Airstop ABC

With this handy glossary you won't get lost any more in the world of travel

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

A

Add-on-tariff
A kind of surcharge for an extra flight segment, e.g. if you want to combine an international flight with an interior flight.

Adult
Person aged 12 or older at the beginning of the trip.

Aircamping
Cheap ticket for a charter flight where the passenger doesn't book any accommodation with the tour operator. See also charter.

Airline
Airline company

Airpass
Combination of a number of tickets/vouchers that allows you to take a number of interior flights with the same airline company within a specific time span. For further information click here.

Airportstop
Airportstop is a service that gives you the opportunity to find a carpooling partner for a costsharing ride to or from the airport. Drivers offering a seat and people looking for a ride can find one another through this BIAC website.

Airport Tax
Airport tax has to be paid with every purchase of a ticket. The amount of this tax varies from airport to airport.

Airstop
Thé tour operator for the independent and cost conscious traveller.

Airstop e-gazette
At least once every 3 months Airstop publishes a genuine newspaper full of tips and of course interesting tariffs. This newspaper is automatically sent to all customers that have booked a trip with us during the last months. You will also find this newspaper in cultural centres, public libraries, and universities and of course in the Airstop offices. At the present our Airstop Gazette is only available in Dutch.

Airstop party
A huge dancing party that undersigned would like to organise for all 70 000 travellers who have chosen Airstop last year. If you like the idea or if you have useful tips, click here.

Airstop Last-minute Ticket Exchange
Our last-minutes have been given a new look. Next to more information on the different flight possibilities, you can now book and pay the listed flights on line. Take a look at 'Airstop Last-minute Ticket Exchange'.

All Inclusive
Formula with an all-inclusive price, including all meals and additional expenses, e.g. use of certain facilities, drinks and snacks, etc..

Allotment-contract
Contract where the supplier (e.g. hotelier, airway company) holds a number of beds, seats or whatever for a tour operator during a certain period. On the release date the tour operator has to decide how many beds or seats he definitely buys.

Aparthotel
The combination of an apartment and a hotel. You stay in an apartment with cooking facilities but you can use all hotel facilities including meals.

APEX - Advanced Purchased Excursion Fare
A relative cheap return ticket that must be booked and paid at least 14 days before departure. The travel dates are fixed and basically there are no changes possible. A limited number of 'stop-overs' (stops along the way) is possible.

Arrival, arrivals
Arrival lounge at the airport.

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B

Bagage Tag
At the check in procedure your luggage is weighed and provided with a baggage tag. On this tag your destination and route number are mentioned including possible transfer places. A copy or receipt of the tag is adhered to the ticket in order to easily trace lost luggage.

Bed & Breakfast
Or in other words: Zimmer Frei, chambres d'hôtes, kamers met ontbijt. If you want to go away for a weekend and you are searching for Bed & Breakfast addresses in Belgium, you can contact our colleagues at Taxistop at www.taxistop.be.

Black out period
Period in which a certain flight tariff is not valid or a certain flight route isn't carried out.

Blocked space
Agreement where an airline reserves a number of seats on certain flights for another airline's customers.

Board, half-board, full-board
The indications half board and full board indicate the chosen board basis. Half board means that breakfast and dinner are included in the rental price of the hotel room. Usually half board counts from dinner at arrival till breakfast on the departure day. Exceptionally you can ask the hotelier in advance if it is possible to replace dinner by a lunch on a certain date because you might want to attend an evening activity. With full board you get three meals a day. If you don't take lunch, you can ask for a packed lunch instead. Often a hot meal is served twice a day.

Boarding pass
Boarding pass that gives access to the plane, ferry or certain trains (for example Eurostar, Thalys). You receive your boarding pass at the check-in.

BookXpress - Ticket Database
The name of our database where our Airstop tariffs, for charters as well as for scheduled flights, are entered. If you want to know our exact tariffs, ask for available flights, or book on line, our ticket database is the place to be. Last-minutes are not entered in this database, but in our Last-minute Ticket Market

Botel
A moored boat that is equipped as a hotel.

