Frequently Asked Questions

To avoid misunderstanding, please make sure in advance which terminal does your plane leave. Every time we write it on the cover of the air ticket that we issue.

It is advisable to arrive at the airport two hours before departure because the strict safety control takes more and more time recently and the aero traffic also increases. We would like to draw your attention that after check in, but forty minutes before departure the gates are closed! After the closure of the gates noone is let on board! Passengers also have to check on time whether the number of the gate has been changed, which can be seen on the monitors, hung in the transit. It may also happen that a flight has two flight numbers. These are the so-called code share flights.

The airlines reserve the rights for schedule and flight number change. This is why it is advisable to inquire about changes one or two days before departure either at the office where the ticket had been bought, or at the airline itself.

In case of adverse weather, technical problems, the airlines try to get the passangers to the destination city the simplest way on an altenate route. In this situation the passanger cannot demand compensation from the airline. Compensation can neither be demanded if the passanger misses the flight from his own fault. As long as it is prooved that a transfer or a program failed through the fault of the airline, than they obliged to compensate the passanger.

There are significant differences - in the respect of modification - between the rules of scheduled flights and the low cost airlines. In case of schedule flights the cheapest booking classes are normally not allowed to change (flight cancellation insurance is advised to take out), while the more expensive ones can be modified for changing fee, and the most expensive booking classes (business class) can often be modified free of charge. Changing the names or the route on air tickets are usually not allowed, only the date. In case of most of the low cost airlines name change is allowed for changing fee and changing the date of the journey is not in connection with its price. They can always be modified for a fix fee plus the amount of the difference of the price of the old and the new ticket. It is very important that in case of a retour ticket, if the passanger does not apply the first half of the journey than the airline automatically cancel the whole ticket. As long as the journey has been started and the passanger would like to change the date of the return journey - and it is allowed by the rule of the ticket - he/she has to indicate it at least 24 hours before departure of the original date towards the airline or the ticket agency. Otherwise the ticket will be cancelled.

The amount and weight of the checked baggages are defined by the airlines in every case.

Some standard weight-limits:

• European economy class 20kg
• European business class 30kg
• North-American economy class 1x23kg One extra luggage is allowed to check-in for an extra charge, for usually 50EUR, but it may differ at every airlines.
  
• North-American business class 2x32kg
• Long-distance flight - economy 20kg
• Long-distance flight - business 2x32kg
• Size of the cabin baggages can be 45x50x20cm and its weight can be 8-10kg.

Of course, there may be some differences besides the given measurements above at particular airlines. You can be informed about it by our colleges.

As far as the weight of your luggage is beyond the legal weight limit, the airline gives opportunity to pay for the additional weight up to some degree and for some extra charge. The amount of this charge is also variable and can be paid in advance or at the check-in desk at the airport. Be careful about putting those objects into your cabin baggage you might need during the flight, because your checked luggages are taken away during the check-in, which can happen two hours before the flight. The name and availability of the owner should be written outside and inside the luggage. For this purpose, a special printed label can be obtained at the airport. Luggages are put over several times at the airport, so you should not put fragile items into them. If it is allowed, it is better to put them into the cabin baggage of and take it on board. If this fragile item is not allowed to take on board, then you should inquire about it at the airline in advance. As long as we notice at the arrival, that the luggage is damaged, then it immidiately has to be recorded by the actual airline. Afterwards you do not have the opportunity for this and it would also be difficult to proove who and what caused the damage. The same procedure should be done if your luggage disappears.

