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In the digital age, booking airline tickets through online apps has become the top choice for most travelers due to its superior convenience and the ability to find promotions and great deals at extremely affordable prices. However, behind that convenience lie potential risks that cannot be ignored regarding the security of personal information, bank accounts, and certain limitations in the booking process, which can cause passengers to suffer unnecessary losses or lose money unfairly.
To ensure a smooth journey, absolute information security, and to avoid falling into the trap of hidden costs, passengers need to pay special attention to and apply some of the following hard-won experiences.
Be careful when protecting your personal information.
Personal information security is the first and most important factor that all passengers need to consider when conducting online transactions. Currently, there are many fake websites and applications that exploit the buyer's desire to find great deals, advertising cheap tickets at exorbitant prices with the aim of stealing user information.
Booking airline tickets through apps has become a preferred method for some travelers due to its convenience and occasional promotions that allow passengers to purchase tickets at very affordable prices.
To avoid this risk, passengers need to strictly adhere to the following principles. Always verify the authenticity of applications and websites. Only download applications from official stores such as the App Store or Google Play. For websites, carefully check the website address (URL) and ensure it has a secure HTTPS symbol before entering any personal information or making any payments. Transactions through the official apps of airlines or reputable, long-standing agents will significantly reduce the risk of fraud.
Despite its convenience, it still harbors many risks regarding information security and certain limitations, causing many passengers to worry.
To ensure the absolute security of personal information and bank accounts, passengers should conduct all transactions on personal electronic devices such as phones, laptops, or tablets. Absolutely avoid using public devices (such as computers in cafes or libraries) to book airline tickets or make payments.
Tourists should be careful not to reveal their personal information.
During the booking and payment process, always be wary of sophisticated scams. Never share your OTP (one-time password) with anyone. Also, be highly vigilant against scams via suspicious emails, text messages, or phone calls impersonating airlines or ticket agents. Never transfer money to personal accounts provided via text messages or social media.
Carefully check the ticket information.
After ensuring the security of the application and device, passengers should focus on thoroughly checking the information related to their ticket to avoid errors that could lead to unnecessary fees or even being denied boarding.
To ensure the safety of personal information and bank accounts, passengers should conduct transactions on personal electronic devices such as phones, laptops, and tablets, and avoid using public devices to book airline tickets.
Passengers need to carefully check their information; this is an extremely important step. Passengers must thoroughly check the information they used when booking their flight tickets, including their full name (which must match their identification documents), ID/Passport number, email address, and contact phone number. A small error in the name can lead to very high name change fees or even prevent you from flying, causing unnecessary inconvenience.
In addition, passengers should also note that they should not share the OTP code with anyone when booking airline tickets.
When making a payment, airline or travel agency apps often automatically add default services such as travel insurance or preferred seat selection. Passengers should carefully check and deselect these services if they don't need them to avoid being charged extra fees, resulting in unnecessary expenses. This is one of the most common hidden cost traps when booking tickets through apps.
Each airline has its own specific and strict regulations regarding service. To avoid being caught off guard or incurring unnecessary extra charges at the airport (which are often much more expensive), passengers need to be familiar with baggage regulations, including maximum weight and dimensions for carry-on and checked baggage. If needed, passengers should purchase additional checked baggage directly through the app when booking their ticket, as the price for pre-purchased baggage is usually much cheaper than buying it at the airport check-in counter.
Always have a backup plan.
A smooth journey depends not only on successfully booking tickets but also on proactively understanding the terms and conditions of the purchased tickets. Passengers need to clearly understand the conditions of their tickets, especially the refund and exchange policies in case of schedule changes. Cheap tickets (promotional tickets) often have extremely strict conditions, which may not allow refunds or exchanges, or may have very high exchange fees. Understanding these conditions will help passengers be more proactive in planning and making ticket purchases that suit their flexible needs.
Each airline has its own regulations regarding service. To avoid being caught off guard or incurring unnecessary extra costs, passengers need to be familiar with baggage regulations.
After successful payment, make sure you receive a confirmation email from the airline or agent. This is the most important proof of transaction. Always keep your booking reference for easy online ticket lookup, management, and check-in later.
Adhering to the above guidelines will not only help passengers save money and avoid hidden price traps, but also ensure absolute information security, providing a convenient booking experience and a truly smooth and fulfilling flight.
