By the U.S. Gov
- Fly early in the day - flights are less likely to be cancelled
- Fly through less congested airports when possible
- Pay by credit card - provides protection in U.S. under Federal regulations
- Pick up your ticket from a travel agency or ticket office - avoids lost in the mail
- Safeguard your ticket - keep a separate record of the ticket number
- Bring photo I.D. when you fly – is required at check-in
- When you receive your ticket, make sure all of the information on it is correct
- Keep checking your fare after you buy your ticket - airline may reduce fares
- Call a day or two before your flight to reconfirm your reservation
- Check in early – one hour before domestic flights and two hours before international flights.
- Check your ticket for errors after checking in for each flight on your trip
- If you are "bumped" because of overbooking, ask about the rules
- Before accepting voucher as compensation for being bumped, ask about restrictions
- Put a tag on the outside of your baggage with your name, home address, and home and work phone numbers
- Put the same information inside each bag, and add an address and telephone number where you can be reached at your destination city
- Verify that the agent checking your bags attaches a destination tag with three-letter code to each one - remove tags from previous trips to avoid confusion
- If your bag arrives open or unlocked, check immediately to see if any of the contents are missing or damaged.
- Report any baggage problems to your airline before leaving the airport. Insist that the airline fill out a form and give you a copy, even if they say the bag will be in on the next flight. Before leaving the airport, ask the airline if they will deliver the bag without charge when it is found
- Open your suitcase immediately when you get to your destination. Report any damage to contents or pilferage by telephone right away. Make a note of the date and time of the call, and the name and telephone number of the person you spoke with