This is a basic topic that might help to understand why there are so many different prices on the same plane and the same journey, and why the difference of the prices of two different tickets can reach huge amounts. Essentially there are three different classes on a flight. The economy, the business and the first class. First class is very rare, just a few airlines use it on long-distance flights. These classes, of course, involve different services. Certain prices - economy and business - belong to each seats. Reductions are usually added to the economy tickets. Getting reduction does not mean getting worse or fewer service, it is just part of the price policy of the airline. An economy ticket to a European destination may cost 150000HUF, but getting reductions, one can get the same ticket for even 30000HUF. Regarding the amount of the reduction on a ticket, they are classified into booking classes. The lower booking class contains more reductions, and vice versa. Stricter rules are attached to lower booking classes, for example, the passanger has to spend the weekend in the destination city (minimum stay), and the maximum stay is one month, or modifying the date is not permitted. Of course, always the cheapest tickets are sold first, and then, just like going up on stairs, the more tickets are sold on a flight, the prices become more expensive, and at the end you can only get economy tickets without reductions. That is why the sooner we book and buy the air tickets, the cheaper they are. Other factors, that increase or reduce prices, are seasonality and child and infant reductions. Despite the fact, that air ticket prices depend on free seats on the flight, does not necessarily mean that they will cost a fortune a few days before departure. It is worth trying, we may be lucky, and not many seats have been sold on the flight we need.

As a result of the terror incidents of the past few years, there are many strict safety instructions. One of these new rules is the restrictions of the cabin baggage. For example, the cabin baggage must not contain cold steel, cutting objects, spray, objects for making fire, and liquid materials are also strictly restricted. The amount adn the way of storing the liquid, that can be carried, are both limited. The new rule refers to not only drinking-water and refreshments, but also to gel, ointment, deodorant and toilets, and even to toothpaste, shaving foam, hair-fixing gel and cream.

 The following rules are valid on liquid, carried in the cabin baggage:

 It can only be carried in a bottle with a maximum 100ml capacity. More pieces of such bottle can also be carried in a translucent plastic bag. The whole amount of the liquid in the bottles in that translucant plastic bag cannot be more than one litre. Each passangers are allowed to carry only one of this bag. This bag must be suitable for re-lock up.

 There are two legal exceptions:

• Baby food preparation that had been claimed 
• Medicine that had been claimed

 Shopping is still permitted in the duty free shops after passport control at European airports or on the flights of European airlines. Those liquid and gel that had been bought at the airport or on the plane are packed and sealed in the shop or on the board. This seal is valid for 24 hours. At the safety control liquid must be shown. The translucent plastic bag must be closed and suitable for re-closing it. At the safety control coats, rechargers and electric items, for example laptops, also must be shown.

  The rules, mentioned above, concerns to every passanger in the European Union. Rules, concerning checked baggages, have not changed.

Passengers on a journey involving an ultimate destination or a stop in a country other than the country of origin are advised that the provisions of a treaty known as the Warsaw Convention may be applicable to the entire journey, including any portion entirely within the country of origin or destination. For such passengers on a journey to, from or with an agreed stopping place in the United States of America, the Convention and special contracts of carriage embodied in applicable tariffs provide that the liability of certain carriers, parties to such special contracts, for death of or personal injury to passengers is limited in most cases to proven damages not to exceed US$75,000 per passenger, and that this liability up to such limit shall not depend on negligence on the part of the carrier. For such passengers travelling by carrier not a party to such special contracts or on a journey not to, from, or having an agreed stopping place in the United States of America, liability of the carrier for death or personal injury to passengers is limited in most cases to approximately US$10,000 or US$20,000.
The names of carriers, parties to such special contract, are available at all ticket offices of such carriers and may be examined on request.
Additional protection can usually be obtained by purchasing insurance from a private company. Such insurance is not affected by any limitation of the carrier's liability under the Warsaw Convention or such special contracts of carriers. For further information please consult your airline or insurance company representative.
Note: The limit of liability of US$75,000 above is inclusive of legal fees and costs except that in the case of a claim brought in a state where provision is made for separate award of legal fees and costs, the limit shall be the sum of US$58,000 exclusive of legal fees and costs.

Liability for loss, delay, or damage to baggage is limited unless a higher value is declared in advance and additional charges are paid. For most international travel (including domestic portions of international journeys) the liability limit is approximately US$9.07 per pound (US$20.00 per kilo) for checked baggage and US$400.00 per passenger for unchecked baggage. For travel wholly between US points, Federal rules require any limit on an airline's baggage liability to be at least US$3000.00 per passenger. Excess valuation may be declared on certain types of articles. Some carriers assume no liability for fragile, valuable or perishable articles. Further information may be obtained from the carrier.