Broker
Agent that buys large amounts of tickets at different airlines and sells these often cheaper than the airlines themselves. Airstop offers very interesting broker tariffs.

Business - Full Business Fare
This top class offers more luxury and facilities than the standard class but has an expensive price tag. It is indicated on the ticket with the letters C or J.

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C

Cancellation insurance
A cancellation insurance will in most cases cover the tour operator's or airline's cancellation fee in case you have to unexpectedly cancel your trip (e.g. if an unexpected re-examination throws a spanner). The cancellation insurance must be concluded together with your flight reservation.

Car-pooling
With Taxistop's car-pooling service you can find a commuting partner to drive to work together sharing the costs. You save a lot of money and each car less makes the tailback a bit shorter and the air a bit cleaner. More information on www.taxistop.be

Carrier
Airway company or transporter in general.

Carry on Items
Hand-luggage and what is considered as such: a raincoat or jacket, an umbrella or walking stick, a (little) camera or binoculars, a vanity case, something to read, an amount of children food and toys, a pliable wheelchair or buggy on condition that they are registered at the check in.

Catering
Service that takes care of the meals and drinks on board of a ship or aeroplane, and that is often responsible for the delivery of tax free goods.

Car-sharing
When you rarely use your car, here is an alternative: carsharing. The idea is simple: instead of buying your own car and have it most of the time just getting rusty before your door or in your garage, you share a car with a number of other people. You only use it when you can't reach your destination by bike or by public transport. Interested? Contact Taxistop.

CDW, Collision Damage Waiver
An insurance that is being offered when renting a car and that insures you against damage that you yourself might cause to the car. When renting a car it is very important to verify if you are sufficiently insured. We have chosen for Sunny Cars because their interesting prices comprehend next to a CDW-insurance other very useful insurances.

Charter, Charterticket
Charter flights are flights where the aeroplane is being entirely rented by one or more tour operators (contrary to scheduled flight). Charter tickets are generally rather cheap. The only drawback is that flight dates are less flexible and that flight hours often change at departure. Tickets, or parts of it, cannot be recuperated. Tour operators can also charter a boat, train or coach. Charter flight destinations (for Belgian charters) differ according to the season, but are generally situated around the Mediterranean or in the Caribbees. During the summer months there are also charters to further destinations (Florida, Kenya ...). If you want to have a look at the charter tariffs, take a look at our Ticket Database or the Airstop Last-minute Ticket Market.

Checked Bagage, Registered Bagage
Travel goods that are weighed at the check-in and to which a 'luggage tag' is attached. 'Checked luggage' is not available during the trip because it is stowed away in a closed space of the aeroplane, train or ship. The weight of 'Checked Luggage' is in the aviation usually limited to 15 kg a person at charter flights and to 20 kg for scheduled flights in Economy.

Check-in
The embarkment: the handing over of the luggage and the receipt of the boarding pass. Always make sure to check in on time, generally 2 hours before departure.

Child
Mostly children at least 2 years of age and under 12 at the time of departure. Indicated on the ticket with the abbreviation CH. Children often travel at a reduced tariff and can also take a suitcase and hand luggage. Children under 2 are considered an Infant.

Citytrip
City trips are the ideal solution for who only can/wants to go away for a few days and yet wants to enjoy the atmosphere of another country. Summing up the entire list of city trip opportunities is impossible. Possible destinations are the large European cities as well as further destinations. A few idea's.

Club, Clubhotel
Kind of hotel that emphasises sport and recreation. Often a lot of animation is provided. Rooms are mostly somewhat simpler than the ones in ordinary hotels of the same class.

Codesharing, code share
The use of an airline's two letter code for a flight that is being executed by another airline. The consequence of code sharing is that you don't always know with which airline you will actually fly.

conciliation board
Commission that passes binding judgements in disputes between travellers and travel agents/ tour operators. The consideration and the judgement are done according to the Dispute Regulations and stipulations of the Civil Code concerning arbitration (article 1676 till 1723). No appeal is possible against the judgement of this commission. The Dispute Regulations provide for a fee for the treatment of a dispute. The regulations are available at the Conciliation Board Geschillencommissie Reizen vzw. Koning Albert II-laan 16 in 1000 Brussels.

