Cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages are highly valued, but not all coach tickets are created equal. Airlines use fare basis codes to divide passengers into groups depending on how much the tickets cost and how much in advance of the departure date they were purchased.
Ticket codes are important in part because codes indicate which tickets are eligible for frequent flier miles or an upgrade, while others inform a ticket agent where to rank a passenger on standby.
Airline ticket codes help the airlines make more money per ticket. Often there are many different prices paid for coach tickets on the same flight.
The more desirable a ticket code, the less chance of getting bumped. Also, top tier ticket codes often earn bonus frequent flier miles. Unfortunately, the only way to improve a ticket code is to pay more. Refundable ticket codes often cost two to three times the lowest coach price.
The best way to avoid getting bumped, if you purchased a discounted ticket, is to check in early. It is wise to check in and get your boarding pass online 24 hours prior to your flights departure time.
If accumulating frequent flier miles is a priority, do not purchase your tickets through auction sites like Hotwire and Priceline since often those tickets are not eligible to earn frequent flier miles.
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