Booking a Flight
You ask, we listen! From how to book a flight and finding cheap flights, to airline information, we've compiled these handy lists for you to find FAQs at a glance. Whether you want to know how to book a flight with AirMiles, or if booking flights with airlines are your best bet, we're here for you. Conveniently divided into sections based on the nature of your inquiry, check out these pages first: Booking a Flight, Ticketing, ID Requirements & Visas, Before Your Flight & Checking In, Travelling with Children, Baggage, Changes & Cancellations and Frequent Flyer Programs.
If your question doesn't appear here, no worries. Speak to a Flight Centre travel agent over Live Chat, call your dedicated Flight Centre travel agent or drop by a store. We are always eager to help you.
Please note: Airlines reservation systems do not accept punctuations in the name such as hyphens, commas, apostrophes or periods, so please leave these out.
It is extremely important not to use nicknames, abbreviations or other names (such as your married name) if they do not appear on your identification.
In order to board your flight, your photo identification must match the name on your ticket. Airlines are generally unable to change the name on airline tickets after they have been purchased.
Please be aware that certain carriers charge an extra fee for seat selection.
Note: Seat assignments are not guaranteed. Flight Centre forwards your seat request to be processed by the airlines and the final seats assigned by the airline may be different from the original request. Airlines may alter your assigned seat for various reasons, especially if there has been a change in schedule or equipment on your flight.
Reasons or scenarios why seats may not be assigned:
1. For airlines that generally do pre-assign seats, after 70% of the seats have been assigned, the remaining seats are restricted to airport check-in on the day of the flight.
2.Some airlines will not assign seats until 90 days before the flight or except on the day of the flight.
3. In some cases, if departure is within 24 hours, seats cannot be assigned other than at the time of check-in as the seat manifest is under airport control.
4. Commuter flights, flights under one hour or shuttle flights may not allow for pre-assigned seats.
Scheduled flights are operated by major airlines. The large airlines have enormous fleets and set schedules. For example, an airline may fly from Toronto to Los Angeles five times a day every business day at the same time each day.
Please ensure that the names of the travellers match their government-issued photo identification in order to avoid problems with check-in or airport security.
If the fare you are trying to book gets sold out then the airline may offer you the next best available fare.
Flight Centre will not be held responsible if you purchase a one-way ticket and do not have necessary documentation to enter the country or are denied boarding by the airline.
If your flight is within Canada you do not require an e-ticket. All that is required at time of check in is your Confirmation Number. All International flight e-tickets will be sent to you within 72hrs of authorization of your payment.
Ticketing
There is NO paper ticket or any receipt with an e-ticket. When checking in with your airline at the airport you can give them a copy of your itinerary or your full name and flight number and a valid piece of photo identification (Passports).
If your flight is within Canada you do not require an e-ticket. All that is required at time of check in is your Confirmation Number.
All International flight e-tickets will be sent to you within 72hrs of authorization of your payment.
Airline tickets are not transferable, you cannot change the name on an airline ticket or give the ticket to someone else to use and you cannot exchange a ticket from one airline to another.
Please note all the terms and conditions of the flight are listed under the "Flight Conditions & Booking Terms" on the booking screen at the time of purchase.
ID Requirements & Visa's
As per the Passenger Protect Program http://www.passengerprotect.gc.ca/home.html all passengers planning to travel on Canadian domestic flights within Canada who appear to be 12 years of age or older, must present:
One piece of valid government-issued identification that includes a photograph showing the passenger's name, date of birth and gender
OR
Two pieces of valid government-issued ID that do not include photographs, one of which shows the passenger's name, date of birth and gender.
IMPORTANT: The name on the identification that is provided must match the name on the boarding pass.
