days before departure.

You can find the terminal number on your e-mail confirmation. The gate number will become available at the airport at the time of check in. You can also check for your gate number on the monitors at the airport that show information about departure and arrival times.

Make sure that you are present at the gate at the boarding time indicated. Passengers who report to the gate too late are not allowed onto the flight and lose their right to transport.

Low season means you are traveling during a seasonal period where typical tourism is less popular. There are many advantages to travel during the low season. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages:

• Cheaper flights, accommodations, etc.

• Less tourists

• Easier to get time off work

Disadvantages:

• Weather might be colder/wetter/etc.

• Daylight hours may be shorter

• Seasonal restaurants/attractions/etc. may be closed.

The cost for a U.S. Passport can vary depending on what type of passport you are applying for. (New passport, re-new passport, minor passport, etc.) Costs are typically around $140 and up.

You can contact the US Embassy for all passport related matters by visiting: US Embassy or you can reach them by phone at 1-877-487-2778.

It is best to contact them before you book your travel. You may find that in addition to a valid passport, a travel or transit visa may be required by the country you are visiting or connecting through.

The need for visa and other related entry requirements vary greatly based on your nationality and country of destination. You will need to contact the US embassy for the specific country to obtain more thorough information.

To order passports online visit: VISA Info which provides an affordable and convenient ordering process and they may be able to answer some of your questions as well.

Airlines traditionally have three travel classes, First Class, Business Class, and Economy Class. Depending on the cabin configuration will determine how many classes of service are offered. Here’s a breakdown of the classes of service:

• First Class, generally the most expensive and most comfortable accommodations available.

• Business Class, high quality, traditionally purchased by business travelers (sometimes called executive class)

• Premium Economy, slightly better Economy Class seating (greater distance between rows of seats; the seats themselves may or may not be wider than regular economy class)

• Economy Class (also known as coach class or travel class), basic accommodation, commonly purchased by leisure travelers

There are two types of “bumps:” voluntary and involuntary. Voluntary bumping happens when an airline has overbooked any given flight and a passenger voluntarily agrees to accept re-accommodation on a later flight. In situations like this, the gate agent will make an announcement to all passengers seeking volunteers to give up their seats for compensation. Airline flight vouchers are generally offered to entice volunteers.

If volunteers cannot be found, the airline will begin the process of involuntarily bumping passengers. These passengers will still receive re-accommodation on a later flight and cash compensation.

Razors such as box cutters, utility knives, and safety razor blades are not permitted as carry on items. You can bring these items in your checked baggage. (Disposable razors and their cartridges are permitted as carry on items permitted by the TSA.)

The TSA labels sharp objects as prohibited items allowed on a plane. For a complete list of prohibited items follow this link: prohibited items.

Makeup is subject to the same liquid and gel rules as all other substances. If you're bringing liquid mascara, lip gels or other liquid or gel-like items, they will need to be placed in your quart-size plastic bag in 3.4-ounce or smaller containers. Lipstick, powders, solid lip balms and other solid beauty products are not subject to the rules, and may be carried in your hand luggage without restriction.

When you purchase a connecting flight, checked baggage is usually forwarded to your final destination, and will change planes when you do. The check-in agent will usually ask if you want your luggage checked through to your last stop, ask if they don't to be sure. You'll also receive boarding passes for both flights when you first check-in, so all you will need to do is find your gate at your connecting airport and your bags will automatically follow.

When you purchase a layover flight, you will need to claim your bags when you land at your layover destination. Then recheck them the next day when you continue your flight(s).

If you happen to purchase an itinerary where multiple carriers are involved, ask the check-in agent if your baggage will transfer. In some cases if you purchased multiple tickets that are not all on the same carrier you may need to recheck your baggage. To be certain, call the airlines you are traveling on and double check.

No. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requires that all passengers (18 and over) show a U.S. federal or state-issued photo ID in order to get through the security checkpoint and onto your flight.

