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AIR TRAVEL -
Getting The Best Air Fares (continued)
e. Fares can also vary considerably depending on the time of the day. If you can be flexible, see if you can get flights in off hours to save.
f. And, of course, if you are using frequent flyer miles for your trip, how far in advance you book and during what days of the year you book are very important. Some days of the year are “blacked out” when you cannot use your miles to certain destinations and even if you can use your miles, seats available for miles redemption are usually limited. So book early. And if no seats are available, ask the agent if another route to your destination might just be available. Often it is. But if tickets can be purchased at bargain prices, perhaps you should save those miles for another trip, or for a rental car or hotel. But be careful, miles can expire if they are not used. Unfortunately, airlines are starting to charge a fee (sometimes up to $100) to use your frequent flyer miles.
5. Generally, with the larger airlines, round trip fares will be somewhat cheaper
than purchasing one-
6. Sometimes direct flights are more costly than connecting flights (either with
the same carrier or different carriers). If your schedule is flexible, and you do
not mind spending more time on your travel, this may provide considerable savings.
When checking flight options on the computer, make sure to consider connecting flights.
But remember, if you have luggage, make sure the airlines will transfer your luggage
to the connecting flight, or you will have to retrieve your luggage after the first
flight and check-
7. And do not forget about potential discounts that might be available due to
age, service in the armed forces, etc. You may still be able to get a senior discount
(usually 65), or a student or child discount. While not as prevalent as they should
be, discounts for active-
8. Consider joining a last-
9. Sometimes you can fly very inexpensively or for free by serving as a courier.
Major airlines are often looking for individuals to accompany security-
10. Sometimes, you can save a lot of money on air fare by using travel packages that include air travel. If there is a package to where you want to go and where you want to stay, this might be a good deal. But given the availability of air fare bargains, as well as bargains for accommodations (look under the “Lodging & Vacation Packages” heading in the “Travel” section), be careful that the package really is a bargain for the time and place you are considering.
11. Finally, make sure you take advantage of every airline’s frequent flyer program.
It is usually easy to sign up and accumulating award points is free. And do not
forget that most major airlines belong to an alliance with other airlines around
the world. If you are flying an airline in the alliance, you will be able to earn
miles from your trip even if you do not belong to a specific airline’s frequent flyer
program. Just make sure you give them your frequent flyer number from the alliance
member when you book. You will also be able to redeem miles for tickets on any carrier
in the alliance, even though those miles were earned on a different airline’s frequent
flyer program. Major alliances are: Star Alliance (United, US Airways, Air Canada,
Lufthansa, SAS Scandinavian and others); SkyTeam (Northwest, Continental, Delta,
KLM, Air France, Alitalia and others); and OneWorld (American Airlines, British Airways,
Air Iberia and others). You may also get some other benefits from being a rewards
program member, such as preferred seating, etc. Many airlines will award additional
points if you book your flight directly on their web site. On the other hand, many
of the major Internet travel sites have their own awards program if you book often
through them. Check into it. Also, consider going to MileMaven.com which keeps
track of limited-
There is more to the cost of air travel than just the “quoted” air fare. In addition to the taxes and security fees that are added to quoted air fares, many airlines and travel sites add other fees. Often, when you are initially quoted a fare, whether over the Internet or through a travel agent, it is a “bare bones” price for the air fare, say $149 round trip. Unfortunately there are usually significant other fees you will be charged should you purchase the ticket. Many airlines are also starting to offer what is described as “ala carte” pricing, where some services previously included in the price of the ticket are now offered as extras.
1. Various additional taxes and security fees will be added to the fare. These are the same for each airline that is flying to and from the same airports, and they cannot be avoided.
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