The following pieces of valid government-issued ID may be counted toward the requirements of the Identity Screening Regulations:
- Passport
- Canadian Citizenship Card
- Canadian Permanent Resident Card
- Drivers Licence
- Health Card
- Provincial/Territorial Government Identification Cards (GIC)
- Birth Certificate
- Record of Landing Form / Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292)
- Immigration documents issued to foreign nationals (Work Permit, Study Permit, Visitor Record, Temporary Resident Permit, Refugee Approved Status)
- Canadian military ID
- Federal police ID
- Federal, Provincial, and Municipal government employee ID
- Social Insurance Number (SIN) card
- Old Age Security (OAS) Identification Card
- CBSA NEXUS Card
Check with the airline if you are still unsure of what identification they will accept.
Since January 23, 2007, a valid passport is the only acceptable form of identification for entry by air into the United States. If you do not have a passport, or your passport has expired or will expire prior to your trip, please begin the application process well before your date of travel to allow ample time to process and deliver your passport.
International Flights:
ALL Canadian citizens travelling outside of Canada, including children and infants, require a valid passport for travelling to most countries. Some countries may even require a visa. Please check that your passport is valid for 6 months or longer than your intended travel time
To determine the documentation required for your trip, visit the Foreign Affairs Canada Web site.
Special documentation may be required for unaccompanied minors or children travelling without both parents. If you do not have the proper documentation for boarding, the airline may refuse boarding. Flight Centre will not be held responsible for incorrect documentation whatsoever.
Many countries require that you obtain your visa before you enter their country. It is your responsibility to obtain at your expense a visa (if required) for each country you plan to visit.
Visa requirements for each country vary depending on your citizenship status.
Canadian passport holders - visa details and recommendations.
U.S. passport holders - visa details and recommendations.
For all other passport holders - please call the Embassy or Consulate of the country you intend to visit for visa requirements.
The following documents may be required to support the entry of a child to another country:
- Birth certificates showing the names of both parents.
- Any legal documents pertaining to custody.
- A parental consent letter:
- If the child is traveling with one parent, the consent letter authorizing travel must be signed and dated by the other parent.
- If the child is traveling alone or without either parent, the consent letter authorizing travel must be signed and dated by both parents.
- A death certificate, if one of the parents is deceased.
- Status Document from Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
If a person younger than 18 is traveling to the United States alone or with only one parent or another adult, certified documentation proving that the trip is permitted by both parents should be carried.
If you are traveling outside of the U.S. and Canada, you must contact local authorities of the country you are planning to visit to find out what other documentation you may need.
For an example of a certified consent letter, visit the website of the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs.
Before Your Flight & Checking In
Flight Centre strongly recommend that you reconfirm your flight times and status by calling the airline directly 12-24 hours prior to departure for flights in Canada and U.S. and 48 hours prior to departure for international flights.
Some international airlines do require passengers to call and reconfirm their flights a certain number of days/hours prior to departure. If the airline does not receive reconfirmation from the passenger, the reservation may be cancelled.
If you are traveling on an airline that requires reconfirmation, we recommend that you call the airline to find out how far in advance you must reconfirm and any other applicable requirements the airline might have.
It is very important that you provide us with an accurate email address and phone number when you make your booking.
In some cases airlines make last minute changes and Flight Centre are not notified. We therefore strongly recommend that you reconfirm your flight time and status by calling the airline directly 12-24 hours prior to departure for flights in Canada and U.S. and 48 hours prior to departure for international flights.
Flight schedule changes can impact your itinerary in any of the following ways:
- Flight number
- Departure and/or arrival time
- Type or size of aircraft
- Routing, i.e. Arrival or departure city
- Connection city
- Number of stops
- Flight cancellation
If you have an electronic ticket (e-ticket):
Print a copy of your current reservation and bring it with you to the airport for reference. (A copy is not mandatory to check-in.)
Present a government-issued photo ID (such as a driver's license, passport, or state-issued identification card) at the airport ticket counter at check-in.
The airline will issue your boarding pass with current flight, gate, and time information.
If you use a kiosk for check-in, you will need a credit card or frequent flyer card to access your reservation.
Proceed through the security checkpoint and then go to your assigned gate to board your flight.
Check-in opens 3 hours prior to scheduled departure, and closes 60 minutes prior to departure for all flights from all airports in all countries. Latest time at the gate for boarding is 30 minutes prior to departure
The airline will access your information and issue your boarding pass.
