Each Kayak employee interacts with a few consumers each day; we don’t believe in outsourcing our finger on the pulse. These interactions are usually by email or telephone.

Today, a gentleman arrived at our software development lab seeking help. He lives nearby and had taken the initiative to find us when the online service didn’t meet his needs. We’re glad he did because it was a mutual learning experience.

Mr. Mahmood Rezaei-Kamalabad needs to be in Greenland in June for the purpose of hand delivering a scholarly religious text he has authored. This hand-crafted work-of-art requires personal delivery.

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With the recent news of American Airlines canceling over half of its flight schedule, we’ve received questions about travelers’ alternatives and American’s obligations. To help level the playing field, we’ve done a little research.

What has created this sudden increase in delays and inspections?

After 9-11, congress eased up on the airlines given the financial impact from the reduction in travel, but their leniency has run out. Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, James Oberser, is demanding airlines upkeep and maintain their aircraft, and the FAA is taking note. Delta, Alaska, Southwest, and American Airlines all have been affected by the recent investigation in aircraft maintenance. A spokesperson for the FAA said that the audits will continue through the end of June. When asked if there will be more groundings, she responded “We don’t know, we find what we find.” Are the thousands of cancellations and delays worth the headaches and ruined vacations? You have to wonder where the FAA’s been the past couple years and what, if any, is the real reason Mr. Oberser’s is coming down so hard on the FAA and the airlines.

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News of an economic slowdown have been all over the media, and the travel industry is starting to feel the effect as well. ATA and Aloha Airlines have recently declared bankruptcy. With the news, our mailbox has been filling up with the question, “What’s going to happen to my travel plans?” We’ve done a little research to help answer this question.

What do I do if I booked a flight with Aloha or ATA Airlines?

Aloha Airlines is working with United Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines to rebook trips. Unfortunately, ATA has limited rebooking options. Travelers who purchased tickets from Southwest under the codeshare agreement can contact Southwest for rebooking. For other ATA travelers, your best bet is too look to another airline. Here is a list of other airlines serving ATA destinations. There is quite a bit of coverage so you should be able to find another airline.

Can I get a refund?

Both Aloha and ATA suggest contacting your credit card company or travel agency directly to see about getting a refund. If you paid by check or debit card, it’s a little more difficult; you’ll need to file a claim with the bankruptcy court. To file now, click here.

Aloha suggests filing with the bankruptcy court as well, but they don’t provide any more details.

Is my ticket still valid if I purchased my ticket through Southwest Airlines, but operated by ATA?

You should contact Southwest directly at (800) 308-5037. They have implemented a plan to take care of all customers who purchased a Southwest ticket scheduled to travel on ATA by rebooking them on new itineraries. For even more information click here.

Is my ticket still valid if I purchased my ticket through Aloha Airlines, but operated by United?

Yes. I recommend you contact United Airlines directly to confirm your reservations 1-800-UNITED1

If you learn something that we haven’t posted here, please leave a comment to help your fellow travelers.

This week, we received several questions from users about children’s fares. “Why can’t I search for children’s fares on Kayak?” so many of you asked. With summer almost here and family vacation planning underway, the time is right to unpack the mystery of children’s airfares.

Do major airlines sell children’s tickets?

Unfortunately, this is a complicated answer that depends on the age of your child and your destination. Some airlines offer child fares; others don’t. When traveling with your infant, be sure to bring along a birth certificate; the airline will want to see proof of the child’s age. Here are a few guidelines to help plan travel, but it’s best to check with the airline in advance:

• Infant under 2 and willing to have them sit on your lap? Children under 2 don’t require tickets for domestic trips if you are prepared to have them sit on your lap. Some airlines require a Boarding Verification Document to note that the child is traveling with you.

• Feel more comfortable with your infant in an approved child seat? Most airlines require you to buy a ticket to ensure that you can use a child restraint seat, but many sell discounted fares for this purpose.

• Traveling overseas? For international travel, airline policies vary widely from carrier to carrier, so you’ll need to check with that carrier. Airline policy varies based on the child’s age and the destination. Also, be sure to ask about bassinets. If available, a bassinet provides a place for your baby to sleep (other than your lap) during the flight.

To help with your research, here are links to the policies of some major US carriers:

Southwest

JetBlue

Delta

Continental

American

United

US Airways

Air Tran

(Air Tran offers special fees for unaccompanied minors (5-12 years old) $25 for one-way and nonstop direct flights and $50 roundtrip flights.)

Why doesn’t Kayak allow users to search for children’s fares?

The diverse policies across different airlines make it very difficult to present intelligible search results for child fares. Our engineers are good, but they aren’t miracle workers. The results of a child fare search would be overwhelmed with asterisks and exceptions, and Kayak’s filtering and sorting tools would not be effective.