Acceptable IDs include:

• U.S. passport

• U.S. passport card

• DHS "Trusted Traveler" cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)

• U.S. Military ID (active duty or retired military and their dependents, and DOD civilians)

• Permanent Resident Card

• Border Crossing Card

• DHS-designated enhanced driver's license

• Drivers Licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)

• A Native American Tribal Photo ID

• An airline or airport-issued ID (if issued under a TSA-approved security plan)

• A foreign government-issued passport

• Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) card

• Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)

Passengers who do not or cannot present an acceptable ID will have to provide information to the Transportation Security Officer performing Travel Document Checking duties in order to verify their identity. Passengers who are cleared through this process may be subject to additional screening. Passengers whose identity cannot be verified by TSA may not be allowed to enter the screening checkpoint or onto an airplane.

This depends on where you are traveling. If you are traveling domestically, then no passport is required, but other ID may be requested. If you are traveling internationally, then yes. All children under 16 much have their own passport in order to travel internationally.

• Minors under age 16 must apply in person

• There are special requirements for All Minors Ages 16 & 17

• All minors regardless of age, including newborns and infants, must have their own passport when traveling internationally by air.

U.S. and Canadian citizen children under age 16 arriving by land or sea from contiguous territory may also present an original or copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, a Naturalization Certificate, or a Canadian Citizenship Card.

You must have a valid passport to fly anywhere outside the U.S.

That depends on whether you are flying domestic or international. Contrary to what is the popular belief, people who don't have ID are still allowed to fly on domestic flights in the US, so long as they can clear additional security screening.

Adult passengers (18 and over) are required to show a U.S. federal or state-issued photo ID in order to be allowed to go through the checkpoint and onto their flight. (Children are not required to show identification).

Passengers who do not or cannot present an acceptable ID will have to provide information to the Transportation Security Officer performing Travel Document Checking duties in order to verify their identity. Passengers who are cleared through this process may be subject to additional screening. Passengers whose identity cannot be verified by TSA may not be allowed to enter the screening checkpoint or onto an airplane.

Acceptable IDs include:

• U.S. passport

• U.S. passport card

• DHS "Trusted Traveler" cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)

• U.S. Military ID (active duty or retired military and their dependents, and DOD civilians)

• Permanent Resident Card

• Border Crossing Card

• DHS-designated enhanced driver's license

• Drivers Licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)

• A Native American Tribal Photo ID

• An airline or airport-issued ID (if issued under a TSA-approved security plan)

• A foreign government-issued passport

• Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) card

• Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)

Non-US/Canadian citizens are not required to carry their passports if they have documents issued by the U.S. government such as Permanent Resident Cards. Those who do not should be carrying their passports while visiting the U.S.

Most airlines will allow small pets to travel. They have specific weight limits and only a certain number of pets are allowed on each flight. The charge will range from $50.00-$175.00 depending on the airline.

When a pet travels in the cabin, the airlines call the pet "accompanied baggage." If you want your pet to travel in the cabin as accompanied baggage, you must be a passenger traveling on the same flight as your pet. Most airlines place a limit on the number of pets allowed in the cabin, so make sure to check with the airline prior to booking your ticket. At that time, ask for the airline's rules on pet travel, including the recommended dimensions of your pet's carrier and the types of pets the airline will allow in the cabin.

If your pet is a larger animal, the airline may decide to stow the pet in the cargo hold with the baggage. Below are some helpful tips and more information about traveling with pets.

• The pet should be at least eight weeks old and fully weaned.

• The pet cannot be ill, violent, or in physical distress.

• According to the ASPCA and many veterinarians, as well as most airlines, pets should not be sedated for air travel. If you are concerned about your pet being over anxious during travel, then please discuss this with your veterinarian. Make sure that your pet’s nails are trimmed to avoid snagging on the travel crate’s door or some other object.

