Air Travel Issues PDF

TH2105 AIR TRAVEL ISSUES Issues Concerning Air Travel Air travel may be considered one of the best modes of transportation, but sometimes airlines have regulations that frustrate passengers. Travel professionals must be aware of the following issues c...

TH2105 AIR TRAVEL ISSUES Issues Concerning Air Travel Air travel may be considered one of the best modes of transportation, but sometimes airlines have regulations that frustrate passengers. Travel professionals must be aware of the following issues concerning air travel to prevent and/or address them properly. The following are the several air travel concerns: Lost Ticket It is one of the issues that each travel professional should be aware of. Different policies are enforced by airlines when passengers misplace their paper tickets. The general resolution to this issue is to fill out a form. The airline may then issue a replacement ticket with an agreement that if someone uses the misplaced ticket, there will be corresponding charges and service fees charged to the lost ticket holder. Some airlines, however, may opt to require a passenger to purchase a new ticket at the current available fare. This is despite the advance purchase discounts or other savings availed when the first one was bought. The original one can be refunded with a discounted price as long as it was not used up after an extensive waiting period (for as long as twelve months). Nowadays, many major airlines continue using e-tickets so that lost paper tickets become a less common problem. However, there is a growing number of unused e-tickets yearly because travelers may have forgotten about their flights or changed their travel plans. Flight Delays, Diversions, and Cancelations Delayed, diverted, or canceled flights are very frustrating, especially when the carrier gives no advance notice. A stipulation in airline tickets on the company's responsibilities if a flight is delayed, diverted, or canceled for various reasons is included for domestic and international flights. This stipulation may include but is not limited to reimbursements of meal and hotel expenses, different benefits based on the cause of delay or cancelation, and some other contracts depending upon the departure airport and destination airport. Some airline companies usually offer the compensation promised in the contract of carriage. Overbooked Flights Overbooking is a normal thing in the airline industry. This means that an airline company can take more reservations than the available seats, especially during peak travel times and holiday periods. However, if a flight is overbooked, the airline is required to be able to solve this immediately to avoid inconvenience to all concerned passengers. This is allowed by federal regulations in other countries; however, overbooking will require the carrier to ask for volunteers. Volunteers are passengers who will surrender their seats for a waiting passenger in return for an incentive such as free or discounted airline tickets for the next trip, frequent flier bonus miles, or even cash. The industry termed these volunteers as bumping passengers. For instance, if there are not enough volunteers on an overbooked flight, the airline is forced to bump passengers involuntarily and be eligible for compensation. The compensation, however, is mandated by the respective airlines' waiver and disclaimer contract. Lost or Damaged Baggage New regulations have doubled airlines’ obligation to pay passengers whose checked bags do not arrive. Passengers must file an immediate claim with an airline's baggage services agent near the baggage claim area for their lost baggage. If a piece of luggage is delayed, an airline is generally responsible for paying the passenger for personal toiletry items. Other airlines provide an overnight kit with the basic items. Passengers may also keep the receipts for the other items they used before the arrival of their luggage and submit them for reimbursement from the airline's baggage services agent. 07 Handout 1 *Property of STI  [email protected] Page 1 of 4  TH2105 Traveling with an Infant This air travel issue is usually related to airfares. Airline companies give the following options when traveling with a child under two (2) years of age: The parent/s may hold the infant on the lap during the entire flight to avoid extra charges; Purchase a full-fare ticket for the infant to have a separate seat; and Purchase a half-fare ticket and use a child safety seat that is approved for airline usage. Unaccompanied Child Airlines apply special rules to children traveling without a guardian. Those children five (5) years of age and older can travel based on particular regulations being implemented by an airline company. These unaccompanied passengers must purchase nonstop and direct flights to a specified destination. The standard procedure is that airline personnel will board them before other passengers and escort them off the airplane after everyone else has left. Most airlines charge additional fees for this kind of service. Usually, the charge is equivalent to the rate of an adult ticket on a particular flight where an unaccompanied child is at. However, before one can avail of this service, parents or guardians must strictly follow their travel arrangements' guidelines and requirements. Once the trip has ended, it is a general rule that the airline assumes no special guardianship for the minors. Medical Concerns It is always a rule that passengers traveling with difficulty moving around, with a disability, and pregnant women may receive help from Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screeners at the screening checkpoint. They can be assisted in monitoring their carry-on bags moved through the x-ray machine, navigating with a walker, wheelchair, or other mobility devices, and rendering private inspection on prosthetic devices or body braces. The following are some common ailments and their precautionary measures: Hearing difficulty. The information must be written down and presented to the passenger, or the flight attendant may look directly and speak slowly. Visual disability. The airline staff must explain