How Do I Change My Flight?

We have negotiated many different types of agreements with different airlines; thus, the rules and restrictions for exchanges and cancellations vary greatly if allowed at all. When allowed, airlines require that we collect a fee for the exchange plus any difference in fare when necessary. Exchange fees start at $125 and go as high as $350. Your exchange agent can tell you when you call. We must insist, however, that you do not book an itinerary for the exchange. Please keep in mind that all exchanges must be on itineraries provided by the same airline that issued the original ticket. In some cases, the airline may restrict or deny exchanges requested with as few as seven days before departure. Once you are prepared to give our exchange agent the new itinerary, please call us at (800) 334-8069. To expedite this process, please have your old ticket and/or file number with you as well as the new itinerary you wish to book.

Do I need to do anything else if the credit card I'm using is not under my name?

 Yes. For your own security we must validate your information if the credit card is not under your name.
You will need to fill out this form and send it back to us to complete your transaction.

How can I change a flight I have booked?

 If you need to change your travel dates or destinations or use a credit from an unused ticket, your ticket must be reissued. In most cases, airlines charge a fee for these exchanges. The typical reissue fee charged by the airline for a non-refundable or restricted ticket is $150 for a domestic ticket, and $200 or more for an international ticket. However airline fees vary widely by carrier and by type of ticket (for example domestic versus international). Furthermore, if the airfare for your new itinerary-- on the date your request the reissue-- is greater than the original airfare, you will be required to pay the difference on top of the reissue fee. Please note that meliatravel.com (and other travel agencies and web sites) do not control the fees set by the airline and have no authority to waive them. Some tickets do not allow any changes, even with a fee. Furthermore, some types of changes are not allowed, even if the ticket allows changes. Some general rules of thumb are: - You cannot change the name on an airline ticket or give the ticket to someone else to use. - You cannot exchange a ticket from one airline to another. - You usually cannot exchange a ticket if you did not cancel your itinerary prior to the departure time of your original flight. That is, if you "no show" for a flight that you are still reserved on, your ticket will become void with no further value for an exchange. Changes to tickets cannot be made on line. When you are ready to make a change, contact Corporate Travel Services Houston at (800) 334-8069. Our travel consultants will assist you in rebooking your itinerary and processing the reissue. A $25 per ticket fee will be assessed for this service. This fee is in addition to the airline change fee as mentioned above. If you have a paper ticket, you must send the ticket to our office. We cannot process the exchange until we receive the original ticket. form and send it back to us to complete your transaction.

What is an E-ticket?

 E-tickets are electronic tickets, stored in the airline's computer system instead of being physically printed. With e-tickets, you no longer have to worry about losing your ticket and you no longer have a document that you have to carry around with you when traveling. When flying on an E-ticket, the airline will print you a boarding pass at check-in time. Depending on the specific airline it may be possible to print your boarding pass online within 24 hours of your departure by visiting their website. It is a good idea to bring a printed confirmation like the one we will e-mail you, for quick access to your flight information, but even that is not required. A photo ID is sufficient to Check In

What does "Re-confirming" mean and why do you recommend I do it within 72 hours of my departure?

  "Re-confirming" simply means having us review your trip itinerary to confirm that there have been no unannounced schedule changes that may affect your trip. The easiest way to do this is to email support@meliatravel.com with your confirmation number and ask us to reconfirm your trip. We will check with the airline and quickly email you back with your re-confirmation. If there have been any changes that have impacted your itinerary we will contact you and if necessary contact the airline on your behalf to make sure you are taken care of. If you need an immediate re-confirmation you can also call and speak with a Travel Specialist at (800) 334-8069.

How many bags can I check and what items are forbidden by security?

  Typically, most airlines allow 1 Carry-On item, 1 Personal item (purse, backpack or bag), and 1 to 2 Checked items. Recently some airlines, such as United, US Airways, and Spirit Air, have begun charging extra fees for Checked Items. For this reason we strongly recommend all passengers double check the specific baggage rules for the airline they will be flying with. To aid with this we have compiled the following list of links directly to many of the larger airlines baggage rules. If you have any questions regarding a rule please do not hesitate to email support@meliatravel.com or call and speak with a Travel Specialist at (800) 334-8069. Below the links you will also find a link to the Transportation Security Administration website, which contains a list of all allowed and prohibited items.

