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Archive for September, 2008

Suggestions for Booking Cheap Flights Online

ok your flight online, you could save a lot of money by knowing where to look. There are a number of tricks of the trade when it comes to booking cheap flights online. It is important to become accustomed with some of the best tips for saving money the next time you have to travel by air. Get to where you want to go, but for the lowest price available.

Start by planning your vacation or business trip with flexibility in mind. Whether you book online or offline, you can usually save money if you travel on days when other people are not traveling. That means that the least expensive days to fly will almost always be Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. The exception to this rule is if there is a holiday on one of those days. Flights are always more expensive around holidays when people typically travel to visit their families.

Booking a cheap flight online is all about price comparison. Online travel agencies and other sites let you see the prices before you book. Be careful to note the prices as quickly as possible and, if it is included, check out how many seats are left at the quoted price. This is not a ploy by either the sites or the airlines to get you to buy. Most websites have a certain number of tickets, and if you do not book your flight quickly, you could miss out on a deal. Some websites have a time limit as to when your offer will expire, and the deal may still be available if you search for a flight the next day, or the price might be higher. That is a risk you take when you do not book immediately.

Once you have seen the prices available through the travel websites, you should have a good idea which airlines run routes between your point of origin and your destinations. You can then go to the airlines’ websites and check on flight tickets directly from them. In many cases you can actually save money this way because you will not have to pay booking fees to work through a third party. Some airlines do not have online ticket purchasing options, so you may have to call them to find out about prices for flights. Do not overlook this option, though, especially if you are flying overseas or have very flexible dates. You could save hundreds of dollars.

You can also attempt to bid on flight prices; however this effort usually yields a price that is close to most competitors. With this service, you choose the destination, the number of layovers you are willing to include, and your dates of travel. Then, you enter the amount you are willing to pay for the ticket.

There are opportunities; however, you can find a flight at a lower price than the listed flight on the site. The downside here is that once you enter your bid, you are committing to pay for it if the flight is available. They’ll tell you within a few minutes if your price was accepted, and your credit card will be charged. So, you should only use this option if you’re absolutely certain you want to book a flight. This works best when you need to book a flight at the last minute, since airports lower the bid amounts they’ll accept if they want to fill seats.

Sometimes, online travel websites run specials where you can enter a coupon code to get a cheaper flight when you book between certain dates. Other sites may also run specials where you can save money on a future flight if you sign up for a membership with them. Be wary of any site where you have to pay a monthly fee to be a member. Your credit card will most likely be automatically charged every month, and you may have to wait six months or more before you qualify for your discount. In the end, this could end up costing you money unless you were going to pay for the service anyway. If you do sign up for a membership service, make sure you remember to call and cancel as soon as you get your discount.

You can also sometimes find coupon codes online. Use your favorite search engine website to look for the name of a travel site and “discount” or “coupon.” The availability of coupons and other discounts changes daily in most cases, and they aren’t always available, but it is worth a shot. Be aware, at least, that these deals are out there if you’re willing to look for them. In general, booking a cheap flight online isn’t as hard as you may think. Certain destinations will always been expensive, but if you take the time to research your options, you could save a lot of money.



By: Suzanne Bradley

About the Author:

Suzanne Bradley is a freelance writer who writes about the travel industry discussing tips and offering suggestions about working with a travel agency.



Where to Find the Best Car Hire Tips

There are many tips to consider when you arrange your car hire. Whether you are arranging car hire in your own country or abroad many of these car hire tips are still relevant.

Car Hire Tip 1) It is very important to shop around for the best car hire deal and the internet offers the perfect opportunity to research the best car hire deal at your finger tips.

Car Hire Tip 2) Many car hire companies will offer very attractive rates to upgrade your car hire locally at the pick up point. Some companies’ will even a complimentary upgrade if the model you have selected is in strong demand. It is always worth asking at the rental counter if there is any possibility of an upgrade at the collection point.

Car Hire Tip 3) It is always prudent to pay for your car hire online including all extras. Some car hire companies ask for a deposit with balance payable upon collection of the car at your destination. However you will probably have to pay the balance on a credit card in the local currency, which is then subject to the penal currency conversions rates charged by the credit card company which can have a real impact on the amount you actually end up paying for your car hire. The tip here is to try to pay in full at the time of the car hire reservation and in the currency of your credit card.

Car Hire Tip 4) You should always check the terms and conditions of your rental contract prior to confirming the reservation, especially the amount of the insurance excess. As it may appear that you have got the best car hire quote but the insurance policy may be subject to a prohibitly high insurance excess which could prove to be very costly in the event of an accident even a minor prang.

Many car hire companies also offer an option to purchase additional insurance to reduce the amount of excess you are responsible for. Some companies will even provide a Nil insurance excess for a small additional insurance premium.

Please also check the position regarding breakdown cover and what you are liable.

Car Hire Tip 5) Always book your car hire as early as you are able, as it is very unusual to find late availability reservation offers. Book your car hire early, especially if you have a specific vehicle or type of car hire in mind. For example minibuses, people carriers, 4×4, automatic vehicles and the like are in much demand. Car Hire Tip 6) Automatic car hire or manual transmission? If you have a preference please ensure that you make this request when you make your car hire reservation. This tip is crucial if you only drive automatic transmission cars.

Car Hire Tip 7) Many car hire companies request for the rental car to be returned at the end of the rental period with a full tank of petrol. It is a good idea to fill the car with petrol or diesel close to the return location, as if the car hire company has to fill the car when you return the vehicle, they usually charge a much higher rate per litre than you would be charged at a petrol station.

