How to Rebook Your Flight

In the summer months when severe weather (thunder storms, hail, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc) is rampant, the likelihood that your flight is delayed and/or canceled, unfortunately increases.  So in our pursuit to keep you "in the know," we went in search of some of the best flight rebooking tips we could find.  Our search landed us on this insightful "how to" article from Frommer's and from it we extrapolated the following section on how to expediently rebook your canceled flight. 

Airlines will always recommend calling their toll-free reservations number, even if wait times can be excruciatingly long and their systems risk shutting down under high call volumes. If this is the case, the best way to go is the airline's website, according to Kate Hanni, executive director of the consumer protection organization FlyersRights.org.  "You can see if you've been automatically rebooked (now a standard practice), reschedule a flight, or cancel your reservation altogether," Hanni says.

If you want face-to-face customer service, the gate or ticket agent is the traditional option. "It's a good idea to become your own information pub, says Rick Seaney, CEO of FareCompare.com.  "Sometimes the airline personnel don't know any more than you do. Get on your smartphones, laptops, or iPads, and look at airport status updates, weather reports, and flight schedules. If you help them help you, then you can get through the line faster."

A good resource for those without Internet at their fingertips is the FlyersRights.org hotline (tel. 877/359-3776). Phone operators offer travel advice in all forms: they'll look up flight availability, interpret contracts of carriage, and locate ground transportation.

Other wait-reducing tips: "Make a beeline for airport club lounges -- they have dedicated ticket agents, usually two of them," suggests travel guru and million-mile flier John DiScala of JohnnyJet.com.  Elite-status fliers can call the priority number on the back of their membership card.

Travel agents -- many with 24-hour concierge lines -- can also ease the hassle of rebooking, though not without a fee. "Agents have all the same flight information as the carriers but no line of frustrated passengers," says Jacque Salentine Busby, president of the Milwaukee-based Luxe Travel Deals. "Plus we can more readily rebook you on another carrier if necessary."

Which airlines have you had the best success in rebooking flights quickly?  What tips can you offer for rebooking that aren't addressed in this post?

Smart Summer Travel Tips

This time of year is known for abundant sunshine, high temperatures and depending on where you are, very dry or very humid days. We've put together recommendations for your consideration for when you're throwing things into your suitcase, when you're on the plane, or at your sunny final destination!

Pack light: If you're heading to a sunny destination, be sure to pack clothing that is light colored and light weight. Darker colors attract more of the suns rays and heavier materials will keep your body heat trapped in longer. So avoid the these types of clothing if you can!

Defend your skin: Don't hesitate to bring your sun screen and remember to apply, apply, and reapply. Even if a sunscreen self-advertises as waterproof, it will eventually wear off after multiple dips in the ocean or pool, and you can sweat it off too! It's better to safe than sorry, so keep your dermis safe and sunburn-free.

Protect your eyes: Sunglasses or a hat with a brim are both great ways to keep the sun out of your eyes. The added benefit of a brimmed hat? An additional way, in combination with sunscreen, to keep the sun off your face!

Drink up: Keep yourself hydrated! Water is a good option, but if you're sweating profusely you may wish to consider options that are rich in electrolytes to replenish the sodium and potassium your body's lost. Sport drinks, like Gatorade or Powerade, are a good option for electrolyte replenishment.

Respect your limits: Yes, you want to see everything that you possibly can when traveling, but your body will tire out quicker in the heat. If you're feeling sluggish, flushed, or warmer than usual, take a break, find some shade or a cool indoor environment, and hydrate!

Keep kiddies cool: All of the aforementioned tips apply to the littlest of travelers also!

Mind Fido too: Don't forget that heat is hard on animals. If you're traveling with a pet, keep it hydrated and don't work/play/run it too hard. Dark-coated animals mind the heat more as their fur will absorb more of the suns rays.

Do you have tips to add that we've missed? Do you have recommendations for those traveling with small children and/or pets that you've found to make the trip more tolerable?

