Rules, rights and what to do when plans change

Passenger Guide

Most travel problems are procedural. There is a counter to visit, a form to file, a deadline to respect and a piece of paper worth keeping.

The Passenger Guide explains those procedures in plain language so you can act quickly instead of searching for answers in a queue.

10 guides in this section

Delays are procedural problems. Knowing who to ask, what to keep and when to act turns a lost day into a manageable inconvenience.

8 min read

A cancellation gives you a choice between a replacement flight and a refund. Knowing which to ask for, and when, is most of the battle.

8 min read

Missing a connection is normal and usually recoverable. Everything depends on whether the two flights were on one ticket.

8 min read

Understanding weight rules, tags, transfers and prohibited items removes most of the friction from bag drop.

8 min read

Most missing bags are simply late. The file reference you obtain before leaving the airport is what turns that into a solved problem.

8 min read

Cabin baggage rules are simpler than they look. Size, weight and liquids account for nearly every problem at the gate.

7 min read

Screening is a fixed sequence. Once you know the order, you can prepare for it in the queue and clear the checkpoint in minutes.

7 min read

Two hours and three hours are averages, not answers. Build your arrival time from the steps your specific trip requires.

7 min read

Airlines are fined for carrying passengers who cannot enter their destination, so they check documents strictly. Here is what they look for.

8 min read

Airports are hard on small children mainly because of waiting. Structure the day around that and most of the difficulty disappears.

8 min read