What that letter on your airline ticket means

Every wonder why some people get treated better at check-in time? Look closely at your ticket. The AP reports:

A fare basis code divides passengers into classes based on how much they paid and how far out they booked. There are about a dozen in coach class alone. When you're on the plane, there's no difference in service between a passenger who has a "Y" or "Q" — a full-fare and a discounted ticket — if you're both in coach. But the codes are still important: Some indicate your trip isn't eligible for frequent-flier miles or an upgrade; others tell a ticket agent where to rank you on a standby list.

You may have to hunt for your letter. The fare basis code is found on most e-tickets by itself, but it can also be shown as the first letter of a longer code with a mix of other letters and numbers. The letters vary from airline to airline, but some are universal.

"Y" class is a widespread denotation for the highest class in coach among most major airlines. These tickets are usually fully refundable, last-minute coach fares purchased mainly by business travelers. They're the most expensive tickets, but they have the most flexibility. "J" or "C" usually indicate business class. "F" and "P" denote first class or premium. Generally, "Y," "B" and "M" are the only coach fares that are upgradeable.

Here's why they matter.

The better code you have, the better your chance of not getting bumped. You also might receive more frequent flier miles if you're in the top tiers. The bad news: The main way to improve your code is to pay more. Most leisure travelers wouldn't think of forking over double or triple the usual fare for a refundable ticket or more perks. But there are ways to avoid hassles without paying through the roof.

Here's a tip: If building up frequent flier miles is important to you, avoid auction tickets on sites like Hotwire and Priceline where you name your own price, or don't see all the flight information before you book. Those tickets, like Hotwire "Hot Rates," are often ineligible for frequent flier miles. The cheapest tickets doled out to certain travel agents also aren't always eligible, either.


And here's something I always suspected but didn't know for sure.

One way to prevent bumping with a discounted ticket? Check in early. In addition to ranking by price, airlines also prioritize passengers by check-in order. Get in the habit of checking in online 24 hours before your flight. You can even check bags online through most airlines, and just drop them off at a counter when you arrive at the airport.

Possession is nine-tenths of the law, especially in the lawless Out West of airline terminals these days.

(Source: Fairtex.com)

1 – Passenger’s Name
2 – Route
3 – Ticket Number
4 – Flight Number
5 – Ticket Booking Class
6 – Date of Journey
7 – Local Departure Time
9 – Ticket Reservation Number / Record Locator
10 – Ticket Restrictions/ Endorsements
11 – Fare Basis
12 – Baggage Allowance