Some car hire companies ask you to return the car empty and charge you for a full tank of petrol. This can work out to be an expensive option, unless you are going to be completing a lot of miles and are in a position to return the car with a fairly empty petrol tank. Which can in itself be dangerous as you would not wish to run out of petrol whilst driving.

Car Hire Tip 8) Please always remember to take your passport, driving licence and credit card with you when you collect the rental car. You will need to have the driving licences of all named drivers and these drivers will need to be included on the rental contract.

Car Hire Tip 9) Always plan you route and journey from your pick up point. The car hire company will be able to provide maps and directions to your destination when you collect the vehicle. However it would be prudent to work out your route in advance. Please bear in mind that if your route involves motorways or toll roads, you will need to have sufficient local currency to cover these toll charges.

You could also consider a hiring or taking a Satellite Navigation system. You will then need to have the full postal address or Post or Zip code of your final destination.

Car Hire Tip 10) Please remember to pre book any extras when you make your reservation, especially childrens equipment such as baby seats and booster seats. Baby seats are in great demand during school holiday periods and remember to be specific should you require a forward facing or rear facing baby seat.



By: Michael J Lee

About the Author:
Car Hire Tips. One search to compare the best car hire companies online. With so many interesting places to discover a Car Hire Spain is the recommended and most cost effective transport option.



Flights Last Minute Travel - Where Do You Go To Get Them?

Getting tickets for flights last minute travel is certainly a very difficult thing to do. Most of us simply do not know that such a thing actually exists, and so they end up paying very heavy charges, and even with that getting flights they do not approve of. That is the whole reason why people flock to the airports several days in advance when they have to embark on a journey.

But is it really that difficult to get flights at the last minute? If you really knew how the airlines functioned, you would not think so at all. With all companies providing flights last minute travel is imminently possible. The basic idea here is to bank upon the canceled and the unsold tickets that airline services are only too willing to sell off even at the last minute in order to save on some losses.

All flights have cancellations at the last moment, and then there are some passengers who just fail to show up at the airport at the stipulated time. It must also be taken into account that flights could have tickets that remain unsold till the last moment. It takes all the airlines can do in order to ward off these tickets.

Even by selling at reduced costs, the airlines are not making any losses for themselves. You must realize that all prices of tickets are always on the higher side, sometimes even as much as five times the actual price the airline has to bear for conducting the flight per passenger.

So, even if the airlines sell their tickets at half the price, they are saving money, and even making a profit. With all flights, last minute travel passengers always exist, and airlines will sell their tickets to them rather than suffer heavy losses per flight.

But your timing must be right. You will need to arrive at the last minute. Now, the last minute does not literally mean so - every airline needs you to check in at least half an hour before the departure of the flight. Assuming that you reach the airport with two hours to spare for the flight, you will get the tickets you want.

Most airline companies will also hold for you tickets for flights, if you make as much as a phone call to them a couple of hours before the departure of the flight. The condition is of course that you must reach in time for the check in. Even the airline websites will help to get such last minute bookings. And if you are lucky, you might even choose your own seat!

However, the best thing is that you may actually save some money! As airlines are so very eager to get these tickets off their hands, there are some very definite benefits there. It is not surprising if you think that the wiser thing to do is to wait until the last day to get your flight ticket rather than booking early on and spending about double the rates.



By: Peter Finch

About the Author:

Are you looking for last minute flights information? If so, visit LastMinuteFlightsAdvice.com . Get all of the latest in cheap last minute flights insider secrets from one of the best last minute flight deals resources at last minute flights advice.com. For cheapest last minute flights advice, visit us now.



Cheap Flights Guide

General information on low cost airlines

Low cost airlines and their fares deeply changed the flight sector. A low cost (or no frills, or low fares) is an airline company that offers flights at very competitive prices (Cheap Flights) by not offering or by selling most of passenger services (like on-board meals, seats bookings, etc.). Cheap flights were born in USA in 1971 with Southwest Airlines, and started spreading in Europe at the beginning of the ’90s with Ireland’s Ryanair.

Statistics and history in brief

To point out the strong growth of low cost flights we will show a few stats: in 1994 about 3 million passengers flew low cost, most of them with Ryanair, and in 1995 they reached 17,5 million.

In 1995 British Airways founded their cheap flights division named Go, operating from London Stanstead airport in 1998. The same year Go started operating form London Luton as well. In the year 2000, Go was sold to EasyJet.com with an operational loss of over 21 million Pounds. In 2000 KLM also entered the low cost world with Buzz, which was bought over by Ryanair in 2003 with very high losses. Currently EasyJet.com and Ryanair are among the most successful European low cost airlines, and operate over several hundred routes.

Today’s market situation sees a strong and constant growth of the cheap flights sector, new routes being opened every day by all main airlines, In the future a strong growth of low cost companies it is foreseen also in the long range flights segments.

Why low cost flights are such

Low cost airlines are very flexible and efficient organizations with a cost structure that is very different from the one of traditional airlines. Cutting many costs allows them to offer very competitive prices.

Costs are optimized mainly in the following areas:

- Tickets sales are direct, Internet being the main channel. By shortening the intermediation chain, costs can be deeply reduced.

- Smaller and cheaper airports are used, that are also less jammed by traffic.

- On-board services and crews. No meals are served. Fewer crew members are used, and airplanes need less cleaning.

- Full usage of aircraft capacity. Airplanes always fly full charge and fly more often to amortize costs. They have faster load/download times (25/35 minutes vs. 2 hours of traditional companies).

