How to Book a Flight on Airbus

Airbus is the name of an aircraft manufacturer whose equipment is used by numerous commercial airlines. The planes are either two- or four-engine and are manufactured by a multi-government consortium in the E.U. with corporate headquarters based in Toulouse, France. Since its inception in 1974, this relatively new competition to other aircraft builders has been on the forefront in the media and fast becoming a leader in the industry. Learn the options on how to book a flight aboard on an Airbus.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Booking an airline flight aboard an Airbus will depend on where you are departing from and traveling to. Once you have narrowed the airline carriers that can be utilized for this trip, you then must determine if they are using Airbus equipment. There are different types of Airbuses, with the most common being Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Airbus A321 and the latest jumbo carrier, Airbus A380. In terms of comfort, many prefer Airbus equipment as the planes tend to be newer with wider aisles and most have personal entertainment systems.

2. Check the websites of specific airlines you have narrowed down and read up on their equipment before you purchase your ticket. You can also call the general information line of the airliner to obtain more information on their fleet. Almost every major airline today has Airbus equipment as part of their fleet. The trick is to determine if the scheduled flight you are thinking of taking is, in fact, using an Airbus.

3. Choose one of the several the options that are available for making reservations you prefer or are comfortable with. You can stay traditional by using the services of a travel agent and request specifically that you want only flights on Airbus equipment. You can all the airline company directly and purchase your ticketes over the phone. However, most people prefer to point their mouse to their favorite travel site and/or airline and book and purchase their tickets this way.

4. Find the Airbus flight that works for you and make a reservation without it being a chore. With the Internet, PDAs, Blackberries, and cell phones at your disposal, it is now easier than ever to make an airline reservation. Major airlines and third party travel websites will allow you to book a reservation and purchase tickets online. You can plan your air travel by reviewing reservations as well as fares and tickets from the major airlines. Not only can you know your equipment, purchase your tickets but assign the available seat on your own for yourself.

5. Secure, confirm your booking and charge your credit card. Most tickets now are issued as "e-tickets", which consist of a number that identifies your transaction. When you print this e-ticket number, receive it in the mail or from your travel agent, take it with you to the airport, along with the credit card used to make the purchase. You can usually use a self-service kiosk to print a boarding pass, which will allow you to board the Airbus aircraft.

Tips & Warnings

• To get the best deals, keep your dates as flexible as possible. Play with the dates of your trip and compare different online travel sites. Research has shown that you are more likely to save money if you make your reservation online. This will ensure that you get the best possible price on your Airbus flight reservation.
• Many times, the major airlines will advertise specials on their website that are not available elsewhere.
• Learn about the airline’s policies consisting of Terms and Conditions, Payment and Cancellation Policy.
• There is no guarantee that your flight will be on board an Airbus even if their schedule states it. Equipment changes happen frequently in the airline industry and your flight can easily be changed to another type of manufactured plane.
• Travel agents charge a fee for booking airline tickets.

Resources

• Airbus Corporate Site