the security process, escort the passenger/s, and verbally direct the passenger/s toward the gate and to their assigned seat. Hidden disability or mental illness. A gate pass must be obtained from the airline ticket or boarding pass counter. Diabetes patients – Carried medical supplies (such as insulin) should be properly labeled, showing the name of the medication or the manufacturer's name. If wearing an insulin pump, screeners must be informed before the inspection. Used syringes are carried in the carry-on bags, kept in a hard, plastic- capped container. Passengers with pacemakers – A Pacemaker Identification Card must be presented and medical certificates for those who had just undergone surgery. Seriously ill – When requiring special medical equipment such as oxygen tank, respirator, and the like, and/or a need of accompanying doctor or assistant, information must be disseminated ahead, and a particular assignment at the aircraft is governed for easier transfers onto and off the airplane. Early check-in is necessary since the inspection strictly adheres to the security checkpoint. 07 Handout 1 *Property of STI  [email protected] Page 2 of 4  TH2105 In-Flight Considerations The following are the in-flight considerations that future airline operations professionals should be aware of: Passenger Profiling. It is done by the flight crew during passenger boarding, especially in high-risk countries, to recognize specific behavioral indicators through observation and questioning that could help identify travelers with illegal, criminal, or terrorist intent. This is conducted discreetly to avoid misunderstanding or discrimination among passengers. Turns after Take-off. It is recommended that turn after takeoff will only be allowed when the aircraft reaches 400 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) altitude unless obstacle departure procedures or Air Traffic Controller (ATC) instructions dictate otherwise. It is often preferred to offer the pilot a runway that will require the fewest turns after takeoff to place the pilot on a course or selected departure route as quickly as possible. At many locations, particular attention is paid to the use of preferential runways for local noise abatement programs and route departures away from congested areas. When cleared to "Fly Runway Heading," pilots should maintain the heading that corresponds with the extended centerline of the departure runway until otherwise directed by ATC. Weather Status. Pilots should monitor the weather and the route and destination airport for deteriorating conditions using onboard and ground-based weather resources. En route Flight Advisory Service and Flight Watch (provide en route aircraft timely and pertinent weather data) are generally available anywhere within the flight. A flight diversion may be necessary if the weather deteriorates beyond the pilot's qualifications and/or capabilities. Aircraft Systems Status. Pilots should monitor the aircraft engine and system parameters throughout the flight. They need to verify adequate fuel remains to reach the intended destination and switch fuel tanks as required to maintain an equal balance. Pilot Status. Pilots should monitor fatigue and stress levels before the flight. It is the responsibility of the pilot and the flight crew to be mentally and physically ready before partaking in any duty. The Crew Resource Management (CRM, encompasses a wide range of knowledge, skills, and attitudes including, communication, situational awareness, problem-solving, decision making, and teamwork) is used to enhance the safety of the flight. A diversion may be necessary if the pilot has any reason to believe the flight cannot be safely completed. Situational Awareness (SA). This is an overall assessment of environmental elements and how they affect the flight, allowing the pilots to make decisions ahead of time and evaluate several options. They must possess a responsive mindset and a vision regarding future events that force them to make decisions. Usually, situations may be beyond a pilot’s control. However, they should maintain situational awareness throughout the flight using all available equipment and resources to ensure safety. Sterile Cabin/Flight Deck Procedure. This rule forbids any unnecessary actions or conversations taking place in the aircraft during the most critical parts of the flight. All distractions such as radio, non-flight- related materials, and unnecessary communication with passengers should be minimized during sterile cabin operations. A sterile cabin should be observed during departure, arrival, and abnormal/emergency procedures. Smoking. Smoking is prohibited inside or near aircraft and hangars (a closed building structure to hold an aircraft). It is the responsibility of the pilot to ensure that their passengers comply with these restrictions. 07 Handout 1 *Property of STI  [email protected] Page 3 of 4  TH2105 References: Anolik, A. & Hawks, J. (2005). The frequent traveler's guide. Sphinx Publishing. Retrieved October 28, 2021, from https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=EbEYWF3Hs9kC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summa ry_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false Dileep, M.R. (2019). Tourism, transport, and travel management. Routledge. FlightDeckFriend.com. (2021, February 1). What is Crew Resource Management (CRM)? FlightDeckFriend.Com | Pilot Jobs | Flight Training | Aspiring Pilots. Retrieved November 10, 2021, from https://www.flightdeckfriend.com/ask-a-pilot/what-is-crm/ Law, C. (2019). Flight attendant's essential guide: From passenger relations to challenging situations. BrownWalker Press. Retrieved July 2, 2021, from https://rk1bukz.cf/book.php?id=a_ecDwAAQBAJ Leather, A. L. (2019, April 17). Passenger Profiling: cases for and against. Transport Security International Magazine. Retrieved November 10, 2021, from https://www.tsi-mag.com/passenger-profiling-cases- for-and-against/ Scanlon Aviation. (2008). Flight Operations Manual. Retrieved May 17, 2021, from https://docplayer.net/21438467-Flight-operations-manual.html 07 Handout 1 *Property of STI  [email protected] Page 4 of 4