Air Canada
Air France
AirTran Airways
Alaska Airlines
Aloha Airlines
American Airlines
ATA
British Airways
Continental Air
Delta Airlines
Frontier Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines
JetBlue Airways
KLM Airlines
Lufthansa Airlines
Midwest Express
Northwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Spirit Airlines
Sun Country
Swiss Airlines
United Airlines
US Airways
Virgin Atlantic
WestJet Airways

For complete information on what items are permitted and forbidden please visit the Transportation Security Administration Permitted and Prohibited Items List.

What are the rules regarding children traveling alone? (Unaccompanied Minor)?

 Each airline has their own policy regarding unaccompanied minors and we strongly recommend you call and speak with a Travel Specialist at (800) 334-8069 if you are planning to have your child fly alone. This way, while the specialist helps you find the best deal on a ticket, they can also ensure there will be no problems and you are fully aware of the policies held by the airline you select. To help with your planning there are a few general policies held by nearly all airlines. Plan on arriving at the airport at least 30 minutes to an hour earlier than you normally would, as you will have to fill out an "Unaccompanied Minor" form at the airline counter. You will also be asked to provide the name of the adult who will be meeting your child at the destination and that individual will have to provide identification before they can take your child. Also, keep in mind that many airlines do charge a fee for the Unaccompanied Minor service, which can range from $25 to $100, per direction. These fees are not part of the ticket price and must be paid at the counter before they will issue a boarding pass. There are also certain flights that unaccompanied minors are simply not allowed to fly on. For example, all airlines prohibit them from flying on the last non-stop or connecting flight of the day. This is another reason we recommend you speak to a Travel Specialist as it is not always obvious if a flight is the final one. More than once we've had customers tell us afterward that a child was booked online to fly on the 5:30pm flight only to be turned away at the counter because the customer was not aware it was the last flight. Our agents can review the airlines entire flight inventory and ensure your child is not on that prohibited flight. Also, some airlines have rules stating that minors can only fly unaccompanied on "non-stop" flights and they can and will deny boarding on a connection flight. Again, much of this information is general to all airlines but each will have their own specific policy. In addition each airline has their own age limit on what they consider an unaccompanied minor so it is important to check that as well. Most allow children 15 and over to fly without a guardian or adult without being considered an unaccompanied minor but this is also something you will want to confirm before booking travel. If you have any questions please call and speak with a specialist at (800) 334-8069 or if you know the airline you will be booking travel on you can also email us at support@meliatravel.com and we will be happy to provide you with all of the information you will need.

If I don't have a credit card, can I still buy tickets?

 Yes. We are pleased to offer a cash payment service via Western Union Quick Collect, where you can pay for your ticket(s) in cash at any Western Union location.

How do I book a reservation for passengers with disabilities or special needs?

 If you are making the reservation over the phone with a Travel Specialist please advise them of any special requests or services the passenger(s) will need. They will then notify the airline so that everything will be ready when the passenger(s) arrive at the airport. When booking online, after receiving your email confirmation, please email us at support@meliatravel.com with the confirmation number and the type of assistance you are requesting. We will notify the airline and then contact you back to confirm the request. You are not required to advise us (or the airline) of any special needs the passenger(s) may have prior to travel. However, it is recommended, as your request can then be more readily accommodated. You can also always call and speak with a Travel Specialist at (800) 334-8069 if you have any specific questions or concerns with the reservation.

Is it safe to buy online?

 Corporate Travel Services Houston uses powerful Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption technology and Private Communication Technology (PCT) security standards supported by Microsoft Internet Explorer and other popular browsers. SSL encrypts your credit card number, name, address, and telephone number before they travel over the Internet. This makes doing business over the Internet as secure as purchasing by telephone. Nevertheless, if you do not feel comfortable providing sensitive information on-line, our Travel Specialists will gladly assist you by telephone at (800) 334-8069.