Making new travel plans
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September 13, 2001: 7:43 p.m. ET
If you're stranded or have an upcoming trip, know your transportation options
By Staff Writer Jeanne Sahadi
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - If you have plans to travel in the next few weeks, you may be questioning if or how you should do so. Whether you intend to cancel, postpone, or take your trip, here's what you should know.
If you choose to fly, expect delays as airports implement the increased security measures mandated this week by the Department of Transportation. These include more stringent searches, random identification checks, and higher levels of surveillance. Airport curbside luggage check-in will no longer be allowed.
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Passengers should have their picture identification available at all times. They should be prepared to have their luggage searched if asked.
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Nancy McKinley International Airline Passengers Association |
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"Passengers ... should have their picture identification available at all times. They ... should be prepared to have their luggage searched if asked," said Nancy McKinley, spokeswoman for the International Airline Passengers Association (IAPA) in an e-mail exchange with CNNfn.com.
Heavier security also means travelers will need to allot more time for check-in at the airport. Bestfares.com founder Tom Parsons recommends getting to the terminal at least two hours before a domestic flight.
Canceling your trip
If you decide that you'd rather not fly in the wake of Tuesday's attacks but you already bought your ticket, you stand a good chance of getting a refund or being allowed to postpone your trip.
United Airlines, for instance, is allowing passengers scheduled for travel in the next two weeks to refund their tickets without penalty. Those scheduled to travel domestically through Sept. 25 may also reschedule their travel without a service charge.
Northwest Airlines is letting passengers scheduled to fly on Sept. 13 or 14 get a refund or reschedule their trip by up to one year, from date of ticket issue, without penalty. Passengers scheduled to travel between Sept. 15 and Oct. 11 will not be charged a change fee for rescheduling. Refunds, however, will be granted only in accordance with the fare rules on the ticket.
The best place to check for information about policies regarding refunds and postponements is your airline's Web site. Here are links to some of the major carriers: Continental, American, Delta, US Airways, AirTran, AmericaWest, Alaska, Frontier, TWA, Southwest.
Consider riding the rails
If you're a stranded airline traveler, your airline ticket will be honored by Amtrak.
Amtrak is operating on its standard weekday schedule throughout the country, but there have been some delays due to increased passenger volume, said spokeswoman Cecilia Cummings. But the rail passenger carrier has added train cars to meet demand, particularly on its Northeast Corridor between Washington and Boston.
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STRANDED?
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Amtrak is honoring all airline tickets.
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If you choose to exchange your ticket for a train seat, Amtrak will not refund the difference in price but the airline may. One carrier that is planning to is American, but only for those passengers scheduled to fly between Sept. 11 and Sept. 25, said American spokeswoman Julia Bishop-Cross.
Amtrak requires that you turn in a paper ticket as proof of your airline reservation. An electronic ticket will not be accepted.
If you bought an e-ticket, you can convert it to a paper ticket by going to the city ticket offices of the airline carrier or to the airport itself, McKinley said.
What should I do about hotel reservations?
The hotel industry is also making an effort to accommodate those passengers whose travel plans have been disrupted, said Maura Nelson, spokeswoman for the American Hotel & Lodging Association.
Marriott hotels, for instance, are waiving room-cancellation fees until Sept. 26. They're also giving discounts – and in some cases free rooms – to stranded passengers.
The price breaks vary depending on the hotel and whether or not you were a Marriott guest at the time of the tragedy. If you were already staying at a Marriott and have a plane ticket for a flight that's still grounded, you may get a free room for the remainder of your stay. If you can't fly out of a city and call the Marriott for accommodation, you may receive a discount. In either case, you need to show your flight voucher.
Hyatt hotels are also waiving room-cancellation fees until further notice.
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