How to
How to Save Money on Air Fares
Unless you are a frequent business flyer and have your air fares paid for by a company you will need to consider how to save money on air fares.
There is a wide variety of air fares available to travelers. Here are some useful tips on how to save money when booking air fares:
Be flexible
Be flexible in your travel plans in order to get the lowest fare. The best deals may be limited to travel on certain days of the week (often Tuesday through Thursday, or Friday night through Sunday morning) or particular hours of the day for example, late-night departures.
Plan Ahead
Plan as far ahead as you can. Most airlines set aside only a few seats on many desirable flights at the lower rates. The real best bargains often sell out very quickly. On the other hand, if a particular flight is not selling as well as expected, air carriers sometimes make more discount seats available for a particular flight just before the advance purchase deadline expires.
Search for Bargains
While planning ahead is a good general rule, if you can bide your time you might encounter a "fare sale." Many airlines put seats on sale for brief periods several times a year. It is difficult to predict when these sales will occur, although they often fall during times when people are less likely to buy airline tickets for example; early autumn or right immediately after the New Year holiday period.
Select Airport
Air fares can vary depending on which airport you depart from. Always check on alternate airports and routings when pricing a ticket.
Low Cost Airlines
Look into all airlines that serve the destination you are interested in, including low-cost carriers that offer low fares. On a low-cost carrier, find out what you get for your money: baggage transfers from one carrier to another, meals, advance seat assignments, etc.
Use a Travel Agent
Consider using a travel agent. Agents usually do not charge a fee (they get a commission from the airline), and they can tell you about sources of discounted seats that are not available directly from the airline.
Check Air Fare
After you buy your ticket, you may wish to call the airline or travel agent once or twice before departure to confirm your reservations and check the fare. Fares change all the time, and if that same fare goes down before you fly, some airlines will refund the difference. But you have to ask.
Restrictions
Ask about all restrictions on your fare. Typical requirements for discount fares include purchasing a round-trip ticket, buying the ticket a certain number of days before departure for example, at least 14 or 21 days before you leave, purchasing the ticket within 24 hours of making a reservation, staying over a Saturday night, traveling during a certain time of the year, staying no more than 30 days, and refund/change restrictions.
Ask about your ability to change or cancel your flight if you need to. Even if you get sick, you cannot assume you will get a refund. In fact, most discount tickets now are non-refundable.
You may freely reprint this article provided the author's biography remains intact:
About The Author |
John Mussi
Similar articles
How to Keep Your Cigar in Perfect Condition
For people who smoke cigars, it can become something of an obsession. Over time, cigar smokers often develop precise rituals that they adhere to every time they smoke a cigar, and can be quite pedantic about how they store their cigars. Read more →How to Pack for a Colorado Vacation
Packing for a Colorado vacation is both the same as packing for any vacation but it's also different from most vacations.The same No matter on where you plant to vacation, you need to plan your packing before you begin. Read more →How to Smoke a Cigar (and Not Look Like a Heathen in the Process)
Not everyone in the world knows how to smoke a cigar. Even those that smoke cigars regularly do not necessarily know how to smoke a cigar. How so? Smoking cigars is like showing dogs: there is skill involved, as well as a certain beauty and sophistication. Read more →How to Travel Safely with Low Vision
Good preparation is key if you have low vision and want to travel safely by plane, train or bus. Delays caused by adverse weather conditions or security alerts, for example, are factors beyond our control. Read more →Aphorism
There is no looking at a building here after seeing Italy.