Despite the airlines’ efforts to encourage us all to book on their websites, some tickets just cannot be booked on line and you will have to call your airline or travel agent. Generally, these include special fares such as senior, military, student and government rates, companion fares (two travel for the price of one) and other promotions or specials. If you have a voucher or previously unused ticket that you are trying to use, you generally have to talk to someone rather than do it on line.
If you are traveling at short notice due to a death or an emergency, you may be offered a lower fare, usually called a bereavement fare. In this case, you may be asked for verification of this information, such as the name of the deceased and a telephone number for the hospital or funeral home. Even with the booking fee, these fares are usually a lot lower than the everyday fares in a market. If your itinerary is particularly complex with several different destinations or a combination of different airlines, it may be easier – and worth the booking fee - just to call and have a person do it.