{This article was published earlier and updated and reprinted.}
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Shopping for airline tickets can be a little difficult these days. Airlines have cut back on flights so that discount seats are no longer chasing each other. Less seats to fill even with the various cutbacks in travel are leaving travelers shopping for the lowest fares. Knowing a few of the basics to look for in airline pricing will help. Bargain shop, don't get on a plane and find out the family sitting next to you bought tickets $100 a piece cheaper. Wow, how that can hurt.
Experience has given me a few general rules when planning trips. Kind of having an understanding of how the airlines come up with their fares will help. Remember in my article about click--> "Free Worldwide Airline Tickets" it was discussed best times to get "bumped"? The times the airlines are the busiest and can command higher air fares. Fares are based on *dates, *times, and *seat availability. The airlines are fixing fares to maximize revenue to build profits.
So here are a few easy tips: Dates..advance purchases, 7-14-21 days before your travels or as early as you can safely buy your tickets. Make certain you have firm dates because changes can cost you a lot of money. When thinking about your travel days of the week are important. Usually Sundays and Fridays are the most expensive days. It will be very difficult to find low fares Friday afternoons and Sunday afternoons and evenings. Business Travelers trying to get home for the weekend and folks wanting early vacation starts are happening on Friday. Sunday the vacations are usually ending with school and work starting up again on Monday.
So which days usually look the best for cheaper fares? Saturday, in fact the least number of flights are scheduled for Saturdays. The most available seats are available mid-week and Saturdays. Try Wednesday and Saturday travel for the lowest fares.
Times of the day, early morning or late night departures are usually the cheapest. People traveling a distance to the airport don't usually want to leave too early. Check on overnight trips from the West Coast to the East Coast. Late afternoon or night flights put people into their destination late, yet the airlines need to position their aircraft for the following morning takeoffs.
Most of the desirable flights to Hawaii leave in the morning, because of the time change you land with part of the day to settle in and start enjoying your vacation. Returning from Hawaii in order to maximize the aircraft equipment they turn around with a new crew and return overnight back to the mainland.
Round-trips are usually better bargains than one-way tickets again be careful so you can avoid changes to the tickets. Another little secret is to search "Co-Terminals" or airports located in the same region or nearby cities are worth shopping for better fares.
Compare airports such as flying into Ontario (ONT) or Los Angeles (LAX) rather than into Palm Springs (PSP). Burbank (BUR) is another good choice in the Los Angeles area. In the New York area, LaGuardia (LGA), Kennedy (JFK), Newark (EWR), Islip (ISP), White Plains, ( HPN...Westchester County)are reasonable alternatives. Miami (MIA), Ft Lauderdale (FLL), and West Palm Beach (PBI) are options. Alternative airports especially if you intend to rent a car offer the opportunity to save money . {From Tucson to Phoenix is at least an hour drive but competition and more flight traffic makes shopping fares worth it.}
When looking at fares read the fine print! Many times airlines advertise specials in terms of one way fares based on round-trip travel. Are you looking at one-way fares based on a round trip, are you including the taxes and other fees? What about bag fees? Most airlines are now charging for checked bags. This can definitely add to the costs or your trip. {ALWAYS READ the Ticket Restrictions!} If you have to change or cancel your ticket, what is the penalty?
Warning..some tickets are non refundable, non changeable, do not allow standbys, or earn frequent flyer points, in other words, use them or lose them!
Watch out if you buy a ticket with a change of planes or airlines. If you must change planes to another carrier, do the two carriers have baggage agreements and transfer your bags to the next plane? Some airlines have cheap rates point to point but you must claim your bags and recheck them if that is not your final destination. {Make sure you have enough time between connections.}
Sometimes a quick call to the airline reservation number to check for special fares will turn up something that you can't find online. Some airlines offer special fares for emergency air travel, bereavement, military or senior and student fares. Start your shopping early and get familarized with the different airlines rules and price offerings.
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