I'm a Captain of a major airline. What I am revealing here will NOT help my company or the ailing airline industry. However, as a major contributor to this site, I want to help our visitors achieve financial freedom.
The main purpose of Financial Freedom Trail is to help people gain strong personal finance skills. Those lead to financial freedom.
This list of ways to find air fare discounts is designed to help you save money and still enjoy the fun, relaxation, revitalized relationships, and adventure of travel.
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Ask about ways you can adjust your travel dates to get discounted air travel. Ask which days of the week and times of the day have the lowest fare. For example, you can often lower the price of a round trip air fare by as much as two-thirds. That happens if buy the ticked in advance and are willing to make a Saturday evening stay-over.
Similarly, you can get discounted air travel by traveling off-peak days such as Saturday and Tuesday through Thursday.
- Likewise, traveling at off-hours may save you money. The less-filled 6 a.m. or all-night flight can be a bargain.
Ascertain that you indeed have the best air fare discounts by checking with the airline directly, even if you used a travel agent. Simply ask them what the lowest fare to your destination is.
Look for fare wars. The Sunday newspapers often have fare war and discounted air travel information, but be ready to act quickly.
Use the Internet to comparison shop for air fare discounts. Then visit the airline’s Web site directly. That way you can eliminate paying the online agency’s’ the booking fee.
For your convenience, use the search box below to use the most powerful search engine.
To aid you research, below is a list of the most common terms used to search for air fare discounts. You might not have thought to have tried these.
Just copy and paste them into the search box below and you’ll be off on a great trip at the lowest prices!
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Be flexible when planning your trip. Having flexible travel dates and destinations can get you the absolute best prices. Especially if you are willing to fly any airline at any time from any airport in their area.
Compare low-cost carriers with major carriers that fly to your destination. You might be surprised to find that the major carriers have under-cut the low cost carriers in a given market. For example, American Airlines offers a low price guarantee for the best air fare discounts.
Realize that a ticket’s sale price may not be the lowest price available. Be sure to check with another airline because may be able to find a lower price on a non sale ticket from them.
Put a value on your time. For example, you may be able to save $100 on one airline, but have to fly three legs on one airline while another one flies non-stop.
As a pilot, I see people’s travel plans disrupted all the time by weather, air traffic control delays and maintenance problems. Flying multiple legs puts you at much greater risk of thing being messed up. The airline is only responsible for giving you food and lodging when it was specifically their fault.
You might save $100 on that ticket but miss your cruise ship or have to buy a hotel and several meals while you wait for a flight the next day.
To get the best deal possible, be sure to check prices on flights from two or more airports in your area.
The best air fare discounts may not be out of the airport closest to you. You might be surprised by the savings and it can be worth the little extra driving time. Additionally, the smaller airports often have much lower parking fees, which can add up quickly if you are gone for a while.
For example, at Chicago O’Hare, it can cost you up to $38 per day to park, while nearby Rockford, IL has free parking.
Make sure that the ticket price you are quoted includes all taxes and fees. These can be as much as $100 or more. Sometimes the ads for low fares don't include taxes and fees.
Sign up for e-mail alerts from airlines with major hubs in your area. This will help you learn about last-minute sales and air fare discounts.
Buy your tickets on the airline's Web site. They will sometimes take 10 percent off ticket prices to customers who purchase them online.
Always buy your tickets in advance. The main profit of the airlines is the short-notice business traveler who has to make a last-minute flight.
Be sure to join the frequent-flier program of each airline that you fly. This can help you earn free tickets or other air fare discounts.
Assuming you are willing to pay off the balance each month,
(click here for Credit Card Savings)
use an airline-reward credit card to make monthly purchases. That way, you'll accrue air miles faster. You can cash them in for ticket upgrades and free travel. Sometimes small business owners make all their business purchases
