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