- Newer and all equal aircraft. Low cost companies fleets are made all of the same make of planes, all new ones and easy to service, in order to have them all at maximum efficiency.

Characteristics of low cost companies

To operate cheap flights, airlines must have specific characteristics to allow them to keep prices as low as possible. The basic ones are:

- A single passenger class, with free choice of the seating place.

- A single airplane make (in order to optimize service costs), such as Airbus A320s or Boeing 737s (for instance: Ryanair uses Boeing 737 series, EasyJet favors both Boeing 737s and Airbus A319s).

- Airplanes have more seats (for instance, Lufthansa’s Boeing 737s carry 132 passengers, EasyJet’s ones carry 148).

- Lower weight allowance for both hand carried and stored luggage.

- No free meals or beverages are served on board, but they are available to buy.

- Crew members fulfill multiple tasks (mainly stewardesses and stewards).

- Intensive use of airfleets. For instance, EasyJet flies an average of 10.7 hours a day, while British Airways flies 7.1 hours. Airport stops are shorter (with a faster turnover, usually 25 minutes between flights), and flights are shorter too.

- Connections are made using convenient secondary airfields, often far away from town centers, without slot restrictions, little air traffic and lower airstrip fares.

- Straight peer-to-peer connections without luggage transfers to other coincident flights (separate check-in and check-out), no coordinate flight plans with other airlines.

- Expenditure savings trough direct ticket sales, especially trough the Internet and outsourced call centers, automated check-ins and, occasionally service fees.

- Certain offers (as low as 0.99?) are only valid for in-advance bookings or are limited offers, for a relatively low number of seats.

- Lean management (savings on staff). For instance, Germanwings in Cologne employs no more than 50 people.

It isn’t easy to be low cost: flops

There were new low cost companies that flew only a few months, or even only a few days, like Ireland’s JetGreen Airways, that stopped all activities in May 2004 after only one week without paying back about 40.000 already sold tickets.

- V Bird flew from October 23, 2003 to October 8, 2004 from Düsseldorf.

- VolareWeb, low cost daughter of Italy’s Volare went bankrupt on November 23, 2004. On October 30, 2004 they stopped at once their flights between Germany and Italy. In June 2005 they started to fly again, mainly to domestic destinations and a few European ones.

Several more or less known flops were: Minerva, Gandalf, Azzurra, Air Sicilia, ItalAir, Air Libertè.

When to book

It is usually better to book your cheap flights in large advance, at least 15 days before leaving. Better offers are for departures from Mondays to Thursdays: Better to avoid leaving on week ends. Always buy return tickets and be ready to take off at unusual times (early mornings or late evenings).

Canceling or modifying bookings

Before booking read thoroughly the company’s regulations about cancelling or modifying bookings! Usually cheap flights tickets not used on the booked flight are not payed back as recession rights for long distance travel do not apply to this kind of sales. About changing departure dates, every company have different regulations, which you better always check on the company’s site. Usually changing dates is not convenient. It is better to loose your old ticket and buy a new one.

How to pay

To shorten intermediation chains, thus offering competitive prices, low cost airlines use favor Internet and call canters (these may apply a small overcharge). Therefore be ready to pay via credit card (payments are secure, to verify be sure that Internet addresses change form http: to https:).

Cheap Flights Confirmation and check in

If you book on line, you will receive a confirmation mail at the e-mail address you specified. For telephone bookings at a call center, you will receive confirmation via fax, e-mail or, eventually by regular mail. In the last case, certain companies ask for a small overcharge if sending via messenger mail. If you are e-booking, that means if you buy your ticker on line, you receive confirmation via e-mail. It is enough to print it out and to show it at the booking counter at the airport.

Secure on line payments

On line payments are preferred by low cost airlines. To guarantee discretion in data transfer on the web, credit cards use the most advanced SSL (Secure Socket Layer) technology. When paying, if your browser uses SSL you just select Protected Mode and your data will be protected. If the browser has limitations, you can use Unprotected Mode. We recommend to get hold of the latest version to be able to carry out without problems all transactions.

Watch out for taxes and extras

Unfortunately, in offers of may low cost airlines there is a not yet regulated very bad habit of give only a partial price, not including overcharges and extras. So don’t be fooled by offers at 0.01 cents, always calculate global prices including taxes, overcharges and fuel costs. Sometimes there are huge differences in price.

Get organized for transportation

Low cost companies usually fly from secondary airfields that can be very far from final destinations (there are almost 70 miles from Stanstead to London), so make sure you know your way out (costs, timings and transportation time) and get organized to reach your destination.

Your luggage

Luggage transport is another point to pay attention to when flying low cost to avoid spending more on extra allowances than on tickets. Extra payload is usually very expensive and companies are very strict about it. So pay extreme attention to luggage overweight regulations and “weigh well” your suitcases.

This article is brought to you by http://en.europelowcost.com



By: Europelowcost

About the Author:



The Benefits of Getting Single Trip Travel Insurance

Single trip travel insurance would be your best option if you are not a frequent traveller.  Cheap single trip travel insurance provides coverage for a single vacation or travel anywhere in the world.  This type of insurance policy is becoming very popular among vacationers because they do not have to pay for cover on days when they are not travelling.  Here are some of the many benefits you can get from single trip travel insurance:

Value for your money should be the top consideration in choosing single trip travel insurance.  You will benefit more from cheap single trip travel insurance with comprehensive coverage.  In fact, you can be covered by such an insurance policy with a starting price of ?4.19.  This can be considered loose change only but you and your baggage will be protected from most eventualities.  Cheap single trip travel insurance is certainly a practical option to get more value for your money.