Confirmeren
You must (re)confirm your flight in the last 72 hours before departure. When you're on a package tour (combination of flight and accommodation) or on a group travel the representative or travel guide will usually (re)confirm your flight and you don't have to bother about it. Confirmation is absolutely necessary if you travel with so-called open tickets that give you free choice of departure and arrival dates and hours. However, even if you have a fixed return date you will have to check whether the flight hours haven't been changed.

Conjunction ticket
Ticket that is issued in connection with another ticket.

Connecting flights
Transfer possibilities

Connecting time
Transfer time between two flights. Fixed minimum times must be respected.

Continental breakfast
Breakfast is being served at table and normally concludes a croissant, a bread roll or a few slices of bread. The filling varies according to the destination, but usually consists of jam or honey and cheese or ham. Egg dishes are available on demand, and sometimes against payment.

Cottage
Usually a rural holiday home.

Courtesy bus
Shuttle bus service from and to the hotels in the surrounding of the airport.

Crew
Crew on board of an aeroplane or a ship.

Cross border tickets
Tickets that are being purchased in one country while the actual transport takes place in another country.

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D

DBC, Denied Boarding Compensation
Compensation that you receive when you can not leave because your flight is fully booked. This may be due to overbooking or the unexpected put in of a smaller aeroplane.

Delay, delayed
When 'delayed' appears on the notice board next to your flight, stay calm and think of something nice.

Desk, Ticket Desk, Ticket Counter
Counter on the airport where you can collect your ticket, if necessary and always in consultation with your travel agent.

Domestic flight
Flight within a country.

Double
Double-bedded room or twin-bedded room.

Downgrading
The offer of a seat or a rented car in a lower comfort class than the one booked, for example in case of overbooking. With downgrading you are entitled to compensation for the price difference between both comfort classes. In the aviation you are still allowed to take the same amount of luggage that was permitted in the originally booked class.

Drop-off
Costs that are charged when you hand in a rented car on an another place then where you collected the vehicle. This is a so-called 'one-way-rental'. Our supplier Sunny Cars doesn't charge drop-off costs on a number of destinations.

Duty free
Shop where certain goods are sold tax-free.

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E

Economy, Full Economy Fare
This is the lowest comfort class in an aeroplane; on the ticket usually indicated with the letter Y.

EE, Excursion tariff
Tariff with a limited length of stay and dependent on the season in which you travel. There are no limits as to the reservation period, but there are extra costs for changes or cancellations. A 'stop-over' is permitted.

English breakfast
A substantial breakfast, served at table, with toast, ham and eggs, dairy products and jam.

Eurostar
High speed train from Brussels and Paris to London through the Channel tunnel. You can book your Eurostar-ticket at Airstop. Look under 'train fares'.

Eurostop
With Taxistop's hitch-hiking service you can get a cost sharing ride to every corner of Europe. As a driver you can recuperate a large part of your travelling expenses by offering your free seats to Taxistop. For passengers, the lift centre is a nice and especially cheap way to get anywhere in Europe. More information on the Taxistop site.

Eurotunnel
Originally the name of the constructor of the Channel Tunnel between France and England, also the brand of the car train that drives through the tunnel.

Excess Bagage
Usually a surchare must be paid for overweight or excess luggage. Examples of excess luggage are ski's, golf clubs, bicycles.

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F

FFP, Frequent Flyer Program
Fidelity program that certain airlines use to bind their travellers.

First
Higher and expensive comfort class that is indicated on the ticket with the letters F or P.

Flight days
Flight days are indicated by a number. 1 is Monday, 2 is Tuesday, and so on. If you consult our BookXpress, you will know exactly what we mean.

Flight only
Ticket on charter flight that is offered by tour operators or brokers without an accommodation formula.

Flightselection
Name of the insurance package that Airstop especially recommends when you book a flight only or a flight with a rented car. The policy must be subscribed ultimately at the issue of the airline ticket. All details about travel policies here.

Fly-and-Drive
Holiday formula where flight (only) and rented car are booked in advance. You are free to arrange your accommodation on the spot.

