Read the Fine Print When You Travel
For travelers, there are always unforeseen events out there waiting to happen. It could be an illness, a sudden change in your exam schedule, being denied of your Visa application, or worse, a death in the family. These situations, if not handled well, could lead to you losing the value of your ticket, especially if you are not aware of what your ticket rules and restrictions are.
Here are a few examples you might want to watch out for in those fine prints:
Fees for changing your travel dates or canceling your ticket
These fees vary from airline to airline and could cost from $25 up to $300. Sometimes, cancellations must be done before departure otherwise your ticket becomes non-refundable. In these cases, there’s not much StudentUniverse, or anyone else can do.
Rules for changing your ticket
A few airlines to do not allow any changes at all, and some will allow only date changes. Some airlines allow you to make changes to either your origin or destination cities, or both, and some will not allow routing changes at all, which as a student, is especially tough. If your trip to China falls through for some reason, are you likely to go to China in the next year?
Missing your flight
If your trip involves multiple connecting cities, you have to take all flights in sequential order. Otherwise, the airlines will cancel the succeeding legs of the flight you missed. If you are traveling on the same airline from place to place, they will usually get you out on the next flight, but as a student, you are going to be a lower priority for an airline versus their platinum and gold members. The best thing you can do in these instances is to BE NICE to the person at the gate. They control your trip.
Visa and other travel documents
All passengers are expected to ensure that they have all proper documentation needed for travel. Most travel agencies are unable to provide accurate information so it is best that you check for more information from the embassy of your destination country or you can visit www.state.gov. Take note that you may lose the value of your ticket if you fail to bring proper documentation upon checking in at the airport. A tricky thing for a lot of students is connecting flights. If you are traveling through Asia, you may need a visa for the countries you are stopping in, not just for your destination.
Baggage fees
Tickets that you purchase from either travel agencies or the airlines directly do not include baggage fees. You should check the airline’s website for information about their baggage fees.
Website rules
Most travel agencies impose fees on bookings made on their site such as service fees and additional fees on top of what airlines charge for changes and cancellations.
These are just some of the many rules out there in fine prints. One of your best bets is to get travel insurance for these situations. Travel insurance is pretty cheap and it can save the day, especially if you are traveling internationally.
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