You will also have peace of mind which is another big benefit of getting cheap single trip travel insurance.  It is fun and exciting to travel to places and visit vacations sites you have never seen before.  Worrying about safety however could ruin the pleasurable experience you should be getting from your vacation.  But with cheap single trip travel insurance, you can have needed peace of mind.  That is because you know that you have protection from unfortunate circumstances that might happen.  You can fully enjoy your vacation and you can focus more on your travel.

With single trip travel insurance, you can also ensure that you and your family will be protected from financial difficulties.  Hospital and medical expenses can be very prohibitive nowadays.  This is particularly true if you get sick or an accident happens to you when you are travelling.  The cost of hospitalization and other medical expenses could put a strain on your personal finances and your family could also feel the financial pressure.  But if you protect yourself with single trip travel insurance these worrisome concerns can be set aside.  The policy will, in most cases, take care of your medical expenses.

Getting separate single trip travel insurance is also beneficial because you will often be getting double coverage, which increases your travel protection.  Airline and shipping companies normally provide insurance coverage for their passengers.  You can ensure additional protection for you and for your travel companions if you purchase separate single trip travel insurance, especially as transportation companies normally only cover your trip while aboard their vessels or airlines.  Separate travel insurance will provide add-on coverage to protect you from lost baggage, lost passport, and hospitalization during your vacation.

Getting single trip travel insurance is a practical financial option when you take a much needed vacation.  It can offer lots of benefits, so you should never take a trip without it.  It also provides excellent value for your money.  For very low cost coverage, you can ensure that you and your travel companion will avoid financial problems if  unfortunate events arise during a vacation.



By: Jhoana Cooper

About the Author:

Always get Single Trip Travel Insurance anytime you take a vacation. You can protect yourself with Cheap Single Trip Travel Insurance available on our site.



Jaipur Hotels and Mumbai Hotels – Comfort at Its Best!

India is a loved tourist attraction for the locals as well as the foreigners. Of all the places, Jaipur, the land of rajas and Maharajas and Mumbai, the tinsel towns are the most visited ones. To accommodate the tourists, the Jaipur hotels and Mumbai hotels offer the best facilities and amenities to their guests.

While tourists visit the pink city of Jaipur to explore the famous ancient buildings and architecture, business travelers throng the city of Mumbai to take their business to the next level. Therefore, it is noteworthy to mention that Jaipur hosts more luxury hotels, whereas Mumbai is home to many popular business hotels.

Jaipur Hotels

Most of the hotels in Jaipur are fort turned lodges. The maharajas of Jaipur, after losing their property and fame, turned their forts and palaces into luxury hotels. Some very good examples of such accommodations are:

Jai Mahal Palace

Raj Vilas

Rambagh Palace

Rajputana Palace Sheraton

Narain Niwas Palace

Samode Haveli

Raj Mahal Palace

The Raj Palace

Alsisar Haveli

Ramgarh Palace

Chokhi Dhani

Hotel Clarks Amer

Hotel Jaipur Palace

Hotel Mansingh Palace

Maharani Palace

Umaid Palace

Hotel Holiday Inn

Chirmi Palace

Besides these luxurious heritage hotels in Jaipur, there are some 4 star hotels in Jaipur too that offer comfortable accommodation and good quality facilities to its guests. They are:

Hotel Jaipur Ashok

Hotel Meru Palace

Bissau Palace

Diggi Palace

The Trident

Araya Niwas

Tourists who want to reside in cheaper hotels can also get some budget hotels where they can put up a stay.

Mumbai Hotels

Mumbai, the financial capital of India, receives numerous guests throughout the year. While some come here to spend a leisurely vacation, others take opportunity of the business possibilities here. To provide shelter to these travelers, Mumbai has come up with luxury as well as budget hotels. The deluxe hotels in the city are:

Hyatt Regency Hotel

Le Royal Meridien

Hilton Towers

The Oberoi

Sun-n-Sand

The Retreat

Leela Kempinski

J.W. Marriott

Grand Maratha Sheraton and Towers

Renaissance Hotel and Convention Centre

Hotel, The Grand Hyatt

Grand Central Sheraton & Towers

Other five star hotels in Mumbai are Sea Princess, Holiday Inn, Marine Plaza, Ramada, Plaza Palm Grove, The Orchid Hotel, Hotel Tulip Star, Intercontinental the Grand, Eastern International Hotel, Intercontinental Marine Drive and Park Plaza Royal Palms.

There are also some budget hotels in Mumbai that offer comfortable accommodation to those who do not want to spend much. Such hotels are Hotel Suba Palace, Hotel Diplomat, Hotel Bawa International, Hotel Supreme and Hotel White Pearl.

Apart from all these, Mumbai also comprises airport hotels, business hotels, Ecotel hotels, apartment hotels, bargain hotels, Bed and Breakfast hotels, discount hotels honeymoon hotels as well as weekend getaway hotels.



By: Sumit Singh

About the Author:

Wondering where to put up during your tour to Jaipur and Mumbai? Indianholiday.com gives a list of the top class, heritage and budget hotels of these cities. Make your stay at Mumbai Hotels and Jaipur Hotels delightful and memorable.



Delayed and Cancelled Flights

How can I avoid flight delays?

- Research the Airlines on-time ratings and use the Airline with the best rating.

- Keep up with the news and see if your Airline is facing any upcoming labor negotiations. If they are in negotiation near the time you are planning your trip, you might want to use another Airline in case yours has a work stoppage or slowdown.

