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Travel Guide: Air travel

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Airlines

European    European (budget)   North American   Rest of World

ALMOST all major airlines now let you book tickets online. However, there are a few things to look out for:

  • Security - when it finally comes to giving your credit card number, make sure the site is secure (the URL should start "https", and there should be a padlock icon at the bottom of the browser).
  • Registration - most airlines require you to register online before allowing you to make the purchase. My personal view is that this is acceptable, PROVIDING that you do not need to register merely to get prices, and that you only receive marketing material if you "opt in".
  • Internet specials - many airlines offer special rates for online booking on certain flights. Check the terms and conditions carefully. There are some great bargains to be had, but the trade-off is usually a lack of flexibility.
  • Buying from abroad - sometimes tickets can only be bought in the country of departure, &/or in the country of credit-card issuance. This is not always apparent until the final stage. See if the airline has local sites for your country.

Below is a list of major airlines with their main website address. All the airlines listed offer full online ticketing. One or two (Japan Airlines for example) offer extensive, if not complete, online booking. (Links open in new window). If the airline you want is not listed, try Yahoo!'s complete airline list.

Major European airlinesAlliance
Aer Linguswww.aerlingus.comOneworld
Air Francewww.airfrance.comSkyTeam
Alitaliawww.alitalia.comSkyTeam
Austrian Airlineswww.aua.comStar Alliance
British Airwayswww.britishairways.comOneworld
bmi british midlandwww.flybmi.comStar Alliance
Crossairwww.crossair.comQualiflyer
Finnairwww.finnair.comOneworld
Iberiawww.iberia.comOneworld
KLM Royal Dutch www.klm.comNorthwest
LOT Polish Airlines www.lot.comQualiflyer
Lufthansawww.lufthansa.comStar Alliance
SASwww.scandinavian.netStar Alliance
Swissairwww.swissair.comQualiflyer
tap Air Portugalwww.tap-airportugal.ptQualiflyer
Turkish Airlines www.turkishairlines.comQualiflyer
Virginwww.virgin-atlantic.com
Low-cost European airlines
bmibabywww.flybmi.com/bmibaby
Buzzwww.buzzaway.com
easyJetwww.easyjet.com
Gowww.go-fly.com
Ryanairwww.ryanair.com
Virgin Expresswww.virginexpress.com

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Major international N. American airlines*Alliance
Air Canada www.aircanada.comStar Alliance
Alaska Airwww.alaska-air.com
American Airlineswww.aa.comOneworld
Continental Airlineswww.continental.com
Delta Air Lineswww.delta.comSkyTeam
Northwest Airlineswww.nwa.comKLM
Southwest Airlineswww.southwest.com
United Airlineswww.ual.comStar Alliance
US Airwayswww.usairways.com 
*Also includes Southwest Airlines, a major domestic carrier and a pioneer in low-cost travel and Internet booking

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Other airlines (where online booking available)Alliance
Australasia
Air Indiawww.airindia.com
Air New Zealand www.airnewzealand.co.nzStar Alliance
Cathay Pacific www.cathaypacific.comOneworld
Japan Airlineswww.jal.com
Korean Airwww.koreanair.comSkyTeam
Philippine Airlines www.philippineair.com
Qantas Airwayswww.qantas.com.auOneworld
Singapore Airlineswww.singaporeair.comStar Alliance
Thai Airwayswww.thaiair.comStar Alliance
Middle East/Africa
ElAlwww.elal.co.il
Emirateswww.emirates.com
Gulf Airwww.gulfairco.com
Royal Air Maroc www.royalairmaroc.com
Royal Brunei Airlines www.bruneiair.com
South African Airways www.flysaa.com
Central & South America, and the Caribbean
Aerolineas Argentinas www.aerolineas.com.ar
Aeromexico www.aeromexico.comSkyTeam
Aviancawww.avianca.com.co
BWIA West Indies Airwayswww.bwee.com
LanChile Airlineswww.lanchile.comOneworld
Varigwww.varig.com.brStar Alliance

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Alliances

GLOBAL alliances are all the rage in the airline industry. There are two major ones: oneworld and Star Alliance, and two substantial smaller ones: SkyTeam and the exclusively European Qualiflyer Group. The benefits to the customers usually extend to sharing of airport lounges, airmiles (although using one frequent flyer program on another alliance member's flight does not usually result in very many miles being credited), and ease of booking.

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Airports

THERE are naturally far too many airports to list here. What we do provide are sites for the major hub airports of the world. If you are flying elsewhere then we suggest searching for the airport here. If you're looking for an airport hotel, then try here.
AirportWebsiteSpecial online features
Amsterdam Schipholwww.schiphol.nlOnline flight booking
Frankfurt Main Internationalwww.frankfurt-airport.deOnline hotel booking service
London Heathrowwww.baa.co.uk/...SMS flight info
Paris - Charles de Gaullewww.adp.frServes both Orly and CDG
Chicago O'Harewww.ohare.comFor all Chicago's aiports
Dallas/Fort Worthwww.dfwairport.comVolunteer as an ambassador
Detroit Metro Airportwww.metroairport.com
Los Angeles Internationalwww.lawa.org/lax/laxframe.htmlNo real-time info.
New York - John F.Kennedywww.panynj.gov/aviation/...Info. on entering the US
Hong Kong Internationalwww.hkairport.comPre-order from airport shops
Singapore Changi Internationalwww.changi.airport.com

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