Free Bagage Allowance
The weight of luggage that you can take on your flight without extra costs. The number of kilos is mentioned on your ticket. Overweight must usually be paid.

Full Fare Ticket
Ticket for which you paid the full price and that is entirely flexible. It is generally valid for one year, rerouting and stop-overs are allowed and the ticket is fully transferable and exchangeable. Yet the price tag for this flexibility is very expensive.

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G

Gate
Exit in the airport from where you reach the aeroplane or from where the airport bus takes you to the aeroplane. You have to show your boarding pass here.

Gateway
Home base of an airline, e.g. Sabena's home base is Belgium. Airlines generally allow a stop-over in their own home base.

Gift voucher
An original present: surprize your beloved with the Airstop Gift voucher. Available from 500,- BEF for whichever amount you choose. You can add your personal message and if you want, Airstop can deliver the gift voucher in the subsidiary's electronic mailbox on the appropriate day.

GIT, Group Incentive Tour
Special group tariff

Gîte
Rural residence.

GSA, General Sales Agent
Representative that holds the sole selling rights of tickets of a specific airline in a specific country.

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H

Handling
Organisation at the airport that is responsible for the embarkation of the passengers, the treatment of the luggage and the provision of the aeroplane.

Home sitting
When you leave on holiday, it is sometimes hard to leave your house and pets behind. An empty house is an easy prey for unwelcome guests, plants and garden do not exactly look blooming after a two weeks' absence of the boss and pets surely appreciate the presence of an interim boss. These are only some of the many advantages that a home sitter can offer to the traveller. Contact Taxistop for further information.

Home exchange
The home exchange formula is since many years an approved and successful way of travelling. You spend your holiday in the house of a family that is in the mean time living in your house. This service is being organised by Taxistop, a sister organisation of Airstop. Take a look at their site: www.taxistop.be.

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I

Infant
Child under 2 at the time of departure. Infants often travel for free or at a 90% discount price. An infant has no separate seat - you have to keep it on your lap during the flight - and it is not allowed to take any registered luggage. Only hand luggage and a pliable buggy are accepted. If you do wish an extra seat on the flight you can have your infant registered as a child at payment of a surcharge. In this case the child is allowed to take registered luggage. On the ticket an infant is usually abbreviated as IN.

International flight
Flight between two different countries.

Involuntary Rerouting
Involuntary adaptation of the travel route without price increase when the original route cannot be executed and you can only reach your final destination by a detour.

IT, Inclusive Tour
Ticket at advantageous conditions that may only be sold in combination with a tour or accommodation on the destination. The travel conditions and the price were negotiated confidentially between the tour operator and the transporter and are not mentioned on the ticket. Changes to or cancellation of IT tickets is usually impossible. IT tickets can be compared with charter tickets.

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J

Juniorsuite
A room that is somewhat larger than a standard hotel room, in order to provide an extra bed for children or for a third adult.

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K

King size
Delightful large double bed in a hotel room.

Kitchenette
Small kitchen or cooking area to prepare simple meals (breakfast, small lunch).

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L

Last-minutes
Flights or package tours that are offered a few weeks before departure at a highly reduced tariff. At first last-minutes were only offered on charter flights to fill the unsold seats. Now some airlines offer last-minutes on regular flights as well. Look at our offer 'flights only' or 'package tours' and you will soon know all about it!

LMC, Last Minute Check In
Passenger that has bought his ticket at the very last moment and has to embark at the last-minute. If you have an LMC, you do best to ask for priority at the check in and at the border check.

Local Time
Time on the spot.

Long distance calls
International phone calls for which you often have to dial an extra code. Sometimes, especially in smaller hotels, you have to ask the operator for permission to make a long distance call.

Long haul
Long-distance flights, e.g. from Europe to Asia or the United States. As opposed to short haul, e.g. flights within Europe.

Lost and Found
In case your luggage is lost or damaged, you should immediately proceed to the 'lost and found' counter to fill in a Property Irregularity Report with details about your luggage. If the lost luggage is found, this desk is the place to fetch it.