- Avoid peak travel time.

- Check the weather conditions that are common along your route to see if you can plan your trip to avoid periods when foul weather causes delays.

- Fly nonstop or with the least amount of connections possible. Each time you land and take off you increase your chances to encounter delays.

- Take early morning flights. Early flights are less likely to be delayed and if they are delayed you will have more options remaining through out the day to complete your trip.

- Avoid the last flight of the day since a delay might force an overnight stay.

- If you fear you will suffer from a flight delay, consider using a paper ticket over an electronic ticket. If you need to transfer to another Airline to continue your trip, a paper ticket can save you time. Most Airlines are not yet able to transfer passengers flying on e-tickets without first taking the time to switch them to a paper ticket.

What should I do if my flight is delayed or canceled?

- If your flight is delayed or canceled, work with the Airlines counter personnel to book you on another flight. Being nice and working with the agent will often bring much better results than losing your temper.

- If there is a line at the counter, call the Airlines reservation center directly to book another flight instead of waiting in line for the few people available to help. See if they can guarantee you a seat on another flight.

- If you have another person traveling with you, spread out with one in line and the other on the phone. Try to stay within eyesight of each other in case one of you needs to wave the other one over. If you have a cell phone, call the Airline while you are standing in line and see who can help you first.

- See if others in your party belong to any premium clubs that will help to get you special consideration.

- Ask to be protected under the Airlines own written rules in the tickets conditions or contract of carriage for dealing with missed connections, delayed and canceled flights so you are given all the consideration you are legally due. This section of the contract is often called Rule 240, but no matter what it is called, they will have a section that specifically spells out what action they must take to help you continue your trip and what compensation you are due, if any.

The U.S. Department of Transportation mandates that a copy of this contract be available to passengers at the Airlines ticket counter. Many Airlines also provide this information on their web sites so you might print it off and take it with you in case you need it.

Some Airline employees will try to tell you to that they no longer use Rule 240, but no matter what they call this section of their contract they still have to honor their written guidelines in the contract of carriage. These guidelines are part of the legal contract that deals with you. Both you and the Airline agreed upon these terms when they sold and you purchased their ticket. The Airline cannot choose to disregard part of a legal contract and enforce a different policy.

- If other Airlines are still operating, see if your Airline is willing to find you a seat on another Airline. Although, their contract may allow them some time to first find you a flight on their own Airline, most state that when they fail to do so, they will try to find you a seat with another Airline. Know that many Airlines limit your potential choices of other Airlines only with certain Airlines that have existing agreements with your Airline. Your option probably wont be to find any other flight at the airport that works. It will be to find another flight from a list of specific Airlines.

- The Airlines Rule 240 may state that, if you so choose, you are entitled to an involuntary refund for any unused portion of your ticket, even if you purchased a nonrefundable ticket.

- Rule 240 also specifies what, if any, other compensation you are due because of the flights delay or cancellation. The compensation due will usually vary depending on the reason for the flights delay or cancellation.

- If it looks like lots of people are going to be stuck for a long time, consider booking a hotel room and/or a rental car before everyone else grabs them all.

- Look into other practical forms of transportation such as trains, buses, or rental cars. The airport may close, but that does not necessarily mean the highways and railroads are impassible.

- Move quickly, a closed airport will mean that other forms of transportation and hotel rooms will sell out quickly.

- Update any future reservations with Airlines, hotels or rental cars that will be effected by your delay.

What type of compensation will I receive if my flight is delayed or canceled?

You may think a delayed or canceled flight will get you complimentary meals and a free hotel stay, but thats not always true. However, you can take some actions to make sure you are given all the assistance and compensation you are due.

- Being nice and working with the agent will often bring much better results than losing your temper. You can let them know you are upset without turning your anger toward them.

- You might have to rely on your negotiation skills to cover some expenses caused by the flights delay or cancellation. This is where being professional can help.

- Ask to be protected under the Airlines Rule 240, so you are given all the consideration you are legally due. Rule 240 refers to the Airlines own written rules in the tickets conditions or contract of carriage for dealing with missed connections, delayed and canceled flights. Rule 240 specifically spells out what action they must take to help you continue your trip and what compensation you are due, if any.

- The U.S. Department of Transportation mandates that a copy of this contract must be made available to passengers at the Airlines ticket counter. Many Airlines also provide this information on their web sites so print it off and take it with you.

- Some Airline employees will try to tell you to that they no longer use Rule 240, but no matter what they call this section of their contract, they still have to honor their written guidelines in their contract of carriage. These guidelines are part of the legal contract that deals with you. Both you and the Airline agreed upon these terms when they sold and you purchased their ticket. The Airline cannot choose to disregard part of a legal contract and enforce a different policy.

- Most Airlines will first try to reschedule your flight or offer you coupons good toward future flights. However, many, although not all, Airlines “Rule 240″ state that, if you so choose, you are entitled to an involuntary refund for any unused portion of your ticket if you decide not to travel on the rescheduled flight, even if you purchased a nonrefundable ticket.

- Its always a good idea to pay for your plane ticket with a credit card. It usually makes it easier and quicker for you to get your refund and, if the Airline gives you hard time about refunding your unused ticket, you can ask your credit card company about the possibility of a charge back.

- If the Airline requires you to mail in your unused ticket before they will issue a refund, be sure to make a copy of your ticket before you put it in the mail.

- “Rule 240″ also specifies what, if any other compensation you are due because of the flights delay or cancellation.

