Part of the long process involved in planning an air travel is making an airline reservation either off or online. Sometimes, we may spontaneously fish out our credit cards at the sight of ads like “cheapest airfare,” “lowest air ticket,” “dirt cheap discounts” and so on. But the question is: how much of the airline’s policies do we know about that we are so eager to go after cheap airfares and other freebies? Information is knowledge and knowledge is power. The truth is most airlines are only eager to first sell you their so-named cheap airfares and discount air travel packages before giving out details or their terms and conditions on the air ticket sales afterwards. Such terms and conditions are otherwise called “fine prints.”

It will pay intending customers a great deal to know the exact details of the cheap airfares and discount tickets they are about purchasing before employing the services of their credit cards. Here are general policies about airline tickets, seat reservations, check-in and boarding and airfare refunds for some major airline companies. Airline tickets bought either cheap or at fantastic discounts are non-transferable and non-refundable; meaning seat reservations are only made for the name on the air ticket and once bought, they can not be refunded for the money paid. In the case of e-tickets or air tickets bought offline, the airline has the right to reject any mutilated or altered e-ticket. E-ticket purchases have to be backed up by a valid document identifying the buyer to prove the ownership of the e-ticket.

More on policies on airline reservation are that for bookings made online and a specific seat is chosen, the airline may at its own discretion relocate you as a passenger for reasons like safety and security. Airlines also have the right to cancel any airline reservation made but not honored by a passenger unless if the airline is informed by the passenger in advance. However, the passenger should be prepared to part with some money as “no-show” fees. Airline reservations may be cancelled by the airline if a passenger arrives later than the time given for either checking in or boarding the plane. Airlines may in another instance, reject passengers suffering from ailments, or disabilities. Passengers who are pregnant or are nursing mothers and elderly persons may also be refused boarding by airlines. You may sometimes have to look a little more if there is any mention of special assistance needed at the time of making an airline reservation; and if the airline has the requisite support for these categories of people.

Since sudden changes occur due to unforeseen reasons and airlines will not be responsible for your failure to keep track of changes made to their flight schedules between the time an airline reservation is made and the time of departure. In most cases, the passenger always assumes full responsibility for this as this is outside the contract agreed upon between you and the airline. Airline reservations made and paid for can be refunded, but to the person whose name the ticket bears. If the refund will be made, it will be made once the airline gets sufficient proof of ownership and a receipt showing proof that the passenger has paid. Airlines will only refund if the air ticket and receipts have not been used and are still intact, without any form of mutilation.

Passengers would love this one: If an airline cancels a flight or fails to operate the flight according to the stated schedule, or the airline for any reason does not reach a passenger’s transit or final destination; the airline will award the affected passenger with a full refund. For lost tickets, once a passenger can provide the airline with a satisfactory proof of loss, a refund will be made. Airlines will however not issue passengers with any refund without a valid proof that the passenger can by law, remain in the country of destination. Having understood the above guidelines, it is now up to passengers to decide whether to go ahead and grab the cheap, discount air ticket being dangled before their eyes or wait a moment, think twice and look elsewhere. The choice is always the passenger’s.