Lost Property
Travel goods that are lost.

Lounge
Waiting room at the airport for travellers in higher comfort classes. Generally newspapers, periodicals, telephones and communication equipment are available as well as free drinks, snacks or light meals.

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M

Minimum connecting time
Minimum time necessary to change from one flight to another at the airport. The minimum connecting times are officially fixed. In case you miss a connection due to delay, the company that was delayed will have to arrange a new flight.

Misconnecting
Missed connections due to delay. Sometimes followed by an involuntary rerouting to enable you to reach your destination, if necessary by a detour. In case you can not continue your travel that same day, the airline that was delayed must provide the necessary accommodation.

Multi stop
A ticket that allows more than one stop-over on the route.

Multiple Entry Visa
Visa that entitles you to travel in and out of a country several times. Very useful if you want to visit a neighbouring country during your holiday or if you have to travel to the same country several times in a certain period.

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N

No show
No show is when you do not show up at the check-in of your flight or in the booked accommodation and failed to cancel. In case of no show there is no right to any reimbursement.

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O

One way rental
A one way rental is when you rent a car in place 'X' and return it in place 'Y'. You often have to pay drop-off costs to have the car returned to place 'X'. Our partner Sunny Cars provides this service on different destinations without extra costs.

Open jaw
Trip where the destination of the outward flight is not the same as the place of departure of the return flight. You will find more information here.

Open return
When you are not sure about the date or hour of your return flight at the time of reservation, ask for an 'open return' ticket. You can then book your return flight afterwards.

Overbooking
The deliberate or accidental booking of more travellers on flights, in hotels or cottages than the available capacity. Overbooking is not accepted as force majeur and the transporter or tour operator is bound to offer you an equal alternative without extra costs.

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P

Package tour
The combination of accommodation, transport and/or services like meal supply, rented car or tour. Package tours are offered by tour operators and sold by travel agents. Package tours are available on the classic charter destinations (Mediterranean Sea) as well as in exotic resorts like Dominican Republic, Cuba, Kenya, and Thailand. Last-minute formulas are also available, yet discounts are never that spectacularly high as for flights only. Click on package tours.

PEX, Purchased Excursion Fare
Ticket where the reservation period is free, but extra costs are charged for changes or cancellation. A stop-over on the way is usually not allowed.

PIR, Property Irregularity Report
Form that you must fill in when your luggage is damaged or lost. You can get this form at the Lost and Found counter at the airport.

Prepaid ticket
A ticket that is paid in another country than the country where the ticket is used.

Pooling bagage
The registration of the total luggage of a group, where only the total weight of the entire luggage counts. It is very well possible that one passenger's overweight is compensated by another passenger's underweight.

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Q

Quality Control
Airstop service that takes care that the demanded quality is being supplied. If necessary we exert pressure on airlines and tour operators to improve certain services.

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R

Refund
Full or partial refund of a ticket. The mention 'Non Ref.' on a ticket means that there is no refund provided if you do not use the ticket.

Rerouting
Replacement of the originally booked routing by an alternative routing.

Round the World-ticket
A round the World is, as the words say, a ticket that allows you to fly around the world (or almost, taking into account the routings of the specific airlines). You always have to fly in the same direction: returns are not allowed. For a few examples of routings and basic prices click here.

Routing
The itinerary (place of departure and destinations) that is mentioned on the ticket and that also indicates the transfer places.

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S

Scheduled flight
A scheduled flight is a regular connection between two airports, like the public bus transport, and contrary to charter flights that might be compared to the colourful chartered tourist coaches. The main part of the scheduled flight destinations can not be reached by charter. Here the general rule is: the earlier you book, the cheaper your flight. Yet, some airlines also offer last-minute tickets.

Senior
As a rule people over sixty are considered as seniors.

Short haul
Flight to a nearby destination like Great Britain, France or Germany, this in contrast with 'long haul': long-distance flights for example to the USA or to the Far East.

Shuttle, Shuttle Service
Bus shuttle service, e.g. from a hotel to airport or city centre.

Single
Single room or a passenger who travels alone.

