Tag Archives: Airfare

Cheap Airfare Should You Book Early or Late

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Cheap Airfare: Should You Book Early or Late

If you need to fly, the cost is likely to be a turn off. Watch the news and read financial reports; you will see that airline companies are in financial trouble. Many are barely staying afloat. What does this mean for you? It means higher airfare. If you want to save money and find a cheap flight, you may wonder whether you should book your trip in advance or wait until the last minute. Each option has their pros and cons.

The greatest benefit of booking a flight early is the preparation. If you are planning a vacation, you not only need to make your airline reservations, but reservations for a car rental and hotel too. For some travelers, it is too nerve-wracking to wait until the last minute. And, the price difference varies from airline to airline. Some airlines offer $100 or more discounts for last minute travelers, some offer a measly $25 discount, and others actually increase the price. If you are the type of person who needs to plan, go ahead and do so.

Another benefit to booking your airline reservations early is that you are guaranteed a seat. As previously stated, most airlines are in financial trouble. To save money, they have not only increased fares, but cut flights. There are now fewer airplanes in the air. The planes that are flying are usually booked full. If you wait until the last minute to book your airline reservations, your flight options may be limited. This will not happen if you book early. In fact, you should have a number of flights to choose from. Are you traveling with kids? Choose the trip with the fewest and shortest layovers, so you aren’t stuck in an airport with bored kids, and so forth.

As for waiting until the last minute to book your airline reservations, you may find good deals. It all depends on when you look. Towards Saturday morning, you are likely to find the best deals on last minutes flights. Airlines just reviewed their flight lists. They are trying to fill all empty seats. To increase appeal, they offer better discounts. This is your chance to save money and get a cheap flight.

Your reasons for travel should also be considered. If you are traveling and staying with friends and family, you can be flexible with when you make your travel plans. However, if you are looking to attend a special event and must make hotel reservations, keep these in mind. You do not want to wait until the last minute to book your airline reservations only to find that nearby hotels are booked solid. Yes, you may have gotten a good deal on the tickets, but now your entire trip is thrown out of order.

So, should you book your flight early or wait until the last minute? Honestly, it all depends on your personal preferences. If you have to plan ahead for your sanity, do it. If you don’t want to take any chances, book your flight early. If you wish, monitor the airfares for your flight. Although airlines are under no obligation to refund you the difference, you can attempt to get that refund.

Since it is risky to book your flight too early and too late, it is best to familiarize yourself with other moneysaving tactics. For starters, price compare. Unusually, multiple airlines can get you to your destination. Price compare to find the best deal. Next, avoid flying on the weekends and holidays. Flights departing on Wednesday to the same destination are usually $100 cheaper than flights that depart on Monday or Friday. Also, consider other ways to save. Do not fall victim to the high fees passengers are charged for snacks, drinks, pillows, and blankets. Bring your own. Even if you pay $2 for a 20-ounce bottle of soda at the airport, it is still a better value than buying an in-flight drink.

Get Cheap Vacation Airfare in 5 Easy Steps

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Get Cheap Vacation Airfare in 5 Easy Steps

Are you in the process of planning a good, relaxing vacation? If so, you want to reduce your costs. Right? After all, who wants to pay more for a vacation than they need to? If you are looking to reduce the cost of your vacation airfare, please continue reading on for how you can do so in five easy steps.

1 – Be Flexible

You are at an advantage if you are planning your vacation in advance. You should have the ability to play around with your travel dates and times. If you have yet to put in for your vacation time at work, play around for a little bit with airfare quotes. Did you know that wisely choosing the day and time that you depart for your trip could save you hundreds of dollars? In some cases, it can.

So, when is it the best time to travel? You are likely to find the best deals in the off-season. For example, if you live in the Northeast, you are not the only person who wants to go to Hawaii to escape the cold winter. Thousands of others travelers do too and airlines know this. If you want to save hundreds of dollars on your flight, travel in the off-season. For you, this would be spring and fall. Another simple way to avoid paying extra is to avoid weekend travel and holidays. The best days to fly are on Wednesdays.

2 – Compare the Rates of Airline Companies

Online, there are many ways to book a flight. You can go directly through the airline in question or a third-party travel website. Start with the airline. Perform a standard internet search with the airports you will be departing from and arriving to. Visit these websites and you will find a list of airlines that service the airport. Now, find these websites, also with a standard internet search. Request a free quote. Remember, you can experiment with your travel dates and times to find the best deals.

Make note of the airline that will get you there the fastest and the cheapest.

3 – Compare the Rates of Third-Party Travel Websites

Typically, you get better discounts by booking your flight directly through the airline company. There are however, instances in which third-party travel websites get you the best deal. These websites include Priceline.com and Orbitz.com. Perform a search to see. Compare the rates to those offered by the airline company. Who is it cheaper to make your reservations with?

