Internet Airfare Purchasing
Questions
to Consider:
What are the ticket restrictions and associated fees?
- Refundable?
- Changeable?
- Exchangeable?
- Transferable?
Do you understand and agree to the fine print in the terms
and conditions, fare restrictions?
How much time will it really take to find a good fare and schedules
via the Internet?
Are there additional costs to the advertised fare? Ticketing
fees? Airport fees?
Is the schedule convenient?
- Connections?
- Airport?
- Time?
- Dates?
Do you have reserved seats?
If not, you may call the airline for seat assignments after you are
ticketed.
Do you prefer an electronic ticket
or paper ticket?
| Electronic
Ticket |
Paper
ticket: |
- Cannot be lost or stolen.
- Security requires a written receipt/itinerary or paper
ticket.
- Check airport requirements for e tickets if you plan
to check-in at the gate.
- Can you rebook directly with the airline or agency
|
- Considered cash.
- If lost, need to repurchase ticket and file for refund
for lost ticket.
- May have to pay an extra fee.
|
Do you have access to current rules regarding travel?
- Luggage limits
- Check-in time
- Provided meals
- Dietary requests
- Foreign country requirements
At check-in, some airlines require the actual credit card
used to purchase the ticket. If using the UO procurement card, will
this present difficulties for the department?
What happens if your flight is cancelled or you miss a connection?
Is 24-hour customer service available?
What happens if the trip doesn't occur?
Procedures differ for tickets purchased using a contracted travel
agency, UO procurement card, or traveler's personal credit card.
UO Unused Airline Ticket
Procedure
Will you remember to confirm your flight before you leave?
Major
Advantages of Agency Purchase:
- 24-hour customer service. (If your flight is cancelled, call
the agency on your cell phone while waiting in line at customer
service. The agency can rebook while you are in line, and then the
airline customer service will re-ticket.)
- Reserved seats when booked, if possible.
- Seating pros and cons vary with airline and plane model. Your
agency can advise you on choosing "good" seats.
- E-ticket or paper ticket
- Additional quotes not needed even if total ticketing costs more
than $5,000
- Agency may give automatic fare reductions
- Agency may give notification of schedule changes
- Frequent flier miles accommodated
- Special requests handled such as special shipping, dietary requests
- Current rules information
- luggage limits
- check-in time
- provided meals
- dietary requests
- foreign country requirements
- One-stop for transportation, lodging, car rental
Print/Copy Mail Services