Posted in Flights on 04/03/2010 09:24 pm by admin

Andrew Bicknell asked:
There are people in the world who have a knack for finding great deals when it comes to purchasing cheap airline tickets. But how do they do it? The vast majority of us just pay whatever the airlines or travel sites charge, but if you’re tired of wasting money on air fare here are some tips to help you save money on your next trip.
Most people get their tickets through a travel agent or online travel website. While these can be a good place to find good deals the hidden secret of the airline industry is to contact the airlines themselves. They don’t always advertise their discount flights but if you call them and ask they will tell you where and how you can save money. You can also take advantage of booking your flight early enough if you know your travel plans well in advance. If your travel plans are open then flying standby can be another way to get cheap airline tickets, but this won’t work if you are tied to a tight schedule.
One place many people don’t think to look are online auction sites. These can be a good place to find low cost plane tickets with one word of warning. Make sure these tickets are transferable otherwise you will have bought tickets that you cannot use. Also check the minimum price of the tickets being offered against what they would actually cost if you were to purchase them directly from the airline or at an online travel site. If the cost difference in negligible then it may be better to pass on the auction price because many airlines will charge a transfer fee that wipes out any savings you might have thought you would get.
The many travel related web sites on the internet today are another good place to find cheap air fare deals. Some of the bigger sites are able to directly negotiate with the airlines and purchase blocks of seats at a considerable discount. They can then pass these saving onto their customers, but you normally have to act fast when these types of deals become available because savvy travelers jump on them fast.
One thing to remember is to compare prices from various sources. What may seem like a good deal may not be once you compare it to other avenues. Also stay on the lookout for hidden fees that will raise the price to the point where it makes just as much sense to buy the ticket directly from the airline anyway.
Cheap airline tickets can be found with a little research, perseverance, and patience. Those who are good at finding good deals know where to look and what questions to ask. By using some of the suggestions here you can learn the ins and outs of saving money the next time you travel.
FLOYD
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Tags: Airline Industry, Airlines, Auction Price, Cheap Air Fare, Cheap Airline Tickets, Discount Flights, Flying Standby, Good Deals, Online Auction Sites, Plane Tickets, Purchase Blocks, Tight Schedule, Travel Agent, Travel Site, Travel Website
Posted in Flights on 01/21/2010 09:10 pm by admin

Andrew Bicknell asked:
It doesn’t matter if you are a veteran traveler or are planning your first trip on an airplane; there isn’t anyone who doesn’t want to save money on their airline tickets. This is particularly true if you’re planning a vacation to a far off land and the last thing you want to do is eat up your entire vacation budget trying to buy plane tickets.
Finding dirt cheap airline tickets takes some time and patience but it can definitely be worth the effort because we all know that traveling by plane is not that cheap. Whether you are on a budget or not here are some tips and trick you can use to find significant discounts the next time you travel by air.
1. Be flexible with your travel dates and times. Most airlines charge more for peak travel times during the week. By flying at off peak times such as mid-week and/or late evening/early morning you can find significant savings. This is also true of your destination. If you are planning a vacation try to go during the off-season. Not only will you find discounts for your destination but the airlines will also offer savings simply because they need warm bodies in their seats.
2. Book your airfare in advance. This does work to a point because if you book farther then 4 months out your chances of finding good prices are greatly limited. At the same time don’t wait until the last minute because you will be charged full price. Your best window of opportunity is between 4 months and 12 to 20 days before your known travel date.
3. Compare, compare, and compare. Don’t jump at the first deal you think you see. This is where having a little patience can come in handy. Shop around the different airlines websites, travel websites, and even travel agents to get an idea of what the going price for your destination is. This will allow you to pick the fare that best fits your budget and travel plans.
4. Look for package deals. If you are planning a vacation then see if you can find a discount package for both accommodations and airfare. This is something you can usually find through travel agents who know how to find these kinds of dirt cheap travel packages. Cruise vacations are also known to offer discount airplane tickets for their passengers, but you have to ask.
5. Call the airlines. A simple call to the airlines service representatives and asking what kinds of deals and discounts they have going is a great way to save money. In fact most airlines run discounts all the time but they do not actively advertise them.
Scoring dirt cheap airline tickets is not always easy but if you take the time to research your options and have some patience to find the deal that works best for you. Being flexible is your most powerful tool when it comes to finding cheap airfare and when you finally leave for that well deserved vacation just think how good it will feel with that extra cash in your pocket.
JERRY
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Tags: Cheap Airfare, Cheap Airline Tickets, Dirt Cheap Airline Tickets, Handy Shop, Late Evening, Package Deals, Peak Times, Peak Travel Times, Plane Tickets, Time And Patience, Travel Dates, Vacation Budget, Veteran Traveler, Warm Bodies, Window Of Opportunity
Posted in Other - United States on 12/24/2008 07:37 am by admin
equinewmn2004 asked:
My son is in the Army and is stationed at Fort Richardson in Alaska. He has leave for Christmas, but I cannot find plane tickets for under $1,000.00. How do I go about finding out about military discounts, and / or HOPS? The Air Force bases are tight lipped about HOPS now due to 9/11, and my son is in the middle of the desert in California training for his tour in Afghanistan in February, so he is unable to find out. I want to surprise him by bringing him home, but that’s a lot of money…Help!
CEDRIC
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Tags: Afghanistan, Air Force Bases, Airline Discounts, Airline Specials, Alaska, Army, California Tour, California Training, Christmas, Desert, Fort Richardson, Military Discounts, Money, Plane Tickets, Tight
Posted in Other - Europe on 11/05/2008 10:39 pm by admin
C K asked:
So I’ll be traveling to Europe in May. My question is, when should I buy plane tickets? With the global economy in turmoil, I’m worried that if I buy tickets now, the airline I purchase them from might go bankrupt by May! I’m not sure that I would get such a great discount for buying them so early that it would warrant such a risk. Should I wait until March or April to buy tickets? Thanks!
Last year I flew Aer Lingus (got to Dublin and then flew out of there on a cheap easyJet flight), but I know RyanAir is trying to buy Aer Lingus. I’m also considering Iberia, and looking at other European carriers. I was going to use Zoom Airlines $300 flight to London, but they folded, hence my apprehension. I’m looking for the cheapest airline possible, so not necessarily a major airline.
JOE
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Tags: Aer Lingus, Airlines, Apprehension, Buy Tickets, Cheapest Airline, Dublin, Easyjet, Flight To London, Iberia, Plane Tickets, Tickets Airline, Traveling Europe, Traveling To Europe, Turmoil, Zoom