Airport Life: Flight Attendant

This post is a continuation of Harrisburg International Airport's mini-series in blogging: Airport Life. This series explores the airport community from business and leisure travelers to airport staff.




With a rich history in the sky, American Airlines flight attendant AJ Hinton has seen a lot in her 39 years of service. From changing standards in the airline industry to an interesting list of passengers, this veteran is full of fascinating non-fiction from the fuselage.

Serving many different locations both domestically and internationally with American Airlines, AJ has seen the best of times and the worst of times. Working with in “the good ol’ USA” American Airlines had AJ based in many different locations across the states including her hometown of Chicago, San Diego, Los Angeles, Raleigh-Durham in North Carolina, and Dallas on three separate occasions. While working these flights suited her best, internationally she also worked the glamorous circuit to Paris, France exclusively from 1988 through 1995. With stricter security measures in locations like Mexico and the United Kingdom making her job a little tougher, she describes Carracus, Venezuela as her least favorite (not to mention scary) destination.

Even though AJ has never served out of Harrisburg International Airport as it is served by American Eagle, a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Airlines, she describes our venue as a “first class airport.” The music played throughout the airport is arguably her favorite part, as many other airports internationally can not help sooth the “traveling blues” that she sees so often in passengers without it.

And speaking of music, AJ describes her “golden years” as the time she served out of Los Angeles, California’s LAX in the 70’s where she encountered a lot of talent like singer/songwriters Willy Nelson and Neil Diamond, who even invited her to their concerts.


Especially memorable on these flights are the numerous celebrity encounters on cross-country flights from LA to New York City. Getting to meet many customers from “the Business,” she has a special collection of autographs that she’s collected for loved ones. She obtained comedian Richard Pryor’s, who she describes as a sweet, friendly, and funny man, for her husband. Another gift for her husband, she was able get a hold of a flight passenger list containing Dudley Moore’s name which she gave him as a birthday present.

Above all other celebrities, however, nothing tops her two encounters with an ex-governor of California. On a trip from Washington Dulles to Chicago, the entire first class cabin in a 707 plane was reserved specifically for presidential candidate Ronald Reagan. Complete with bodyguards from the CIA, the then presidential candidate could be depicted as a very pensive man who was always deep in thought with a pen in hand. AJ, however, was very impressed by the fact that whenever she interacted with him he gave her complete, undivided attention, even dropping his pen for full consideration.

While AJ has had many celebrity encounters of her own, she is not the only one in her family who worked with some of Hollywood’s elite. While living in California, her husband of 34 years, served as a limousine driver to the stars. Their slogan, “I fly ‘em, you drive ‘em” became the family joke as the number of these interactions grew.


Usually flying to New York’s JFK and Dallas/Fort Worth’s DFW during this time in her career as a flight attendant, AJ never experienced a dull moment. Seeing the good, the bad, and everything in between on these flights, the interactions with her fellow flight crew members are something she also holds dear. Even when flying in larger planes like the 747, where the crew was challenged with serving 300 hot meals and uncorking 50 liters of wine, the patients, skill, and teamwork displayed through her fellow flight attendants is something she cherishes.


Seeing a lot of changes in industry standards during her time, AJ’s experiences are a testament to the shift of airline culture. In the early 1970’s the skies seemed to be a friendlier place, with well-dressed and well-mannered customers, as well as less threatening situations in the sky. But even though these conditions have transformed, AJ loves the challenge of the job, the people she works with and serves, the new places she can go, and the exhilarating feeling of being up in the air just the same.

With a proven history as a flight attendant, AJ’s commitment to American Airlines is just as strong as American Eagle’s commitment to the south central Pennsylvania region. With non-stop flights to Harrisburg International Airport’s number one business destination, Chicago O’Hare, American Eagle’s hard work in our area parallels that of AJ’s and all other flight attendants that work with American Airlines across the country and internationally.