ABA Family Legal Guide

Computer Law

Online Purchases

Airline Tickets

Last time I bought an airline ticket from an travel website I was stranded at the airport because my plane was overbooked. Are there any steps I can take to prevent this from happening again?

Read the policy statement of the airline or the agency that is operating the website. Often, airlines contract out their online reservations to an agency whose policies differ from those of the airline. These statements cover the company's obligations in the event the flight is canceled or rescheduled.

Generally, the onus is on you to confirm your reservations, even if the website gives you a message thanking you for making your reservations after you provide your credit card information. You should also confirm that your flight is still scheduled to leave on time.