Travel

Finding Good Travel Deals

April 27, 2016 By Twila Van Leer

With a little bit of research you can find good travel deals. — With a little research you can find good travel deals.

Summer travel time is blossoming and smart air travelers are looking for deals.

And the factors that enter into travel decisions are becoming more convoluted and confusing. That means you need to take care that your search for a cheap flight really ends up that way.

Things such as whether or not an airline charges a baggage fee, options for extra leg room, etc., make it important to look ahead and study all the possible configurations you might choose.

Airline travel is changing in ways that mean some of the old strategies for saving money don’t apply any more. For instance, it used to be that choosing to travel on a Tuesday or Wednesday would save some bucks but that is not necessarily true anymore. More airlines that offer loyalty benefits are looking at how much you spend, not how many miles you travel. That makes it harder for leisure travelers to rack up enough points to make a significant difference.

Travel experts offer these tips to help you make choices:

Discover Restrictions

Read the fine print on the airline website so you are certain what comes with your seat. A less expensive ticket that doesn’t include checked luggage may not be the best deal. Some airlines, including Delta, have a lower basic economy fare, but it places a bunch of restrictions on the package. It’s impossible to change the terms and you don’t get a seat assignment in advance. Do the homework.

Travel Dates

Be flexible regarding travel dates and destinations. Traveling at the end of the season (September, for instance) is cheaper than traveling at the height of the summer. That doesn’t work well for families that have children in school, but it’s worth considering.

Budget Airlines

The budget airlines sometimes have very attractive fares. Iceland’s WOW air and Norwegian Air Shuttle, for example, have added routes across the Atlantic this year and their prices may offer a savings. You may sacrifice a little in comfort and convenience, but the bottom line will look better. If you prefer all the niceties, stick with the familiar airlines.

Seat Assignments

Families should begin right away to confirm free seat assignments. The discount airlines don’t allow you to pick a seat without paying extra and that can quickly add to costs for family travel. The fees for having guaranteed seats range from $2 up to $100 for a round-tripper on Spirit. Frontier charges from $12 up on Frontier. If you have to reschedule due to unforeseen changes in your travel plans, a nonrefundable U.S. ticket on American, Delta or United may cost $200. Southwest doesn’t charge a fee. If you use an airline’s branded credit card, some will waive fees, but not all do. You need to know in advance.

Currently, the federal Transportation Department is considering imposing rules that would require airlines to provide information about fees to third parties, such as online travel agencies. That would greatly simplify making comparisons. But until that happens – not until later this year or beyond – your best bet is to take the time to shop carefully.

Save Big Bucks On Airline Tickets

April 2, 2016 By Twila Van Leer

Prices for airline tickets are all over the place. If you want to fly right and for less, become savvy about making your purchases. It is possible to save a lot – up to $300 or more per ticket – if you buy when the prices are at their lowest.

Best Time To Buy

So, how do you know when that magical moment has arrived? CheapAir did some of the footwork for you. The company monitored air travel fees for some 5 million flights in 2014, comparing the cost of bookings from 320 days in advance of the desired flight time to just one day. The research pinpointed 47 days pre-flight, on average, as the time at which fares were likely to be at their nadir.

“Window” Opportunity

From 114 days to 27 days, however, were identified as a “window” of opportunity during which it is worthwhile to shop for the best airfares. If you wait until only 14 days before you plan to fly, the price may jump by an average of $174. By that point, the airlines know you are likely to pay what they ask. Booking too early, on the other hand, can raise the price by an average of $50 per ticket, the CheapAir review found.

Book Early

Of course, there are many factors that affect prices, including dates and destinations. The research organization suggests early booking for holiday and standard vacation times in the area in which you are interested. If your travel group includes more than four people and you want to be seated together, early booking will be better. Start checking fares once a week as soon as your plans seem firm, to get a sense of the market. If you see a good price, go for it. It is more likely to rise than to fall further.

Information is available from airfarewatchdog.com, cheapair.com or kayak.com, which regularly monitor airfares.

International Travel

Fares for international travel do not fluctuate as much as those for domestic flights. If you are leaving the country, book early. Sales open 335 days before departure, CheapAir says. About 90 days before the departure date, fares start rising rapidly. If Europe is your destination, book at least 276 days in advance to get the best price. The best opportunities for cheaper tickets to the Caribbean is 144 days in advance; to Asia, 318 days; Africa, 262 days; Mexico, 251 days; South Pacific, 244 days; Middle East, 213 days; Central and South America, 96 days.

Be Flexible

Allowing yourself a little flexibility can also save money. Booking flights with connections or those that leave either early in the morning or late at night are cheaper. Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday are the days when fares tend to be lower.

Price Drop Rebates

Many airlines and travel agencies will give you a rebate if your flight’s price drop below what you paid. Often the rebate will come in the form of credits or vouchers. Sign up with Yapta.com to receive alerts about falling prices. But be aware that some airlines will charge a big fee for re-booking a flight to a lower price. If the fee outweighs the difference in the fare price, obviously, you don’t want to consider it. CheapAir offers a $100-per-passenger credit if the price of your ticket drops. That avoids a fee for rebooking.