• The pet should have all necessary health certificates and documentation. The travel crate must meet the airline’s standards and be large enough for the pet to lie down comfortably, turn around, and stand freely. Mark the crate with “Live Animal — This Side Up” and include your name, address, and telephone number in case she gets lost or misplaced in transit. You also should include the name, address, and telephone number of your destination. New Regulations — Containers constructed after October 1, 2000 must meet the following requirements -- The door must be constructed of welded or cast metal of sufficient gauge or thickness to prevent the animal from bending or distorting the door. The door hinge and locking pins must engage the kennel by at least 1.5 cm (5/8") beyond the horizontal extrusions above and below the door opening where the pins are fitted.

• Your pet may be more comfortable if you place an old towel, blanket, or toys in the crate.

• Book a nonstop flight and take temperatures into consideration. During the summer, fly at night when it’s often cooler. In the winter, fly during the day when it’s warmer.

• Certain short-nosed dogs such as pugs cannot breathe well in airplane cargo areas. Avoid flying with these particular breeds.

• Do not feed your pet just before traveling due to the potential for an upset stomach during the flight. Give your pet frozen water or, if possible, some ice cubes that will melt slowly (and hopefully will not dump out during boarding).

• Plan your trip well in advance and make sure you follow all airline regulations. Plan to check-in at the airport at least three hours before the flight departs.

• Federal law prohibits you from taking your pet out of the carrier while you are in the plane's cabin.

Airlines do recommend that you bring a car seat or some type of child restraining device for small children. However booster seats are not Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved and are not permitted to be used onboard an aircraft. Airplane seat belts aren't designed to hold two year olds very well. The FAA recommends using a CRS. A CRS is a hard-backed child safety seat that is approved by the government for use in both motor vehicles and aircraft.

This is a great resource for child safety on airplanes: fly children.

The allowed quantities of liquid are 3.4 ounce bottle or less (by volume); 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin. One-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring; 3.4 ounce container size is a security measure.

If you are wondering about meal service, pick up the phone and call the airline you are flying to inquire.

There are certain flights that will never have meal service. You can find this out just by looking at the length of your flight, and the time of day you will be flying. Flights less than 2 hours will only have a snack/beverage service. Some airlines have meals on short domestic flights, but you could be charged for it. Each airline has its own set of policies concerning meals and snacks.

On international flights that take you through a traditional mealtime, you can expect that a meal will be served.

If you have a special dietary need (diabetic, veggie, etc.), ask the airline if they offer a special meal.

You can bring along your own snacks as well, but check to make sure what you can or cannot bring.

You’re traveling 7 hours, and your hungry... so what do you do? Do you eat the airline food? Bring your own food? Starve? Airline food has always been known for not being quite appealing or appetizing. Many airlines still don’t know what they are doing about the food they serve. It’s just heated up and carted out. Luckily, some international carriers understand how to cook and prepare the food, providing good tasting meals. Yum!

International carriers like Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Air France, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic/America, and others are standouts for providing some of the best in flight meals.

There are a lot of different kinds of frequent flyer programs out there, each with great benefits, so which is the best one for you? The best airline program is the one that provides you with the most rewards for the least effort and expense. Since each program offers different benefits and rewards, you should take into account what program is going to give you what you want.

If you don't want to be limited to one particular carrier, airline credit cards let you earn points that can be used to obtain free tickets on over 250 major airlines. This means that you are less limited by seat availability when booking for your free flight.

Frequent Flyer Programs:

U.S. & Canada Carriers:

• Air Canada Aeroplan

• Air Tran A Plus Rewards

• Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

• American AAdvantage

• Continental OnePass

• Delta SkyMiles

• Frontier Airlines EarlyReturns

• Hawaiian Airlines Hawaiian Miles

• JetBlue TrueBlue

• Southwest Rapid Rewards

• United Mileage Plus

• US Airways Dividend Miles

• Virgin America Elevate

Latin America Carriers:

• Aerolineas Argentinas Plus Program

• AeroMexico Club Premier

• Latin Pass [now GlobalPass]

• Mexicana Frequenta

• Varig Smiles

European Carriers:

• Aer Lingus Travel Award Bonus Program

• Air France Frequence Plus

• Alitalia Club Mille Miglia

• Austrian Airlines Miles & More

• British Airways Executive Club

• Finnair Plus Bonus Program

• Iberia Iberia Plus

• KLM Flying Dutchman

• LOT Miles & More

• Lufthansa Miles & More

• Olympic Airways Icarus

• SAS EuroBonus

• Swiss TravelClub

• TAP Air Portugal Navigator

• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Asia – Pacific Carriers:

• Air New Zealand Air Points

• All Nippon Airways ANA Mileage Club

• Asiana Asiana Club

• Cathay Pacific Airways Asia Miles

• EVA Evergreen Club

• Japan Airlines JAL Mileage Bank

• Korean Airlines Skypass

• Malaysia Airlines Enrich

• Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Miles

• Qantas Frequent Flyer

• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

If you were not assigned a seat, this means either the airline is not permitting pre-assigned seating at this time or they may only assign seating at Check In. Please note, once you have paid for your ticket, you do have a confirmed seat regardless of whether or not you have a pre-assigned seat number.

Keep in mind that pre-assigned seating is different on all airlines. Some require a fee for pre-assigned seating; others will close the ability for pre-assignment if it is too far out, or too close in. If pre-assigned seating is not available at this time, be sure to check-in early! This is usually the time when available seats held for other purposes get opened up.

We know how punctual you are – here is a basic rule of thumb for airport check-in times:

a. For domestic flights, it is recommended that you arrive at the airport no later than 1 hour prior to flight time.

b. For international flights, you should allow at least 2 hours.

However, you may want to pad your time a little bit to allow extra check-in time if:

a. You’re traveling during a peak time (major holiday, etc.)

b. You’re checking baggage.

c. You’re departing from a large or exceptionally busy airport.

For air travel within the U.S., the TSA allows you to carry on all medications including liquids, gels, and aerosols, with no limit on the amount you can carry.

If you have more than three ounces of "medically necessary" drugs and they are not in a quart sized plastic bag, you are required to declare and allow a security screener to examine it. Medicines must be labeled and those in daily dosage containers will be screened.

Travel overseas is a bit trickier, as each country has its own set of rules. To avoid trouble at customs, the State Department recommends that you keep drugs in their original labeled containers and bring copies of your prescriptions as well as a letter from your doctor if you are carrying any unusual or narcotic drugs. They also suggest contacting the U.S. embassy or consulate of the country you're visiting to find out if it's legal to bring your particular medication into the country.

For complete information on what items are permitted and forbidden please visit the Transportation Security Administration Permitted and Prohibited Items List.

During your flight, we certainly hope that you are comfortable as possible. For domestic U.S. flights, a regular meal service is generally no longer offered for passengers in the economy cabin. Airlines may offer snack and beverage service based on flight length. Soft drinks, coffee, water, and juices are typically complimentary while alcoholic beverages, snacks, and light meals may be offered for a nominal fee.

All passengers are invited to visit airport concessions to bring food purchases on board.

International “long-haul” flights may offer expanded meal service in the economy cabin. If you have a special dietary requirement (kosher, vegetarian, etc.) please let us know so that we may request an appropriate meal for you. Of course, it will still be an airline meal – so you still might want to pack your own snack!

Your airline may offer a variety of on-board entertainment and amenities such as: movies, television, music, pillows and blankets. Some items are complimentary; others can be purchased while on board. For good measure, you might want to pack a book, newspaper, pen, and I-pod to round out your entertainment options!

We know how much time you spent primping for your driver’s license and passport photos! Now that you’re hopping on a flight – it’s time to show the airline and security personnel how photogenic you are!

For adult U.S. Citizens (18 years and older) traveling within the United States, U.S. Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico, a valid passport or valid driver’s license is required.

Important: U.S. citizens traveling to the United States by air from the Caribbean, Mexico, Bermuda or Canada are required to travel with a valid U.S. passport. U.S. citizens returning directly from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are not required to show passports.

For minor U.S. Citizens (under 18 years of age) formal identification is not typically required for travel within the United States, U.S. Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico when accompanied by an adult parent or guardian. Tip: bring some form of identification for your minor children - such as a copy of the birth certificate or school ID. This is especially important if the minor is close to the next age category. For instance, infants under 2 are allowed to travel for free on an adult’s lap but if they look like they might be older than 2 the airline might request proof of their age.