Once you receive your boarding pass, proceed to the security checkpoint and your departure gate.
When you arrive at the security checkpoint, please take laptops out of carrying cases before putting them through screening devices, and prepare for additional carry-on searches.
Additional tips and information on airport security and check in procedures can be reviewed on the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority website http://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/english/
Travelling with Children
For domestic travel, children under the age of 2 years without a seat fly free of charge. Child fares may vary for children under the age of two years with a reserved seat, and may be the same price as the adult fare. On international flights, infants without a seat will commonly be charged 10% of the adult fare. International fares vary for children under 2 years old with a reserved seat.
If you have purchased a reserved seat for your child, it's best to bring your carrier. If you have booked your infant as a "lap child", bring your child seat/carrier to the gate. Airline personnel will store the carrier with luggage if the flight is full. You will then pick it up at the gate upon arrival
You may be asked by the airline to prove the age of the infant, so a copy of the child's birth certificate is essential.
The following documents may be required to support the entry of a child to another country:
- Birth certificates showing the names of both parents.
- Any legal documents pertaining to custody.
- A parental consent letter:
1. If the child is traveling with one parent, the consent letter authorizing travel must be signed and dated by the other parent.
2. If the child is traveling alone or without either parent, the consent letter authorizing travel must be signed and dated by both parents. - A death certificate, if one of the parents is deceased.
- Status Document from Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
If you are traveling outside of the U.S. and Canada, you must contact local authorities of the country you are planning to visit to find out what other documentation you may need.
For an example of a certified consent letter, visit the website of the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs.
Baggage
Due to recent fuel price increases, luggage weight limitations have been further reduced.
The best source of information about luggage limitations, security, and the cost of excess luggage is the airline on which you are traveling. Call their toll-free number or visit their website for details.
If you call, be prepared with the weight and dimensions of each piece of luggage that you wish to transport. The airline representative can provide you with approximate costs for oversized or extra pieces.
Note that charter flights have very limited luggage allowances compared to most scheduled airlines.
Changes & Cancellations
Please note:
- You cannot exchange a ticket from one airline to another.
- Some tickets do not allow any changes.
- Some tickets are non-refundable. Usually, non-refundable tickets can be used only towards the purchase of other non-refundable tickets.
- Some airlines will not allow the ticket to be reused if the original reservation was NOT cancelled within their designated timeframe.
- Flight Centre does not control the fees set by the airline and has no authority to waive them.
Alternately, you may call the airline directly to ensure the flights are cancelled or changed prior to the schedule departure time, as some airlines will not allow the ticket to be reused if the original reservation was NOT cancelled within their designated timeframe.
Expect to pay change fees plus the fare difference if your new flight costs more than the original.
Flight Centre does not control the fees set by the airline and has no authority to waive them.
Frequent Flyer Program
Prior to flying:
Submit your frequent flyer number along with your confirmation number via e-mail to your FC travel agent. Our staff will enter your information into your record and confirm the transaction via return e-mail.
Call the airline directly. For a list of Airline telephone numbers click here
Show your frequent flyer card to the Airline staff at the time of check in and they will enter it on your booking.
After completing your trip:
Procedures vary by airlines. Most will require that you submit your original boarding pass by mail directly to them. Nearly all airlines do have a procedure that permits you to claim past date miles. Please call your airline directly to verify their procedure. Please note: Not all fare types qualify for frequent flyer point accumulation. Please check with the Airline, your Flight Centre travel agent or 1866 368 0396, to check if the fare type you booked qualifies.
If you do not recall any mention of frequent flyer restrictions upon review of the fare rules during your initial booking, please please call 1866 368 0396 to speak to your FC travel agent. We will review the fare rules for you, and if necessary, contact the airline on your behalf to see why the mileage was not added to your account.
Please keep in mind that carriers may add accrued mileages at different times. You should review your frequent flyer mileage account (with your airline) to determine the timeframe mileage is added to your account.
We recommend you keep all boarding passes, as some airlines may require you to send those in to receive the mileage credit.