International Air Travel

Tips for making smart decisions about foreign airplane travel
By Virginia Franco, Freelance Writer International air travel can be a wonderful experience -- as long as you are smart in your selections. With hundreds of foreign airlines and even more foreign airplane travel reservation agencies, it is hard to know where to begin to arrange your airplane travel.

There are many factors to keep in mind when making a foreign airplane travel reservation. Consider the following three pieces of global airplane travel advice when making a foreign air travel reservation:

1. Research international airlines to maximize your international air travel experience.

2. Make a global flight reservation with an agency that specializes in global air travel.

3. Know how to contact the airline the foreign airline travel service booked from abroad.

Research international airlines to maximize your international air travel experience

Familiarizing yourself with foreign airplane travel information. Advance research and comparison shopping are crucial to having a successful flight. If you will travel with someone with a disability, for example, you need to know if the airline has experience with this. Some airlines have excellent reputations for being very cooperative and helpful to people with disabilities. Other foreign airlines may have virtually no experience.
Try:  The Pyramid Media Group has a great website called AirGuideOnline, which provides brief summaries of various international airlines. Thoughts on Things Airline Review claims it's “the one and only weblog devoted solely to airline reviews." True or not, it certainly paints a vivid picture of a select group of global airlines that is worth reviewing.

Make a global flight reservation with an agency that specializes in global air travel

Making a global airline travel reservation can be daunting. Booking with a global travel agency is a great way to ensure you have a contact to provide you with global airplane travel advice and get you a good deal on your fare.
Try:  Travel Online partners with several foreign airlines world wide. You can also book international hotels, rail fare, car rental or cruise reservations with them. Airtrade International's vayama website states you can search more than 100 airlines in 191 countries and focuses 100% on international flights. They even have online 3D seat maps and cabin photos.

Know how to contact the airline that the foreign airline travel service booked from abroad

It is always wise to know how to contact the airline that your foreign airline travel service booked you on. You must reconfirm your flight from your international destination or you may need to inquire about alternate flights once abroad. Knowing the phone number of the foreign airline and its office address at your destination will come in handy when managing your reservation from another country.
Try:  Travour has a global airline directory listing details of foreign airlines offices world wide. AirlineTollFree has a lengthy listing of toll free and international phone numbers for foreign airlines.

• Confirm with the foreign flight reservation specialist if your flight is non-smoking. While it is becoming more common to ban cigarette smoking on international flights, this is not always the case with foreign airlines.
• Know what your departure tax will be. Many countries charge a departure tax that is required before you board. It can be as high as $50 and in some countries must be paid in cash.
• Be aware of airline and airport security regulations at your departure and arrival airports. Post 9/11 security measures have prompted airports world wide to tighten restrictions on carry-on and checked-on baggage as well as airport security screening methods.