The problems that have plagued airlines recently have disrupted some students’ travel plans and may continue to, but there are ways to avoid major problems.
The recent cancellation of more than 2,000 American Airlines flights due to safety concerns and the recent bankruptcies of other airlines due to rising fuel costs are some of the problems the industry has recently faced.
Students can protect themselves against their flights being canceled by buying tickets with credit cards and by purchasing travel insurance.
Last week, one student who was going to a medical school interview had his flight on American Airlines canceled, said Aeron Wilson, the branch manager at STA Travel, a travel agency on campus.
The student was able to reschedule his interview and STA Travel was able to refund his ticket and reschedule his flight through another airline.
Two other students had their flights canceled because of American Trans Air going bankrupt, Wilson said.
Both students paid for their plane tickets with a credit card, which Wilson recommends doing, and they were able to have their tickets refunded by their card companies.
Students should check with their credit card company before purchasing airline tickets to find out if the company issues refunds to customers whose flights get canceled, Wilson said.
If students are traveling internationally, travel insurance will also cover the ticket if the airline goes bankrupt after you purchase your ticket, Wilson said.
Amanjeet Ahdi, a fourth-year international development studies student who will be going to Paris this summer for a study abroad program, plans to insure her ticket to avoid any problems with flight cancellations.
Wilson also recommends confirming your flight with the airline 48 hours in advance.
Noah Duman, international programs counselor for the Education Abroad Program, said he does not believe students studying abroad this summer should be overly worried about their flights being canceled but should monitor their flights’ statuses. If a problem does arise, students should keep EAP informed, he added.
Ahdi said she is not worried about her flight to Paris being canceled but is confident that she will be able to reschedule if it is.
While rising fuel costs have caused many airlines to go bankrupt, they have also contributed to increased ticket prices.
For example, a round-trip to Paris is about $1,100, whereas last year it was about $850, Wilson said.
But Duman said he does not believe the increase in the prices of plane tickets have deterred students from traveling abroad.
Price increases are not high enough to warrant canceling a trip, he said.