- The compensation due will usually vary depending on the reason for the flights delay or cancellation. Compensation for delay will also vary depending on the amount of time that you were delayed.

- If the delay or cancellation is caused by issues beyond the control of the Airline, often referred to in a “Force Majeure” clause, any compensation you are due may be limited or eliminated.

- “Force Majeure” is a big catchall phrase that identifies many possible situations whether actual or threatened that cannot be foreseen by the Airlines and/or are beyond the control of the Airline. Many situations can qualify under “Force Majeure”, but some that are often listed include, the weather, acts of God, government regulation, terrorism, wars, hostilities, security and safety concerns, strikes, work slowdowns, labor-related disputes, shortage of labor or fuel.

- Depending on your particular circumstances, you may be entitled to compensation for an overnight stay in a hotel, meals, phone calls or other transportation costs. However, there are limits and restrictions on all these forms of compensations. Many Airlines will not pay for an overnight hotel stay at the origin point or destination of your flight and many even deny paying for a stay if your flight is stopped at an airport near your homes main airport.

- If you are late checking in, you may have waived your right to any compensation you are due, including your right to an involuntary refund.

- Keep all receipts for expenses caused by your delay or flight cancellation. No matter what their rules say, you can always make an appeal to the Airlines customer service department and you will want the receipts to back you up. Send your Airline copies of the receipts and keep the original receipts.

- Even though, your Airline may not be required to give compensation, they still may provide you with something to keep you a happy customer.



By: Ranju Kumar

About the Author:

Ranju Kumar is an assistant editor of TRAVEL-ENTERTAINMENT, is an “Under the Radar” Internet Entrepreneur who has been quietly selling various products from past 8 years.
Get more money-saving travel tips at TRAVEL-ENTERTAINMENT



Holidays the Hot Topic of Conversation

Whenever there is even the briefest lull in the conversation these days, holidays is the topic that inevitably comes up.

Maybe it’s because there has been the slightest hint of nice sunny weather recently which has promoted the holiday fever or the fact that, staring down the barrel of a stressful recession, the blissful thought of relaxing on a beach somewhere for the summer holidays is an ideal escape from the day to day realities.

Whatever the reason, people are talking a lot about holidays. The flavour of the moment seems to fall into two categories, close-to-home bargain holidays and further away, non-eurozone holidays.

Both options have their pros and cons but the unifying theme throughout is value for money. Recent polls have shown that Brits abroad are not actually spending less on holidays but they are looking for good value, in order to make the money they do spend go further.

Top of the bargain bucket brigade is a cheap holiday to Tenerife. The Canary Islands are a tourist haven with great weather, stunning beaches and delightful prices. The British have been invading Tenerife since 1797 when Nelson attacked the Spanish at Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Today, Tenerife receives an annual invasion of tourists looking to capture the most of the beautiful island.

Whilst holidays to Tenerife remain good value, the poor exchange rate of the pound against the euro has seen a huge influx in interest in holidays in Egypt and Turkey. Turkey is dripping with cultural diversity, placed as it is, slap bang in the middle of Asia and Europe.

The hub of activity where East meets West is Istanbul, a vibrant hubbub of bustling city sights and nightlife. Not only does the Turkish lira have a generous rate of 2.4 lira to the pound, the haggling culture of Turkey means you can really save a packet on your holidays .

The real boon of the moment though is Egypt. Holidays to Egypt have always been popular if you want to see the Pyramids, but the country is now slowly gaining a reputation as a brilliant spot for secluded beach holidays.

Sharm el Sheikh in particular has always been popular with the Middle Eastern tourist market but is still being discovered by the mass British tourism culture. Not only does Sharm el Sheikh offer some brilliant beaches, the area is also famous for scuba diving and amazing marine life.

2009 could easily end up being your chance for the holiday of a lifetime.



By: Kim Chambers

About the Author:

Kim has 5 years experience in the Travel industry and writing travel content for brochures. She enjoys writing on various different locations.



Denver Downtown Hotel Maps

Denver is in the heart of the business sector. It is both a fascinating destination for the summer and winter seasons. You will discover some high-class hotels for business meetings or simply for a leisurely holiday in this region.

Denver is located in the north -east portion of the map. It is in the heart of the business sector in the city of Colorado. It is both a fascinating destination for the summer and winter seasons. You will discover some high-class hotels for business meetings or simply for a leisurely holiday in this region. It is also for this reason that many tourists visit Denver. Whether it hiking, hand gliding, skiing or snow shoeing, Denver is truly the vacation destination to go for.

Listed below are some hotels in Denver:

§Hyatt Regency Hotel: This hotel is situated at the very heart of Denver in Colorado. Hyatt Regency Hotel is a thirty seven glass and granite tower made up of ten stories of lighted bonfire crown. The hotel lobby area is highlighted with relaxing water features, marble as well as a collection of native artwork. This hotel is set in front of the mountain and the city.

Moreover, Hyatt Regency Hotel features a sauna, cardio machine, room for massage treatment, an indoor swimming pool, spa tub, health club, bar, limited room service, exhibit space and tour assistant. The hotel has 1,099 large suites and guestrooms that have wireless internet access, a turndown service, housekeeping, coffee maker, in-room air conditioner, designer toiletries and sewing kit. Many interesting sights are also worth visiting near this hotel such as the Georgetown famous silver-mining village and the ninety foot inch high Devil’s Viaduct Gate. The hotel does not allow pets inside the rooms.