While on the website of a third-party travel website, also consider vacation packages. If you are in need of a hotel or car rental, play around with the websites features. Well-known websites, like Priceline.com, are known for offering convenient and moneysaving travel packages. With just a few clicks and one payment, you cannot only get cheap airfare, but a cheap hotel and car rental too.

4 – Compare Your Findings

As previously stated, you want to compare the airfare rates of different airlines. You want to find the cheapest company to fly with. Then, you want to compare the rates of online travel websites. Is it cheaper to book your flight through these websites or the airline? Compare your findings and then make your reservations. Most passengers benefit from opting for the cheapest and shortest flights. To increase your chances of getting a good seat, book early.

5 – Monitor Your Flight

Unfortunately, there are some risks involved in booking a flight too early. If an airline notices a flight is still empty in the weeks leading up to departure, they are likely to offer discounted tickets. In most cases, an airline or third-party travel website is under no obligation to refund you the difference, but it won’t hurt to call and ask. So, if you can monitor your flight. If you notice a significant savings, place a phone call. It is a long shot, but it may reduce the cost of your airfare.

Author: Sara Wells

Vacation Packages: Do They Save You Money

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Vacation Packages: Do They Save You Money

If you are planning your next family vacation, you may have heard that booking your trip in the form of a vacation package is the way to go. Yes, it can be, but do you really get the best deal? Yes and no; it depends on a number of factors.

One thing you need to remember about vacation packages is that they are sold through third-party travel websites. These websites are essentially the go-between. They aren’t helping you book your vacation out of the kindness of their heart. They are getting paid to help you. Who pays them? The airline, hotel, and car rental companies do. Where do you think this money comes from? It essentially comes out of your pocket. So although third-party travel websites do boast they can get you a good deal for your next vacation, it does not mean that good deal is the best available.

Another factor to consider is hidden fees. Third-party travel websites are known for tacking on extra fees and taxes for travelers. Unfortunately, rarely do they disclose these fees upfront. With some, you don’t know until after the payment is processed. Luckily for you, these fees are outlined somewhere on the travel company’s website. If you want to gain insight into these fees ahead of time, search the website. You want to look for sections that outline fees, rules and restrictions, or terms and conditions. By actively seeking this information, you won’t be surprised when it comes time to make payment.

One of the most common questions travelers ask is “how do I know if I am getting a good deal with a vacation package?” Unfortunately, many mistakenly believe it is impossible to tell. Some just accept the word of the company selling them the package. Do not do this. It is easy to tell if you are getting a good deal with a vacation package. In fact, it will only take you minutes to check and you can do so right from your computer. How?

Visit an online travel website, like Orbtiz.com. Search for the travel package of your choice. For example, at the time of this article, there was a package available for a 7-night stay at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas, with a car rental, and tickets through Delta Airlines for $753 a person. This is departing from Syracuse, New York. You now have the name of the airline and hotel. Visit these websites. For the same travel dates, it costs $514.94 for a 7-night stay at the Luxor hotel in Vegas. The lowest fair available for a Delta flight is $419.90, including taxes and fees. A car rental for the same time costs about $125 a week. So, your total is $1,059.84. Do you save money by booking your trip through Orbtiz.com? Yes. In fact, you save over $300!

Although the Las Vegas travel package highlighted above did result in a savings through a third-party travel website, there are no guarantees. That is why you are encouraged to verify this information ahead of time. Luckily, it will take you less than 15 minutes to do. If you aren’t getting a good deal, move on to the next travel package. If none of them save you money, bargain with the car rental, airline, and hotel, occasionally you can get the price reduced by being polite and convincing.

Author: Sara Wells

Save Money by Avoiding Extra Luggage Fees

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Save Money by Avoiding Extra Luggage Fees

If you want to save money on the cost of air travel, a good place to start is with your airline reservations. The less you pay for a ticket the more you save. With that said, many airlines are now increasing their fees and even creating new ones. You will see this with luggage. At first, airlines started charging passengers for a second bag of checked luggage. Now, some are even charging for the first. If you are taking an extended vacation, these extra fees can quickly add up. So how do you eliminate them?

For starters, you must know that the fees exist. An increase in fees is not something an airline wants to shout from the rooftops. Most travelers showed up for their flights to learn, for the first time, it would cost $30 roundtrip for their only suitcase. Imagine the anger. Although these fees are well-known now, you still need to look for them. Know if your airline charges you a fee for your first or second suitcase and how much.

As for how you can avoid or lessen the impact of these extra baggage fees:

Pack your carryon bag full. Most airlines outline rules and restrictions for carryon bags on their websites. You should know ahead of time how big your bag can be and how much it must weight. Use a ruler and a bathroom scale to ensure you are just under. If traveling for a two to three day trip, you can get away with using your carryon bag alone, provided you pack wisely.

