Planning your flight

Selecting flights involves choices, from finding the right airfare for your budget and understanding fees, to allowing enough time to make connections and selecting seats and baggage allowances.

Our guidance provides an overview of essential considerations when booking travel with an airline or other travel provider.

Flexibility

Flexibility with travel dates and times often results in less expensive flights, especially when booking in advance.

Flight searches

Shop around for the best price for your budget, considering extra charges for baggage, seat selection or priority boarding.

Booking accuracy and communication

Check booked dates, times, and passenger names ensuring they exactly match passport/photographic ID (such as a driving licence). Changing your tickets usually incurs costs. Monitor airline communications (texts and emails) for potential changes.

Package holidays and financial protection

ATOL is a financial protection scheme that protects you when you book a package trip that includes a flight. It also applies to some flights booked on their own.  It is separate to travel insurance. If you book an ATOL-protected trip or package holiday that includes air fare with a single travel firm, everything on your ATOL Certificate will be protected if the ATOL holder ceases trading. Before you make your booking, confirm the company has an ATOL licence. See our dedicated site for more information about ATOL protection.

Connecting flights

Confirm if flights are booked with the same airline on the same ticket (affecting rebooking in case of missed connections); check if connections are at the same airport; ensure sufficient time for baggage transfer (especially with different airlines); and factor in time for border checks.

Airline alliances and code share

Some airlines have alliances that allow single-ticket bookings across multiple carriers. You should be informed if your flight is a code share, as this affects check-in procedures and passenger rights in case of disruptions.

Using a credit card

Paying by a credit card for a flight costing over £100 offers some protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. There is also some protection on VISA and Mastercard (credit and debits), which may mean your users may be able to attempt a chargeback to get your payment back if the airline fails to provide the service.

Terms and conditions

Review terms and conditions before booking, covering obligations of both the passenger and the airline.

Pricing: taxes, fees and charges

Airlines are legally required to include all the compulsory charges that apply to your flight booking (taxes, fees, and charges) in the displayed ticket price. Optional extras, such as hold luggage, and their costs should also be clearly displayed during the booking process. If you cancel you may not receive a refund, or you may be charged administration fees. The CAA publishes comparison tables for airport and airline charges. Common charge components can include Air Passenger Duty, UK Passenger Service Charge, Insurance and Security, and Fuel Surcharge.

Tickets and fares

Amending or cancelling tickets usually incurs charges. Providing up-to-date contact details is crucial for receiving schedule change notifications. Amendment fees if you change your booking may vary depending on the ticket type purchased.  If you choose to cancel your reservation, eligibility to receive any refund will depend on your ticket terms and conditions. Information on charges and ticket terms can be found on airline websites or by contacting them directly.

If your airline makes a schedule change (not cancellations) it should notify you of this at least 14 days in advance. Significant changes may entitle you to a refund or alternative.

Airlines do not consider they are responsible for losses incurred due to schedule changes or even cancellations (separate hotel bookings or rental car reservations, for example). Check terms and conditions for specific airline policies.

Seating allocations

Many airlines charge for seat selection. Carriers should aim to seat children under 12 in the same row, or no more than one row or aisle away, from their accompanying adult and make all reasonable efforts to seat a disabled person or person with reduced mobility with the person accompanying them. Most airlines have processes in place to ensure this happens, but we recommend you contact the airline to confirm their seating policies.   

Passengers travelling with small children should contact their airline to discuss to confirm that their preferred restraint device is acceptable and appropriate for the aircraft type. Some passengers are restricted from sitting in emergency exit rows.

Travel documentation

A valid passport is required for international travel and many domestic flights. Some carriers will accept photographic ID such as a driving licence for domestic flights. Some countries require passport validity beyond the intended stay. Visas may be necessary depending on the destination. Transit visas may also be required. Some airlines accept alternative ID for domestic flights, but checking with the airline is essential. Vaccination certificates may be required for certain destinations.

Travel insurance

We recommend you purchase comprehensive travel insurance as soon as you book. Depending on the price paid, policies can cover medical expenses (illness/injury, hospitalisation, evacuation), trip cancellation/interruption (reimbursing non-refundable costs due to covered reasons like illness or emergencies), travel delays (compensating for expenses and other losses from flight disruptions), and baggage loss/delay (covering replacement of essentials). Carefully check your policy for the conditions of coverage.

Special Assistance

If you’re a passenger with reduced mobility you are legally entitled to support, commonly known as ‘special assistance’, when travelling by air. This means airports and airlines must provide help and assistance, which is free of charge, during your journey. You should ask for assistance either when you book or at least 48 hours before travel, whether it is through a travel agent, tour operator or airline. Review our special assistance pages for more information.

Baggage

Your air fare may not include hold luggage, and the cost may not be shown in the price that you see initially when you’re booking.

Your luggage allowance may be an important factor when you decide which airline to fly with. Your allowance can vary depending on where you are travelling to, the airline you are travelling with and the cabin class you are travelling in.

The cost may be for each flight rather than for a round trip. See our baggage pages for more factors to consider and what you can/cannot pack in hand and hold luggage.

Passenger guidance