Survival Strategies

Beware of Route Roulette
Double- or triple-check your flight reservations as departure nears, especially if you book far in advance: Your flight may not exist by the time you're scheduled to leave. Airlines are supposed to notify ticketholders when they suspend service or change flight times—but they sometimes don't. If your flight is changed or canceled and you are unhappy with the options the airline offers you, insist that it get you to your destination—on a competitor, if necessary.

Make Sure to Choose Your Airport Carefully
Following the crowd might be a good policy: While secondary airports offer some advantages—they are less crowded and far easier to navigate—they raise your chances of being stranded because there are fewer alternatives if things go off track. And in the current economic climate, these diminutive depots are losing services at an even higher rate than the big airports. Stewart International Airport in Newburgh, New York, for instance, was until recently touted as a "fourth" metropolitan airport in addition to the three major airfields serving New York City. But Newburgh lost much of its service when Skybus folded, AirTran pulled out, and JetBlue pared back its flights.

Fly Nonstop When Possible and Have a Backup Plan
With airlines' new slimmed-down schedules, if you miss a connection, your flight gets canceled, or you get bumped, there may not be another open seat to your destination for days. And with carriers cutting back drastically on airport customer-service staff, you could lose precious time waiting in line to speak to an agent. Instead, carry a list of alternative flights to your destination, and call your airline's toll-free number right away. You might also consider booking your ticket through a trusted travel agent. It may cost slightly more, but a seasoned agent can work wonders when the unexpected arises.

Avoid Endangered Airlines
Last year, Congress let lapse a post-9/11 provision that required carriers to transport passengers stranded by a failed airline for a nominal fee. That means if your carrier goes under, your ticket is now worthless. True, smaller upstart airlines can sometimes offer a great deal—witness Skybus's ten-dollar fares. Unfortunately, Skybus is now history—as are other victims of the record high oil prices earlier this year, such as ATA and Aloha. To play it safe, pay with a credit card and stick with a known quantity like Southwest or JetBlue when booking a low-fare carrier. Bigger airlines are less likely to go out of business completely, even if they declare bankruptcy.

FARES AND FEES

Many airlines have been struggling for years to raise fares and streamline their operations, but fierce competition has made this almost impossible. The current restructuring may be their best opportunity to make these changes stick. American, for one, points out that fares simply haven't risen in years: From 2000 through the second quarter of 2008, the average revenue per round-trip ticket dropped by $30, from $442 to $412, while fuel costs per passenger increased $128.