What is the most important thing when looking for airline flight tickets? Most travelers will mention the price as the top priority, however, safety and reliability should go first, especially considering all the unexpected cancellations, overbookings, delays, etc. As long as the trips are often planned minute-to-minute, even minor changes can ruin the whole trip.
When searching for tickets, make sure you go with tried-and-trusted companies, ignoring less safe options, even with super discounts, as it can cost you much more in the end.
How to Choose a Reliable Airline Company?
How to Choose a Reliable Airline Company?
Certification
The airline can be considered reliable if it has undergone the FAA certification having met its safety regulations, and has an air operator’s certificate (AOC) issued by a civil aviation authority (CAA) to allow it to use aircraft for commercial purposes.
Return Policies and Compensations
One of the major worries of tourists is related to monetary compensation when the flight is delayed, canceled, or overbooked. It is important to check the return policies of every particular airliner to be aware of your rights in case of emergency.
The European carriers are typically regulated by EC 261, which claims that all the flights within the EU can qualify for compensation, refund, or routine in case of delay, cancellation, and overboard. The compensation is based on the expected timing of the flight and the length of the delay.
For instance, one of the most reliable European carriers – Luxair, which hits almost 8/10 credibility points, offers its compensation forms on the website, with all the details and information. Luxair Compensation policies offer up to 600€ of compensation for 3+ hours of delay. The refunds are also dependent on the length of the flight and the circumstances.
Similar to Luxair Compensation rules function other European airlines, thus, make sure you learn the rules before using the services.
The reviews and news
Online reviews can help travelers see the big picture regarding the functioning of a particular airline. Instead of scanning tons of online reviews right before planning the vacation, it should be done in advance to be fully ready when there is a chance to have a spontaneous trip.
Another important source of information is online magazines and guides for travelers, like TravelWiseWay, who constantly update the news about the world of tourism and airline updates in particular.
Onboard facilities
Onboard facilities may not be in focus when the flight is less than 3-4 hours. Yet, when you are expecting a long-haul flight, and traveling with children, it is better to check if there are entertaining facilities for kids, as they may get pretty disruptive, the size of the seats, the legroom, the TVs, the WIFI – the comfort of a flight will reduce the pain of jet-lagging.
Customer service
Last but not least important is customer service, as they are the ones who are responsible for all the support in case of issues. Check on the time of their work (should be 24/7) and pay attention if the operators are as helpful as claimed while reading the reviews. If the reviews are outbalanced by the negative ones, reconsider your choice, and blacklist the company.
The Bottom Line
The choice of an airline is the first step to organizing a seamless trip. While the lowest price for the tickets may seem to be a decisive option, it is better to count on other aspects as well – the safety and cancellation policies, appropriate certification, the efficiency of the customer reviews, customer reviews regarding the company’s functioning, etc.
Once you draw a big picture, you can proceed to booking the tickets with the company and set out on your journey with a tried-and-trusted airline.
