Guidebook chapter
Airline Rulebook
Every airline publishes a conditions-of-carriage document. Almost nobody reads it. The Airline Rulebook translates those documents into structured, comparable summaries so you can see how carriers actually differ on the points that matter.
What this chapter covers
Topics in this chapter
Carrier policies decoded into plain language, side by side.
01
Conditions of carriage
The contract you agree to, section by section.
02
Denied boarding
Overbooking practice and the compensation frameworks behind it.
03
Special assistance
Mobility, medical equipment and accessibility commitments.
04
Minors and infants
Unaccompanied minor programs and lap-infant policies.
05
Pets and service animals
Cabin, hold and documentation requirements.
06
Loyalty program terms
Expiry, family pooling and award change conditions.
Articles
In this chapter
Published guides, researched and fact-checked against primary sources.
- Refundable and Non-Refundable Tickets ExplainedThe label on the fare tells you less than the fare rules underneath it. Here is what each type really returns.9 min read
- Denied Boarding and Overbooking: How the Rules WorkOverselling is deliberate, legal and statistically sensible. What matters to you is what happens on the day it does not work out.10 min read
- Conditions of Carriage: What the Contract Actually SaysEvery ticket incorporates a document you have almost certainly never opened. These are the parts that come up in real disputes.9 min read
- Boarding Groups and How Cabin Baggage Rules Are EnforcedBoarding order is not random and cabin bag enforcement is not arbitrary. Both follow rules that are easy to plan around once you know them.8 min read
- Low-Cost Airline Rules ComparedThe fare is only the opening figure. What separates the carriers is the rules attached to it, and they differ more than the branding suggests.9 min read
- International Baggage Allowances: Piece, Weight and the Rules BetweenThe most expensive misunderstanding in international travel is assuming baggage rules are global. They are regional, and they collide on connecting tickets.9 min read
- Seating Policies and Carry-On Sizes Around the WorldSeat selection looks like a simple upsell. Underneath it sit exit row safety rules, family seating legislation and aircraft specific cabin bag limits.8 min read
Related chapters
Read next
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