Finding the best fare may take some time and effort, but the savings will make it worthwhile.

Plan Ahead For Holiday Travel

November 11, 2015 By Twila Van Leer

If travel is part of your holiday plans, the time to act is now. The cheapest, most convenient travel plans begin early. Prices already are starting to climb and if past experience holds, the demand for airline seats will become pricey as Thanksgiving gets onto the holiday radar.

If you have expectations to travel between Thanksgiving and New Year, here are things to consider:

Santa can offer a bit of good news. Airline fares this fall/winter are a little lower than last year. This August, the last month for which data is available, the average domestic fare was down 6.8 percent compared with the year before. Experts predict that the trend will continue.

Tickets already are going fast for the peak travel days around Christmas and they also are lower – by 3 percent – than last year. You might find even bigger savings on the discount carrier routes, such as Spirit and Frontier airlines. The larger carriers are keeping an eye on the discount fares and the could be good news for travelers across the board.

Both Christmas and New Years days fall on Friday, so many travelers making the return trip will hope to be aboard flights on either Saturday or Sunday. Fares could be higher for those days, although still a bit lower than last year, according to experts with CheapAir.com.

Keep an eye on fees that will increase your travel costs, particularly the fees charged for checking luggage and for changing tickets. Southwest still does not charge baggage fees on the first two prices of luggage. If you can, cut down on the amount of luggage you have to pay for by shipping gifts ahead of time. Postage is likely less expensive than baggage fees. Or buy gift cards that provide the recipient with his or her choice of gifts without adding bulk to your packing.

Try to minimize your baggage by getting what you need into a carry-on that will fit under your seat. If fees are unavoidable, pay them before the fact. They are higher at the airport.

Expect your flights to be crowded. Home for the holidays is an aspiration of millions of Americans. The most-used airlines are now filling 80 percent of their flights, even the less popular early-morning and late-night options. More people are opting to pay the price for elite travel – larger seats, better leg room – somewhat limiting the availability for families. The larger the group, the sooner you need to get plans gelled.

Whatever particular needs or desires you want to include in your travel plans, the first advice is still the best. Do it now and travel with less hassle and more comfort. And do your part to minimize stress by planning now to exercise holiday cheer despite lines, glitches and general tension that are part of the seasonal travel.

Flying High – With The Best Air Fares

September 16, 2014 By Twila Van Leer

The cost of air travel continues to go up, but with a little bit of Internet time, you can find the best possible fares.

Start with a search of discount travel sites, and don’t stop with just one. Compare. Popular sites include Expedia, Travelocity, Kayak, Google Flight Search and Hotwire. When you have made your comparison and think you have the best price you can find, act. Prices can change within minutes.

Skyscanner.com is a search engine that tracks prices for particular routes for a certain period of time – a month or a year. It’s easy to spot the best prices and the optimum times to fly as well as finding information on hotels and car rentals. You can receive email notices when the data changes.

Booking your flight online is cheaper than using the airline’s phone service, which adds a fee. Travel agencies also have started adding booking fees to replace revenue they used to get from the carriers.

Inform yourself as to the best times to fly. Be flexible if you are able. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are the best days for private travel. Sunday is the most expensive. If you’re willing to make a brief stopover en route, it is less expensive than a direct flight. Early morning flights also are less costly.

As you would guess, holidays are not times to expect great travel deals. Christmas, Thanksgiving, Presidents’ Day, spring break and other high-travel times are when to avoid air travel if you can.

Booking ahead – six weeks, if possible, when the airlines are still hoping to fill up their flights, is usually the best time to get a deal. If you wait until a week or two prior to the date you want to fly, the airlines are clear on whether their flights are going to be full and they’re less anxious to offer deals. There are, however, last-minute deals to be had if you can be flexible.

Use your credit card to pay to take advantage of air mile offers. In addition, keep track of accumulated air miles through the airlines, particularly if you fly frequently.

The great majority of airports have shuttles or public ground transportation to get you to a post-flight destination. It’s less expensive than a cab. If possible, walk. If you rent a car, opt for the green alternative, a small, fuel-efficient car. Return the vehicle to the rental business fully gassed. They charge a premium to do that for you. And if you are really thinking ahead, consider driving to your destination instead of flying, then you’ll avoid a car rental.

Consider hotel alternatives such as condo or house rentals. Most units can be rented nightly or by the week. VRBO.com offers photos, details and prices and doesn’t charges a fee for the service. Make travel an occasion to visit family or friends, if possible. In exchange for their hospitality, help with groceries or take the hosts to dinner or some activity. And when it’s their time to travel, reciprocate.

Home exchanges can be arranged through homeExchange.com, SeniorsHome Exchange.com or Craigslist. That way, your home is not empty while you are away and you have housing at your travel destination. A win-win situation for both parties.