With a little forethought and some flexibility, you can reach your favorite destinations without breaking the bank.
Instructions STEP 1: Keep yourself updated on airfare wars by watching the news and reading the newspaper. Look for limited-time promotional fares from major airlines and airline companies just starting up.
STEP 2: Be flexible in scheduling your flight. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays are typically the cheapest days to fly; late-night flights ('red-eyes'), very early morning flights and flights with at least one stop tend to be discounted as well.
STEP 3: Ask the airline if it offers travel packages to save money in other areas. For instance, is a rental car or hotel room available at a discount along with the airline ticket?
STEP 4: Find out whether the stated fare is the cheapest, and inquire about other options when speaking to the airline reservations clerk. If you're using the Internet, check more than one Web site and compare rates.
STEP 5: Inquire about standby fares if you're flying off-season. High season is a bad time to fly standby because most airlines overbook flights, making it difficult to find a spare seat.
STEP 6: Purchase tickets through consolidators, who buy blocks of tickets and sell them at a discount to help an airline fill up all available seats. Check the travel section of the newspaper under 'Ticket Consolidators.'
STEP 7: Book early. You can purchase advance-ticket discounts by reserving 21 days ahead; book even earlier for holiday flights, especially in November and December. Keep in mind that holiday 'blackout periods' may prevent you from using frequent-flier miles.
STEP 8: Stay with the same airline during your entire trip to receive round-trip or connecting fare discounts.
Tips & Warnings - Note strict refund and exchange policies on tickets bought through name-your-price sites.
- Once you've shopped around, consult a travel agent to find out if he or she can ferret out a cheaper ticket.
- If you take at least two trips a year, you can get discounted fares by joining a travel club.
- If you will be visiting different countries on the same trip, you can save by asking the agent to arrange open-jaw flights, in which you arrive in one city but depart from another.
- Ask about student, senior and military discounts.
- Consolidators may delay in delivering your tickets, don't allow refunds or exchanges, and don't take reservations.
- To protect yourself, purchase through a travel agent, pay by credit card, and consider buying travel-cancellation insurance.
Source: http://www.ehow.com/how_1181_buy-cheap-airline.html
Days of cheap airfares over
thewest.com.au - Sun, 07 Feb 2010 22:21:24 GMT
Unprecedented airfare sales in the past 18 months have seen ticket prices at historic lows, but this could end soon with airline traffic leaping last month.
Secrets: What travel agents don't want you to know
News.com.au Travel - Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT
FROM preying on those in grief to lying about cheap trips, travel agents reveal the dark secrets of the business.
Cheapflights Canada's Great Canadian Winter Olympic Moments
Marketwire - Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:43:21 GMT
Visit Cheapflights.ca to Search for Champion Deals to Olympic Travel Destinations
Cheapflights.Com Helps You Get Your Olympics On
Marketwire - Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:43:01 GMT
Can't Make It to Vancouver This Year, Make It to These Past Olympic Destinations
Spring Break Guide: Ski Resort
The GW Hatchet - Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:35:23 GMT
Scoff at the idea of tanning? Prefer doing something rather than sitting around? Then a ski vacation might be more your pace.
Cheapflights Canada's Great Canadian Winter Olympic Moments
Marketwire via Yahoo! Finance - Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:29:00 GMT
TORONTO--(Marketwire - 02/04/10) - With the Vancouver Winter Olympics barely more than one week away, Olympic fever is definitely sweeping the country. In the spirit of the Games, the editors at Cheapflights Canada have compiled a list of 'Five Great Canadian Winter Olympic Moments'. And if you are looking for some great ski and winter activity destinations, then the past Olympic host cities are ...
Cheapflights.Com Helps You Get Your Olympics On
Marketwire via Yahoo! Finance - Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:27:00 GMT
BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire - 02/04/10) - Cheapflights wants to help you to get into the Olympic spirit even if you can't make it to Vancouver. Surround yourself with skiers, boarders, speed skaters, and hockey players at past North American Olympic host cities, which are ideal vacation spots with their phenomenal ski and winter sports facilities. Squaw Valley : Home of the 1960 Winter Games in ...
Cheapflights UK Unwraps Choco-Holidays
Marketwire - Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:20:30 GMT
Calling All Chocoholics, Unwrap Your Sweet Tooth (and Your Partner) in the World's Chocolatiest Destinations This Valentine's
Cheapflights UK Unwraps Choco-Holidays
Marketwire via Yahoo! Finance - Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:11:00 GMT
LONDON--(Marketwire - 02/03/10) - Research shows that the UK's sweet tooth sweetened for Cadbury's chocolate by 5.9 percent in 2009,* as did overall chocolate sales in destinations like China (18 percent increase) and the Ukraine (12 percent increase).** Cheapflights UK , the UK's leading website in price search and comparison, is indulging chocolate lovers this Valentine's by combining their ...
Cheapflights Canada Unwraps Choco-Holidays
Marketwire - Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:21:52 GMT
Calling All Chocoholics, Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth in Canada's and the World's Most Chocolaty Destinations This Valentine's and Family Day