|
How to Score Cheap Airfare Provided by 805surf.com
Ah, the lure of surf travel. As a wave rider, nothing really compares. The visions of scoring a desolate reef peak, immersing yourself in a new culture, voyaging into the unknown. We surfers cover our walls with images of foreign reef passes and empty sandbars. One day we wake up and realize that our dreams are only a short plane ride away. So let's talk about some ways to cut the cost of air travel.
1. Call the airlines
Call the airlines between midnight and 1 a.m. Monday through Friday to get cheaper tickets. Most people never realize that at midnight, airline agents revise and load new fares into their computers. The best fares become available right after they've done the updating!
2. Check airports other than the main one you're accustomed to using
Many major cities have two airports. Check into surrounding towns and cities so you can compare airfares. You may save hundreds of dollars on your flights.
3. The early bird catches the plane
The earlier you book your flight, the more you save. Most special fares have restrictions of 7 to 30 day advance purchase. These are usually non-refundable, but they can offer deep discounts. On the other hand, there are "last minute" deals too. Visit www.smartliving.com to get emails for last minute deals.
4. Get out of town on Wednesday
Mid-week travel is usually less expensive. If you leave on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday and stay thru Saturday night, you can garner terrific savings compared to Friday through Monday when most people fly. Start taking your vacations Wednesday-to-Wednesday or Tuesday-to-Tuesday. You'll save a lot by choosing your departure and arrival dates this way!
5. Buying a one way or split ticket
Let's say you've planned a surf trip to Puerto Rico. Instead of taking a flight directly from LAX to San Juan, it may be cheaper to get two separate tickets. You could buy one ticket from Los Angeles to Houston and one from Houston to San Juan. It all depends on the connecting cities and your airlines hubs. Just tell your agent you're willing to travel out of other airports and connect using regional airports to save money.
6. Open wide
You should look into what's called an "Open-Jaw" ticket. These are used when a traveler is arriving and departing from different cities. One ticket is purchased to cover both cities. Check with your travel agent or airline representative to see if this trick is available instead of two one-way tickets. Compare the price of each.
7. An excellent online service www.sidestep.com
You enter destinations and dates and SideStep quickly searches a couple of dozen affiliated regional and international airlines to find the best rates.
8. Code share
Ask your agent if this flight is a "code-share" flight. That means the same flight is offered by two different airlines. Just copy down the name of the other airline and check into what they're charging. Only one of the airlines is actually operating the flight. The actual operator always offers this flight for less, so book with them.
9. Sign up for the airline newsletters
From weekend getaways to international flight packages, the newsletter saves you money on travel and doesn't require that you constantly visit the airline website for the latest offering.
10. The airlines often slash their fares during sluggish travel times
Scan your travel sections in the newspapers and talk to your agent about these low fares. Off season travel can save you some serious money.
About the Author: Jacky Uy writes for CheapAirfareGuide.info where you can find out more about cheap airfare guides and other topics.
|