The price of this ticket may include taxes, fees and charges which are imposed on air transportation by government authorities. They may represent a significant portion of the cost of air travel and are either included in the fare, or shown separately in the "TAX/ FEE/CHARGE" box(es) of this ticket. You may also be required to pay taxes or fees or charges not already collected.
The following notice does not apply to tickets sold in the United States for transportation originating in the United States.
DENIED BOARDING BY OVERBOOKING. In those countries where Denied Boarding Compensation regulations are in force, carriers operate compensation plans for passengers with confirmed reservations who are denied boarding because of non-availability of seats caused by overbooking. Details of these plans are available at the airlines' offices.

The times shown on this ticket or itinerary/receipt if applicable are the departure times of the aircraft. Check-in times, as advised by your carrier, or in the airline's timetable, are the latest times at which passengers can be accepted for travel, allowing the necessary time to complete all formalities. Flights cannot be held up for passengers arriving late, and no responsibility can be accepted in such cases.

Checked Baggage: Passengers are usually permitted a free checked baggage allowance, the limit of which may differ by airline, class, and/or route. Extra charges may apply for checked baggage in excess of the permitted allowance.
Cabin Baggage: Passengers are usually permitted a free cabin baggage allowance, the limit of which may differ by airline, class, route, and/or aircraft type. The cabin baggage is recommended to be kept to a minimum size and weight. Please ask your travel agent or airline for more specific information. Refer to http://www.iata.org/bags for information and links to airline websites.

For safety reasons, dangerous articles must not be packed in checked or carry-on baggage. Restricted articles include but are not limited to: compressed gases, corrosives, explosives, flammable liquids and solids, radioactive materials, oxidising materials, poisons, infectious substances, and briefcases with installed alarm devices.

The Montreal Convention or the Warsaw Convention system may be applicable to your journey and these Conventions govern and may limit the liability of air carriers for death or bodily injury, for loss of or damage to baggage, and for delay.

Where the Montreal Convention applies, the limits of liability are as follows:

1. There are no financial limits in respect of death or bodily injury;
2. In respect of destruction, loss of, or damage or delay to baggage, 1,000 Special Drawing Rights (approximately EUR 1,200; US $1,470) per passenger in most cases.
3. For damage occasioned by delay to your journey, 4,150 Special Drawing Rights (approximately EUR 5,000; US $6,000) per passenger in most cases. EC Regulation No. 889/2002 requires European Community carriers to apply the provisions of the Montreal Convention limits to all carriage by them of passengers and their baggage by air. Many non-European Community carriers have elected to do so in respect of the carriage of passengers and their baggage.

Where the Warsaw Convention system applies, the following limits of liability may apply:

1. 16,600 Special Drawing Rights (approximately EUR 20,000; US $20,000) in respect of death or bodily injury if the Hague Protocol to the Convention applies, or 8,300 Special Drawing Rights (approximately EUR 10,000; US $10,000) if only the Warsaw Convention applies. Many carriers have voluntarily waived these limits in their entirety, and US regulations require that, for journeys to, from or with an agreed stopping place in the US, the limit may not be less than US $75,000.
2. 17 Special Drawing Rights (approximately EUR 20; US $20) per kg for loss of or damage or delay to checked baggage, and 332 Special Drawing Rights (approximately EUR 400; US $400-) for unchecked baggage.
3. The carrier may also be liable for damage occasioned by delay.

Further information may be obtained from the carrier as to the limits applicable to your journey. If your journey involves carriage by different carriers, you should contact each carrier for information on the applicable limits of liability.

Regardless of which Convention applies to your journey, you may benefit from a higher limit of liability for loss of, damage or delay to baggage by making at check-in a special declaration of the value of your baggage and paying any supplementary fee that may apply. Alternatively, if the value of your baggage exceeds the applicable limit of liability, you should fully insure it before you travel.

Time limit for action: Any action in court to claim damages must be brought within two years from the date of arrival of the aircraft, or from the date on which the aircraft ought to have arrived. Baggage claims: Written notice to the carrier must be made within 7 days of the receipt of checked baggage in the case of damage, and, in the case of delay, within 21 days from the date on which it was placed at the disposal of the passenger.