§Loews Denver Hotel: The Loews Denver Hotel is located at the #4150 Mississippi avenue east of Colorado. The hotel is made up of a shiny glass sleek tower with marble-top décor and silk Italian wall decors. The hotel has a total of two hundred guestrooms, having a distinct decor made from floral patterns.

Furthermore, this hotel’s guestrooms have a fax machine, at least two phones inside each room and wireless internet access. Plus, this hotel has facilities such as a health club, laundry service, business-visitor rooms, business center, twenty-four hour room service, exercise rooms and for massage treatment. The hotel also allows pets inside their rooms.

§Magnolia Hotel Denver: The Magnolia hotel is located at the center of the business district in Denver, Colorado This Denver hotel is a twelve story building and has approximately 1,910 banks that occupy it. Aside from this, it is considered as Denver’s original ’skyscraper’.

Moreover, the famous Convention Center is just four blocks away from this hotel. It is also a smoke free establishment. Plus, this Magnolia hotel attracts business travelers because of their friendly room service and free smoking privileges inside their meeting rooms. Guests should be twenty-one years old and above before they can check in at this hotel.

Furthermore, guests can enjoy a free breakfast buffet, cookies and milk before going to bed. Magnolia also has property facilities and amenities such as a sauna, free breakfast, heath club, night club, bar, ballroom, concierge service, business service, meeting rooms, wireless internet access, library, and smoking is prohibited within their property.

§Cherry Creek Hotel: The Cherry Hotel is just five miles away from downtown Denver. The hotel is near a majority of tourist attractions and business meetings. Its guests have twenty four hour access to the hotel’s health center. Aside from this, guests will also receive flattering privileges at the Bally’s health center.

Moreover, the Cherry Creek Hotel is just three miles away from the famous Denver Park City, Denver Museum Nature and the adored Denver Zoo. This hotel has three computer stations in its lobby as well as a gift shop. The hotel also has the policy of limited time traveling throughout the downtown neighborhood.

Furthermore, the side of the hotel is several sights with historical significance such as the twenty-six block away warehouse entertainment called “LoDo” and the five-block away Civic Park Center. Aside from this, the hotel is more interesting as compared to other hotels due to the fact that it has computer rental facilities, health equipment, banquet facilities, audio-visual apparatus, picnic area, courtyard and pool table among others. Thus, Cherry Creek Hotel has 215 guest rooms with a courtyard and mountain views. Guest rooms are even decorated with earth-toned, and beam wood furniture.

§Crystal Inn Denver Airport: This Inn is only twelve miles away from the famous Denver Zoo, Denver airport and Cherry Creek Hotel. Crystal Inn is noted as a four story hotel located at #285 Pena Boulevard. Moreover, the hotel has a policy to charge for pets. This means that there is an extra charge if you will be staying in the hotel with your pet. The average charge for pets is about twenty dollars.

Aside from this, all guest rooms at the crystal Inn have microwaves, coffee makers, wireless internet access, cable televisions and refrigerators. The hotel also has about 158 guestrooms and 20 suites. Crystal Inn offers standard rooms that have an oversized king bed and one queen bed or two sofa beds. Furthermore, the hotel offers buffet breakfast every morning and a diet dinner every Monday up to Thursday. Hotel amenities also include a spa, hot tub, indoor swimming pool, free airport transportation, event catering and a conference room.



By: David H. Urmann

About the Author:
For more information on Denver Downtown Hotel Maps please visit our website



Delayed and Cancelled Flights

How can I avoid flight delays?

- Research the Airlines’ on-time ratings and use the Airline with the best rating.

- Keep up with the news and see if your Airline is facing any upcoming labor negotiations. If they are in negotiation near the time you are planning your trip, you might want to use another Airline in case yours has a work stoppage or slowdown.

- Avoid peak travel time.

- Check the weather conditions that are common along your route to see if you can plan your trip to avoid periods when foul weather causes delays.

- Fly nonstop or with the least amount of connections possible. Each time you land and take off you increase your chances to encounter delays.

- Take early morning flights. Early flights are less likely to be delayed and if they are delayed you’ll have more options remaining through out the day to complete your trip.

- Avoid the last flight of the day since a delay might force an overnight stay.

- If you fear you’ll suffer from a flight delay, consider using a paper ticket over an electronic ticket. If you need to transfer to another Airline to continue your trip, a paper ticket can save you time. Most Airlines are not yet able to transfer passengers flying on e-tickets without first taking the time to switch them to a paper ticket.

What should I do if my flight is delayed or canceled?

- If your flight is delayed or canceled, work with the Airline’s counter personnel to book you on another flight. Being nice and working with the agent will often bring much better results than losing your temper.

- If there is a line at the counter, call the Airline’s reservation center directly to book another flight instead of waiting in line for the few people available to help. See if they can guarantee you a seat on another flight.

- If you have another person traveling with you, spread out with one in line and the other on the phone. Try to stay within eyesight of each other in case one of you needs to wave the other one over. If you have a cell phone, call the Airline while you’re standing in line and see who can help you first.

- See if others in your party belong to any premium clubs that will help to get you special consideration.

- Ask to be protected under the Airline’s own written rules in the ticket’s conditions or contract of carriage for dealing with missed connections, delayed and canceled flights so you are given all the consideration you are legally due. This section of the contract is often called “Rule 240″, but no matter what it is called, they will have a section that specifically spells out what action they must take to help you continue your trip and what compensation you are due, if any.

The U.S. Department of Transportation mandates that a copy of this contract be available to passengers at the Airline’s ticket counter. Many Airlines also provide this information on their web sites so you might print it off and take it with you in case you need it.

