What to check before buying a plane ticket

Dates, times and personal information

The first check concerns exact date and time: a common error involves flights crossing midnight, with arrival the day after departure. Also, the destination time zone deserves attention to avoid misinterpreting the actual arrival time. The second check is about matching personal information with the document you'll use for the flight: a name written slightly differently can cause complications at check-in, with correction fees varying from airline to airline. Having another person double-check your details reduces the risk of error.

Connections, aircraft and operating airline

With a connecting flight, verify the planned connection time, especially if you need to collect and re-check baggage or go through a new security check, and any airport change in the same city should always be checked before considering the purchase complete. On codeshare flights, the airline selling the ticket may not be the one actually operating it: checking this avoids surprises about the type of onboard service, often different from what you expected based on the brand initially shown. For longer flights, the type of aircraft scheduled also deserves a quick check, as cabin configuration can vary significantly in legroom and services.

Cancellation, refund and insurance

The cancellation and refund policies of your chosen fare should be read before purchase, even when time pressure would prompt you to skip this step: knowing what options remain available in case of unexpected changes avoids surprises later. Some airlines also offer a short free reconsideration period in the first few hours after purchase. It's worth considering whether you really need travel insurance offered at the time of payment, instead of accepting or declining it out of habit.

Price comparison and purchasing channel

When purchasing through a third-party portal, comparing the price with what's shown directly on the airline's website helps verify there are no hidden additional fees. Also, results and prices between different flight search engines can vary significantly for the same flight searched at the same moment, so a double check before paying remains useful.

Before confirming payment, check at least these three points: exact time with destination time zone, name matching your document, and cancellation policy of your chosen fare - these are the mistakes that cost the most to correct after purchase.