Visit www.tsa.gov for a full list of acceptable documents.

Passports are required for U.S. Citizens (regardless of age) traveling to all other destinations outside the United States, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Make sure to check your passport expiration date – it should be valid for a minimum of 6 months past travel completion.  To order passports online VisaHQ.com provides an affordable and convenient ordering process.  Click on this link to connect to VisaHQ to order or renew your passport.  http://www.visahq.com/?a_aid=vaff1269

VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR US AND NON-US RESIDENTS:

It is the traveler's responsibility to determine their need for and acquire all required visas. 

In addition to a valid passport, a travel or transit visa may be required by the country you are visiting or connecting through.   The need for visa and other related entry requirements vary greatly based on your nationality and country of destination.  If the traveler's itinerary includes a transit stop (e.g. connecting flight) in a country that is not their final destination, a transit visa may be required regardless if the traveler plans to exit the airport or not.  There are different types of visas depending on the purpose of travel, whether for tourism, business, transit, study, etc.  Each country has its own rules, fees, application forms, length of stay, and entry requirements. 

Getting the correct information about entry requirements is critical and without the proper documentation a passenger will not be able to travel.  It's important for travelers to know what those requirements are and get any documents in a timely manner.  Getting a visa can be a lengthy process and you want to make sure you have your documents in plenty of time before the date of travel.  CheapAir.com is affiliated with VisaHQ.com to offer a convenient option to look up visa requirements.  Use the widget to the right to put in your country of citizenship and destination country.  VisaHQ.com will check for the documents needed, explain how to obtain those documents and may also have an option to purchase those documents online.  VisaHQ.com can also assist with some transit visas depending on the country but they recommend contacting the embassy for the specific country to obtain more thorough information.  Contact information can be located on the VisaHQ.com website.  CheapAir.com does not provide or is responsible for information regarding entry requirements for travel.

CHECKING IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS:

Please see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Traveler's Health site for health information on specific destinations.

TRAVELING ABROAD WITH CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18:

In an effort to keep children safe while traveling internationally, many governments have instituted procedures at entry and exit points that require parents to show documentary evidence of their relationship to all accompanying minors (children under age 18).

Additionally, many countries require that children under 18, when traveling without one or both parents/guardians, carry notarized permission from the parents or legal guardian not present for the child's travel.

Oh, one other important thing to pack … your Cheap Air confirmation email! International Customs may require proof of a return flight back to the US. (note to self: this might be a good idea for when relatives come visit!)

Your email print out won’t take up much space in your carry on and it’s chock full of important information to assist you with a smooth check-in! And hey, if you encounter any questions at the airport, you’ll have our phone number handy to assist you with any last-minute details!

Most flights will contain Terminal information on the email confirmation page we provide. Since large airports with multiple terminals have pre-determined areas dedicated to airlines in many cases, if you search for your airport online you can usually find a terminal map that shows where an airline is designated.

Gate information is generally not available until the day prior to travel and may change several times until your flight. Depending on how the day goes, boarding gates can shuffle to ease the flow of traffic or other unexpected changes. Gate information is usually provided, if available, upon check-in online or at the airport.

An airline may need to update flight schedules after your tickets are purchased.

Your flight details are always available online in My Trips. All airline schedule changes will be noted here and we will also make every effort possible to contact you via email if your itinerary has changed. In some instances, we may need to talk to you to discuss flight alternatives.

We are not responsible for the changes made or the consequnces that result from that change. We will do our best to contact you via e-mail but cannot guarantee that notification will be recieved.

We recommend that you verify your itinerary in My Trips 48 – 72 hours prior to your departure. When booking several months or weeks in advance, you may also want to periodically verify your flight information online.

Even the best laid plans are no match for Mother Nature – flight disruptions may occur at the last minute. Make sure to keep one eye on the sky and the other on departure board upon arriving at the airport to check for last minute delays.