Special Meal
If you are a vegetarian or if you have to follow a special diet, you can order special meals. Make sure that you ask for them when you book your ticket.

Standby pass
Airpass with which you cannot book your flights in advance. You can only fly if there are any seats left at the end of the check-in procedure, if not you have to wait for the next flight.

STA-Travel
STA-Travel is an international organisation that makes world-wide agreements with different airway companies for student (under 31) and youth (under 26) tariffs. The tickets are often a lot cheaper than the average, but more important is that the conditions of these tickets are very flexible. More information under 'student tickets'.

Stop-over-ticket
A stop-over ticket is a ticket that allows you to make a stop-over on the way to your final destination (e.g. a ticket to Sydney with a stop-over in Bangkok or Jakarta). The price is in most cases a bit higher than the cheapest, direct flight to your final destination. More information here.

Sunday rule (SU)
Sunday rule means that you have to stay on your destination at least one night of Saturday to Sunday. A lot of cheap tickets are based on the principle of the Sunday rule.

Superpex
Tariff where reservation, ticket issue and payment are done at the same time. Modifications and stop-overs are not allowed. After departure date no refund is possible.

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T

Taxistop
Airstop springs from the non profit organisation Taxistop that is specialised in the positive use of existing means and infrastructure in the field of traffic and tourism. Our colleagues organise services like international hitch-hiking, carpooling, home exchange, home sitting, bed&breakfast. Their site is worth a visit : Taxistop site.

Thalys
High-speed train that goes from Brussels-South to France, the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland. Tickets can be booked at Airstop. Surf to 'train travel for more information'.

Toerist visa
Visa that is only valid for a limited time and that is exclusively meant for holiday purposes.

Topselection
A very complete travel insurance that covers all kinds of risks. If you book a package tour, we strongly recommend this insurance. Information about this insurance and other insurance formulas here.

Traject
The limited partnership Traject is an office for mobility management and a specialist in purposive mobility marketing. Traject is a sister company of Airstop. Take a look at their site: www.traject.be.

Transit
Zone at the airport for transit passengers: passengers that do not leave the airport but change to another plane to continue their travel route.

Travel insurance
A good travel insurance is the best guarantee for a carefree holiday. Have a look at Travel insurances to find out which insurance you need.

Travel mediator - tour operator
A travel agent can act as a travel mediator or as a tour operator. A travel mediator sells products that were composed by registered tour operators. When the travel agent composes his/her own packages, he/she acts as a tour operator. Airstop acts as a tour operator for SNP-nature trips and a few city trips.

Twin
Two separate single beds in a hotel room.

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U

Unaccompanied Minor (UM)
EA minor that travels alone without the company of an adult. The airport and cabin staff takes care of the minor and makes sure that he is safely handed over to the given person who picks him up at the destination airport.

Unchecked luggage
Hand luggage is defined in the aviation as 'unchecked luggage'. The proportions are limited. The sum of the length, width and depth of the luggage must not exceed 115 cm. The weight is limited too.

Upgrading
Travel in a higher class or enjoy more comfort or facilities than what you have originally booked, whether or not by paying a surcharge.

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V

VVR
Association for Flemish travel agents that offers legal support and supervises respect for the professional deontology.

Voucher
A coupon to present to the hotelier or renter as a proof that you have already paid for a certain service or accommodation. Always check the dates on your voucher and contact us immediately if they are incorrect.

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W

Waiting list
List where your reservation is being kept when the flight is fully booked. There is still a chance that travellers with a confirmed reservation cancel or don't show up and in this case travellers on the waiting list, can take their seat. The waiting list status has no effect on price or ticket conditions.

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X

X-ray
Your luggage is being X-rayed at the airport to make sure that you do not carry forbidden goods like drugs or weapons.

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Y

Y-class
Cheapest comfort class (economy). Different tariffs exist within this class dependent on booking conditions and validity.

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Z

Zulu-time
At the airport often used for Greenwich Meridian Time (GMT) or the time zone of the prime meridian that runs through Greenwich. Airlines often compose their internal flight plans in Zulu time, but the customer timetables are always indicated in Local Time.

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