Speaking of packing wisely, do it. Only bring what you need. Having four pairs of shoes for your trip to Hawaii is nice, but do you really need them all? You should be able to get away with a pair of sandals and sneakers. Also, research your hotel or resort ahead of time to see what you are supplied with. Is there a curling iron and hair dryer in your room? If so, don’t waste valuable space by bringing yours from home.

Watch the weather. Knowing the weather forecast for your vacation destination makes it easier to pack wisely. If you are traveling to Hawaii, see what the weather is forecasted to be like. If rain is predicted, bring a raincoat. If the temperatures will be above 70 your entire trip, live the winter coat at home. Pack only what you need, especially in terms of clothes and accessories.

Opt for large suitcases. Most airlines have strict rules on carryon luggage, but they are more lax on checked luggage. Do you need two suitcases to hold all your clothes? Are they small suitcases? Head to your local department store and purchase a bigger suitcase. Most airlines charge $25 one-way for a second suitcase. For $50, you can easily purchase a larger suitcase that you can reuse, making it a wise investment.

Share luggage with family. If you are traveling with your romantic partner or with your entire family, condense luggage. This is best when charged for each checked suitcase. Does your ten year old really need to have his own suitcase, especially if it is only half full? Have all members of your family condense luggage into as few suitcases as possible. Depending on the size of your family, this could save you $100 or more a trip.

Use space saving bags. Because the commercials for Space Bags appear like infomercials, many consumers believe they don’t work. They actually do. Not only that, but they have bags designed for air travel. With these bags, you place your clothes inside and apply pressure by leaning. Watch your clothes as they shrink in size. You can use this approach to eliminate a second suitcase. For short trips, use these space saving travel bags in your carryon; you may not even need to check a suitcase!

Author: Sara Wells

The Pros and Cons of Flying Budget Airlines

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The Pros and Cons of Flying Budget Airlines

If you want to travel, but are turned off by the rising costs of airfare, you may consider flying with a budget airline. These airlines come in many different formats, but most operate by a “what you see is what you get,” standard. That is usually a cheap flight with little perks. If your one and only goal is to save money, flying budget may seem like a good choice, but is it really?

The Pros of Flying Budget Airlines

You usually get good rates. As previously stated, most budget airlines have cheap flights, but offer very few perks to travelers. This is an easy way to save money. If your goal is to cheaply get from point a to point b, you should have no problem flying on a budget airline. As for how much money you save, it depends on the airline in question, your travel dates, and your destination. On average, most travelers save at least $100 a trip by flying budget instead of well-known.

You have a number of airlines to choose from. For the most part, budget airlines were a well-kept secret in the United States. Most air travelers were familiar with the big carriers, such as American Airlines and Delta. It wasn’t until airfare skyrocketed that passengers started examining their options more. Most were pleased to see that not only did budget airlines exist, but there were quite a few to choose from. In the United States, just a few of your options include Southwest, Spirit, Virgin American, JetBlue, and Horizon Air. With a number of budget airlines to choose from, you have a good chance of saving money.

The Cons of Flying Budget Airlines

There are little to no perks. When most of us think of perks, we think of in-flight movies, drinks, and snacks. On occasion, some budget airlines forego these extras, but there is more. Some budget airlines allow you to make your reservations, but you don’t choose your seat until you arrive at the airport or board the airplane. For most travelers this is okay, but it may be risky if you are traveling as a family. Since budget airlines focus on cheap travel, many completely forego first class. If you want to have your perks, it may be best to avoid flying budget airlines.

You don’t always get the best deals. For example, JetBlue was mentioned above as a good airline. If you search for a flight between Syracuse, New York and Orlando, Florida, a big $114 pops up on your screen (at the time of this article). You think great, as Northwest Airlines quoted you $156 for that same flight. That is until you see the $114 isn’t for a roundtrip flight, even though you selected roundtrip from the options. You must scroll down the page and select your return flight, which also has a price tag of $114. This “budget,” airline is now $72 more expensive.

Some budget airlines load you down with fees. Southwest Airlines is well-known for being a good budget airline. Their website and commercials say “what you see is what you get.” This means the price you see is actually the price you pay. Not all airlines are like this. Many have hidden fees and taxes, which you may not see until you are ready to pay for the flight. Always read the fine print of a budget airline. After doing so, you may see that their deals aren’t so good after all.

You have a limited number of airports to choose from. As previously stated, there are many budget airlines in the United States. Unfortunately, they service a limited number of airports. The reason why budget airlines are able to offer discounted flights is because they wisely choose their destinations. They know where travelers want to go and when. Unfortunately, if you want to travel to Kansas, it will be hard to find a budget airline that services state airports. On the other hand, if you want to travel to Florida, your options are virtually unlimited.

As you can see, flying budget airlines does have its pros and cons. If you opt to give these airlines a try, price compare to ensure you really are getting the best deal, make your travel plans in advance, and arrive at the airport early.

Author: Sara Wells