| You can start to save by making your plans as early | | | | Try contacting the vacation arm of the various airlines. |
| as possible: If you can make reservations up to three | | | | If you have to go somewhere at the last minute and |
| months in advance, some airlines offer early-bird | | | | find the airfare exorbitant, ask the airline if they have |
| discounts. Other than the last minute specials offered | | | | any vacation packages to your destination. You may |
| by many airlines, buying tickets earlier is usually better. It | | | | find an excellent airfare as well as a good hotel rate, all |
| pays to be as flexible as possible. If you are willing to | | | | in one and without the advance purchase |
| fly any airline, any day, at any time, you are much | | | | requirement.By considering these items ahead of time, |
| more likely to get a bargain fare. If you are in a position | | | | you'll have a feel for the degree of flexibility that you're |
| to be flexible about your departure or destination city | | | | willing to exercise when buying your ticket. You're now |
| as well, the price of your airfare can drop even lower.If | | | | ready to do some serious price shopping.When you're |
| there is an alternate airport, you should consider using | | | | finally ready to pick up the phone and request flight |
| it. You can get cheaper flights by flying to secondary | | | | information, you'll get a much better deal if you know |
| or tertiary airports. Initially, many of the low-cost airlines | | | | the right questions to ask. Don't be afraid to nudge and |
| were using these airports and now the bigger | | | | prod your travel agent or airline representative to be |
| competitors are beginning to move in and match their | | | | sure you're getting information on all available bargain |
| fares. For example, if you're going to Manhattan, the | | | | fares. Here are a few things to ask:. Would the fare |
| airport in Newark, New Jersey is actually closer to | | | | be less expensive if I flew on a different day of the |
| downtown than New York's JFK airport...and it's often | | | | week? A different time of day? Or a different week |
| much cheaper to fly to Newark.Knowing the time of | | | | of the month?. Could I get a lower fare if I chose an |
| year that is considered off-season at your destination | | | | earlier departure date?. Are any special seasonal |
| can save you money not only on airfares, but on | | | | fares available?. Are any promotional deals currently |
| hotels, cars and just about everything else. Often, you'll | | | | on offer?. What is the off-peak fare?. Is there any |
| also enjoy fewer crowds and be able to make more | | | | way that you know of that I could get a cheaper |
| contact with the destination's real personality.Here are | | | | fare?If you are dealing with a travel agent, be sure to |
| the off-season times for various regions of the world: . | | | | ask about other airlines. Often, travel agents |
| Europe: November through March . Asia: January and | | | | consistently promote certain airlines over others. But |
| February . Australia and New Zealand: April through | | | | any good travel agent should be able to quote you the |
| August . The Caribbean: March through November . | | | | fare to your destination on any airline that flies |
| South America: April through NovemberIf it's possible, | | | | there.Pay with plastic, never in cash. It is to your |
| arrange your trip on a holiday, such as Christmas or | | | | advantage to pay for your air travel with a credit card |
| Thanksgiving Day. You'll find better rates and often | | | | for many reasons:. It's easy. You can make all the |
| fewer crowds at the airport. Everyone else will be | | | | arrangements over the telephone or Internet.. Refunds |
| traveling the day before or the day after the | | | | are speedier. Airlines must refund tickets purchased by |
| holiday.Have an idea of what you think the fare should | | | | credit card within seven days. This is not the case if a |
| cost before you call the airline or your travel agent. | | | | ticket is paid for by cash or check. (For this reason, if |
| Spend a few minutes checking ads in travel | | | | you are dealing with travel agents, make sure they |
| publications and newspapers with travel sections and | | | | pay for your ticket with your credit card number.). You |
| surfing the Internet.The travel sections of | | | | can get credit for the ticket if the airline goes bankrupt.. |
| foreign-particularly British-newspapers advertise | | | | The ticket number of your flight will be printed on your |
| discount fares to just about anywhere in the world. | | | | credit card bill. If you lose a paper ticket, this makes it |
| Why is this important? Consider this example: Almost | | | | much easier to have it replaced. You can also find |
| every major airline that goes to Europe from the U.S. | | | | your records online, if you need to claim frequent flyer |
| also flies to London. If you want to go to, say, Rome, | | | | miles or ask for a refund.. If your ticket is stolen, the |
| you can often find deeply discounted tickets in the | | | | thief cannot cash it in for a monetary refund; the |
| London papers offering flights both to the U.S. and to | | | | refund can only be credited to your credit card |
| Rome. In the end, you'll sometimes find it hundreds of | | | | account.. You get automatic insurance coverage. |
| dollars cheaper to fly via London rather than directly | | | | Check with your credit card company for specifics on |
| from the U.S. If you don't have a news outlet or library | | | | the coverage available to you.. More frequent flyer |
| nearby where you can check foreign papers, most of | | | | miles. Many programs allow you to accrue miles every |
| the world's papers have an online version. See for a | | | | time you use your credit card to pay for travel.Use |
| good example, although the print copy you'll find at the | | | | these tips next time you are about to travel and save |
| local library typically has better deals.As you know, | | | | yourself money. Do some research online and in the |
| last-minute travelers, who are in no position to bargain, | | | | newspapers both from your point of departure and |
| pay the absolute highest airline rates. But here's a tip | | | | point of arrival, it can easily save you hundreds of |
| from Rudy Maxa, The Savvy Traveler, that may help: | | | | dollars. |