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Morning News

'New York Times' Aviation Reporter Discusses Holiday Travel

Aired December 19, 2000 - 11:17 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: If you are like tens of a -- tens of thousands of Americans out there, you are getting ready to hit the road or hit the airline to get somewhere else for the Christmas holiday.

And it could be ugly out there. There are ways, though, to survive the crunch.

Joining us now from New York, with some survival trips for air travelers, "New York Times" aviation reporter Laurence Zuckerman.

Larry, good morning, good to see you.

LAURENCE ZUCKERMAN, "NEW YORK TIMES": Good morning to you.

KAGAN: Simply put, how bad, how ugly is it going to be over the next week or so?

ZUCKERMAN: Well, I'm not sure. There's worries that there might be some labor disruption, but I think, over the holidays, a lot of the workers at the airlines realize that they're not going to get in the good graces of travelers if they hold things up. So with the weather being as bad as it is, I think they're going to do their best to get people there.

KAGAN: And yet there are ways you -- things you can do to help yourself. So you're here to offer some tips.

ZUCKERMAN: Right.

KAGAN: First of all, air travel tips: What is this thing about a beeper notification from the airlines?

ZUCKERMAN: Well, this is a new service that a lot of airlines have instituted recently, and it really works great. Unfortunately, they haven't been very good at promoting it. But basically, what you do is you go onto their web site and you list your flight and the time you're leaving, and they will notify you on your pager or your cell phone an hour or two hours or three hours before the flight, to tell you if there's been a gate change or a delay.

KAGAN: Which brings up the idea of web access: There is a lot of information you can get just by going online yourself. ZUCKERMAN: Yes, I think one of the best ways to check on the status of your flight now is to check on the web sites, if you have web access. There are also automated telephone calls, lines that you can make toll free, and they often have more up-to-date information than if you talk to a live person.

KAGAN: And one of the most important tips: Avoid electronic tickets -- why?

ZUCKERMAN: Well, if you are delayed, and you think you have a better chance getting to your destination on time on another airline, it's very hard to transfer on an electronic ticket. If you have a paper ticket, the airline that you're flying on can endorse that over to a rival airline much easier than if it's an electronic ticket.

KAGAN: Now, I had to buy a ticket last week from major airline, and I said, specifically, I do not want an e-ticket for that very reason, and the ticket agent assured me that still the best way to go is an e-ticket. Were they not telling me the -- bad information?

ZUCKERMAN: It's the best way to go for the airline. It's cheaper for them, it saves them money.

KAGAN: Oh, OK.

ZUCKERMAN: But I'm not sure it's the best way for the consumer.

KAGAN: All right, now we know, for some people, that things are going to go wrong over the next few days, so let's give them some coping tips if things -- if your flight is delayed, what do you do? I think very important, you say, first of all, keep your cool, which is hard to do.

ZUCKERMAN: Yes, yes, it is hard to do, but you have to understand that people you're dealing with, who are working at the airlines, they're working on a holiday too, and they're doing the best they can, and often things are out of their control. So I think you get -- you end up getting more out of being civil and keeping cool than you do if you lose your temper.

KAGAN: And as soon as you hear a flight's delayed or canceled, you see, like, this mass movement, like a herd of cows: Everyone runs to go get in line, but you say there's a better move to do than going and getting in line.

ZUCKERMAN: I think if you -- what you can do is carry a cell phone, and it's probably quicker if you call the airline's 800 number and reroute your ticket that way than waiting on-line.

KAGAN: And don't just consider the airline that you're on: Look at the competition as well?

ZUCKERMAN: Absolutely, I mean, the airline that you're on is going to try to reroute you on their airline. But if you have -- if you know that there's another flight that's leaving on a rival airline earlier, you should ask them to endorse it over to that airline. KAGAN: And one last point: If it's that bad, think forget about the airlines, and just get in the car?

ZUCKERMAN: Yes, I think if you're within 200 miles of your destination -- you know, having missed a connection -- just renting a car and driving there is often better. Of course, when we have icy conditions, like we had in a lot of the country today, that can be dangerous, too. But if it's good weather and it's just a mechanical delay or a problem, I would say rent a car and you'll get there faster.

KAGAN: And I guess, probably just most important, just be patient, and just go with the flow over this difficult holiday travel period.

ZUCKERMAN: And remember that the statistics show that about 80 percent of flights, on average, get there on time, so the numbers are with you.

KAGAN: Just never the one that I'm on for some reason.

Laurence Zuckerman, from the "New York Times," safe travels and happy holidays. Thanks for joining us.

ZUCKERMAN: Same to you, thank you.

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