Some Airline employees will try to tell you to that they no longer use “Rule 240″, but no matter what they call this section of their contract they still have to honor their written guidelines in the contract of carriage. These guidelines are part of the legal contract that deals with you. Both you and the Airline agreed upon these terms when they sold and you purchased their ticket. The Airline cannot choose to disregard part of a legal contract and enforce a different policy.

- If other Airlines are still operating, see if your Airline is willing to find you a seat on another Airline. Although, their contract may allow them some time to first find you a flight on their own Airline, most state that when they fail to do so, they will try to find you a seat with another Airline. Know that many Airlines limit your potential choices of other Airlines only with certain Airlines that have existing agreements with your Airline. Your option probably won’t be to find any other flight at the airport that works. It will be to find another flight from a list of specific Airlines.

- The Airline’s “Rule 240″ may state that, if you so choose, you are entitled to an involuntary refund for any unused portion of your ticket, even if you purchased a nonrefundable ticket.

- “Rule 240″ also specifies what, if any, other compensation you are due because of the flight’s delay or cancellation. The compensation due will usually vary depending on the reason for the flight’s delay or cancellation.

- If it looks like lots of people are going to be stuck for a long time, consider booking a hotel room and/or a rental car before everyone else grabs them all.

- Look into other practical forms of transportation such as trains, buses, or rental cars. The airport may close, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the highways and railroads are impassible.

- Move quickly, a closed airport will mean that other forms of transportation and hotel rooms will sell out quickly.

- Update any future reservations with Airlines, hotels or rental cars that will be effected by your delay.

What type of compensation will I receive if my flight is delayed or canceled?

You may think a delayed or canceled flight will get you complimentary meals and a free hotel stay, but that’s not always true. However, you can take some actions to make sure you are given all the assistance and compensation you are due.

- Being nice and working with the agent will often bring much better results than losing your temper. You can let them know you are upset without turning your anger toward them.

- You might have to rely on your negotiation skills to cover some expenses caused by the flight’s delay or cancellation. This is where being professional can help.

- Ask to be protected under the Airline’s “Rule 240″, so you are given all the consideration you are legally due. “Rule 240″ refers to the Airline’s own written rules in the ticket’s conditions or contract of carriage for dealing with missed connections, delayed and canceled flights. “Rule 240″ specifically spells out what action they must take to help you continue your trip and what compensation you are due, if any.

- The U.S. Department of Transportation mandates that a copy of this contract must be made available to passengers at the Airline’s ticket counter. Many Airlines also provide this information on their web sites so print it off and take it with you.

- Some Airline employees will try to tell you to that they no longer use “Rule 240″, but no matter what they call this section of their contract, they still have to honor their written guidelines in their contract of carriage. These guidelines are part of the legal contract that deals with you. Both you and the Airline agreed upon these terms when they sold and you purchased their ticket. The Airline cannot choose to disregard part of a legal contract and enforce a different policy.

- Most Airlines will first try to reschedule your flight or offer you coupons good toward future flights. However, many, although not all, Airline’s “Rule 240″ state that, if you so choose, you are entitled to an involuntary refund for any unused portion of your ticket if you decide not to travel on the rescheduled flight, even if you purchased a nonrefundable ticket.

- It’s always a good idea to pay for your plane ticket with a credit card. It usually makes it easier and quicker for you to get your refund and, if the Airline gives you hard time about refunding your unused ticket, you can ask your credit card company about the possibility of a charge back.

- If the Airline requires you to mail in your unused ticket before they will issue a refund, be sure to make a copy of your ticket before you put it in the mail.

- “Rule 240″ also specifies what, if any other compensation you are due because of the flight’s delay or cancellation.

- The compensation due will usually vary depending on the reason for the flight’s delay or cancellation. Compensation for delay will also vary depending on the amount of time that you were delayed.

- If the delay or cancellation is caused by issues beyond the control of the Airline, often referred to in a “Force Majeure” clause, any compensation you are due may be limited or eliminated.

- “Force Majeure” is a big catchall phrase that identifies many possible situations whether actual or threatened that cannot be foreseen by the Airlines and/or are beyond the control of the Airline. Many situations can qualify under “Force Majeure”, but some that are often listed include, the weather, acts of God, government regulation, terrorism, wars, hostilities, security and safety concerns, strikes, work slowdowns, labor-related disputes, shortage of labor or fuel.

- Depending on your particular circumstances, you may be entitled to compensation for an overnight stay in a hotel, meals, phone calls or other transportation costs. However, there are limits and restrictions on all these forms of compensations. Many Airlines will not pay for an overnight hotel stay at the origin point or destination of your flight and many even deny paying for a stay if your flight is stopped at an airport near your home’s main airport.

- If you are late checking in, you may have waived your right to any compensation you are due, including your right to an involuntary refund.

- Keep all receipts for expenses caused by your delay or flight cancellation. No matter what their rules say, you can always make an appeal to the Airline’s customer service department and you’ll want the receipts to back you up. Send your Airline copies of the receipts and keep the original receipts.

- Even though, your Airline may not be required to give compensation, they still may provide you with something to keep you a happy customer.



By: Carson Danfield

About the Author:

Carson Danfield is an “Under the Radar” Internet Entrepreneur who’s been quietly selling various products for the last 8 years. Although you’ve probably never heard of him there’s a good chance you’ve visited his websites in the past and even purchased some of his products.

Get more money-saving travel tips at http://info5000.com/TRAVEL-ENTERTAINMENT/



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