Answers

Aviation, answered

Straight, sourced answers to the questions people actually ask about airlines and flying. No jargon, no fluff. When something has a rule or a number behind it, we link the source. Want a flight time instead? Use the calculator.

Airline trouble

What happens when a carrier struggles, goes bankrupt, or shuts down, and how it affects you.

What happens to your ticket if an airline goes out of business?If a US airline shuts down for good, your ticket usually stops working as a boarding pass, and no law forces other airlines to honor it. Your strongesDo you get a refund if your airline shuts down?Usually yes, but often not from the airline itself. If you paid by credit card, your card issuer can reverse the charge for a flight you never got, whWhy do airlines go bankrupt?Airlines go bankrupt because it's a brutal business: profit margins are razor thin, fixed costs are huge, and a single shock like a fuel spike or a deIf an airline files Chapter 11, does it keep flying?Usually yes. Chapter 11 is a reorganization, and airlines almost always keep flying and honoring tickets while they restructure. It's Chapter 7, the lWhat happens to the planes and routes when an airline shuts down?When an airline shuts down, most of its planes go back to the leasing companies that owned them, get flown into desert storage, and are re-leased or pIs it safe to book a flight on a struggling airline?Yes, it's safe to fly. An airline's money problems don't make its planes any less airworthy, because safety is regulated separately by the FAA. The reWhat happens to your frequent flyer miles if an airline goes bankrupt?It depends on the type of bankruptcy: in a Chapter 11 reorganization the airline keeps flying and your miles almost always survive, but in a Chapter 7

Mergers

Why airlines combine, and what mergers do to fares, miles, and your loyalty status.

How do airline mergers affect passengers?Airline mergers usually give you a bigger route network and one larger loyalty program, but the trade-off is less competition on some routes and a bumDo ticket prices go up after an airline merger?Sometimes, but usually not across the board. Fares tend to rise mainly on the specific routes where the two airlines used to compete head to head. If What happens to your miles and status when airlines merge?Your miles almost always carry over, usually at a 1-to-1 rate into the surviving airline's program, and your elite status is typically matched to the Why do airlines merge?Airlines merge to get bigger and stronger. Combining two carriers builds a wider route network, cuts duplicate costs, gives more pricing power, and of

Prices and fuel

What actually drives ticket prices, from jet fuel to taxes to the ultra-low-cost model.

Why are flights so expensive right now?Flights are expensive mostly because of higher jet fuel prices, strong travel demand, and airlines keeping the number of seats tight. When fuel climbsDo fuel prices really change what you pay for a ticket?Yes, but not one to one. Fuel is one of an airline's biggest costs, so when prices stay high for a while, fares tend to drift up. Hedging, competitionWhat is a fuel surcharge on a plane ticket?A fuel surcharge is an extra fee your airline adds on top of the base fare, officially to help cover jet fuel costs. The airline sets it (not the goveHow much of a plane ticket is taxes and fees?On a typical US domestic ticket, taxes and government and airport fees usually add up to roughly 15 to 25 percent of the total price. International trWhat is an ultra-low-cost carrier?An ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) is an airline built around the cheapest possible base fare, then charging separately for almost everything else: bags

Your rights

Cancellations, missed connections, schedule changes, and who really operates your flight.

What are your rights if your flight is canceled?In the US, if the airline cancels your flight, you're owed a full refund to your original form of payment when you choose not to travel, no matter whyWhat happens if you miss a connecting flight?If both flights are on one ticket, the airline rebooks you to your destination for free, usually on the next available flight. If they are on separateCan an airline change your flight time or route?Yes, airlines can change your flight time, route, or aircraft, and they do it all the time. But if the change is "significant," US DOT rules say you'rWhat does it mean when your flight is operated by another airline?It means a different airline is actually flying the plane than the one you booked with. The airline on your ticket sold you the seat, but a partner orHow much time do you need between connecting flights?For a domestic connection, plan on at least 60 to 90 minutes between flights. For an international connection, give yourself 2 to 3 hours, since you m

Airline basics

The plain-English basics of how airlines and the industry are put together.

What is the difference between a legacy carrier and a budget airline?A legacy carrier is a large, established airline that flies a huge route network through connecting hubs, belongs to a global alliance, and bundles exWhat is an airline alliance?An airline alliance is a group of airlines that team up so you can earn and spend frequent flyer miles across all of them, use shared airport lounges,Who are the big four US airlines?The big four US airlines are American, Delta, United, and Southwest. Together they carry roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of all US domestic passe