 |
Ready to be surprised? Read the real insider secrets. These really shouldn’t be secrets because every air travel shopper show know them — I know shopping for airfare can be maddening — I was just back from a travel CEO conference and studies show that “you” the consumer shop 5-6 websites before you buy — let me take some of the mystery out of making the best air travel buying decision … |
I have boiled down dozens of my tips from studying air travel and corresponding with thousands one-on-one, these tips will help you make the best buying decision.
There are an awful lot of unreliable “top 10″ lists floating around the internet these days that claim to tell you the “useful secrets” of air travel, or “things the airlines don’t want you to know.” Well, know this: most of these lists are not very well researched nor are they (many times) on the mark.
Oh, they’ll include a “good” tip now and then, but for the most part, these lists are riddled with errors. Where can you find the real story? From FareCompare.com, of course — without further ado here are our top ten tips (mostly U.S. domestic focused — those traveling internationally should also check out our list of international travel tips):
TOP 10 SECRETS OF AIR TRAVEL INSIDERS
1. Fly the Cheapest Days of the Week - The cheapest day to fly is Wednesday
- After Wednesday, the cheapest days to book departures/arrivals are Tuesday and Saturday. Airlines actually file cheaper airfares that are only good on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday
2. Fly Cheap Airlines - The proper term is, “lower-cost carriers” or “no-frills” (like there are any frills nowadays)
- Check with Southwest, AirTran, JetBlue, Virgin America, Skybus, Frontier, Allegiant, etc.; prices are usually cheaper (not always though) than the “majors” especially at the last minute. The reason? Most have a lower business cost structure and in theory pass that on to you — they do usually drive the price point lower in competitive markets but are not always the cheapest, so don’t forget their legacy brethren when shopping.
3. Fly Cheap Foreign Airlines - Especially, once you’re on foreign soil
- There are lots of cheap European airlines that fly all over the EU; an example is Dublin-based Ryanair. Fly to Ireland on the cheapest airline you can find, then use inexpensive Ryanair as your carrier throughout Europe. A pretty complete list of lower cost airlines can be found on Momondo. Warning: you will have to change airports in many cases, so not for the less fleet of foot or those taking their closet to Europe.
4. Fly First Class at Economy Class Prices - Buy discount Domestic U.S./Canada First Class Airfare
- You can find this information in a few places, but FareCompare.com (we track over 130,000 of them) has an easy “how to” section called “Discount First Class“. Sometimes these discounted first class fares are as cheap as coach, sometimes not. They will always be a great bargain compared to full first class.
5. Be Flexible - Ask For Vacation Days After You Find Cheap Flights
- If you are willing to be flexible (rather than shoe-horning yourself into a particular vacation week), you can save big. Try FareCompare’s Airfare Email Alerts and be notified hours before they show up on the actual airline site — being first to know gives you a better changes to get a great deal to your dream destination.
- Airlines have been studying consumer shopping and travel patterns for years and will charge you a premium at the days and times they know you want go — so don’t go with the flow, fly the cheapest days, fly to off the beaten path destinations or be prepared to pay the premium, just knowing that you know that they know will help you make a better buying decision
6. Fly the Big Hubs - Usually - A bigger airport can mean bigger savings.
- If you’re in a medium to small sized city, it may pay to drive to the nearest big-city and fly from there; if you’re in Los Angeles, LAX is usually cheaper than Burbank. Competition drives prices down — the more competition the better the prices
- WARNING: this isn’t true everywhere; if you live in Cincinnati, for example, it can be cheaper to fly out of Dayton or Columbus (Delta’s dominance in Cincinnati means little competition and higher prices).
- International Travel can be hundreds less at a gateway than a nearby regional airport (you have to connect their anyway) so save $1,000 for your family of four and make the drive instead of paying the small regional airport premium for that connecting commuter flight
7. You Can Save on Last Minute Emergency Flights - Always ask
- Traveling to a funeral? Check to see if the airlines have a “bereavement” rate. If they don’t, call and ask. Some airlines will work with you on this.
- Look for “package” deals: some airlines’ last minute deals include a hotel and car to your destination, which is cheaper than last minute airfare by itself. You do not have to stay in the motel or take the car (but call and cancel what you won’t use) — these package rates many time use negotiated rates that are no so great 14 days before travel but are really good at the last minute.
8. Yes, You Can Get Refunds - Sometimes - Persistence and patience pays off
- Airlines do NOT like to give refunds; check your airline’s contract of carriage (we compiled a handy list at the bottom of this post), a few that do include United, Southwest, JetBlue, Alaska and US Airways, others the price has to drop more than $100
- Some airlines will give you vouchers good for the amount a ticket drops
- See FareCompare’s step-by-step “how to” article on getting same day refunds when the price of the ticket you purchased drops later in the day
9. Forget Rule 240. All the experts fall for this one
- Some “travel gurus” suggest “Rule 240″ will somehow force airlines to immediately get you on the next plane in the event of delays/cancellations; there is also a bridge in Brooklyn I’d like to show you…
- The Truth: There is no Rule 240! It disappeared with deregulation in the 70’s. What we rely on now for our rights (such as they are) is an airline’s Contract or Conditions of Carriage; and most “guarantee” nothing, but offer some guidance on what an airline will “try ” to do for you. Here’s a list of the airlines’ contracts of carriage. They may be useful, so print them and take them on your trip.
- Best advice in the face of cancellations/delays? Be nice. The harried airline rep at the counter is having just as lousy a time as you are, and you’d be surprised how far some kind words can go. You don’t want them to get angry with you.
10. The Only 2-Websites You Need. Honest. FareCompare.com and a the final ticketing site (airline or online travel agency)
- FareCompare: use it to find airlines’ cheapest airfares; its exclusive software allows you to find the cheapest flights before any other site can.
- Ticketing Site: after you find your cheap tickets on FareCompare, we will take you to the best purchasing site (you should also check out Southwest, the only major airline that doesn’t provide airfare information to any outside website).
Why does the taxes and fees vary so much between airlines? I try to book overseas flights and taxes and fees can range from $80 to over $300. Also, farecompare shows me a cheap price but when I try to book it, it always says the airline has raised the price. What gives??
Comment by Tom Courtney — November 8, 2007 @ 9:12 am
“Discount First Class” link will get you nowhere.
Comment by HARRY — November 8, 2007 @ 9:22 am
Hi Rick
I found this on the AA website about Rule 240
http://www.aa.com/content/agency/Booking_Ticketing/Reaccom/rule_240_80.jhtml
It seems to read as there is a rule 240
What do you think??
Cliff Jennings
Comment by Cliff Jennings — November 8, 2007 @ 4:23 pm
For once, an honest web site designed to help potential airline passengers actually save money. Rickseaney.com is definitely worth a look.
Comment by Alan Keith Bricker — November 8, 2007 @ 6:08 pm
The link to Discount First Class is not working. It says “page not found”
Comment by shelly — November 8, 2007 @ 8:46 pm
Comment by Rick Seaney — November 9, 2007 @ 8:59 am
Comment by Rick Seaney — November 9, 2007 @ 9:09 am
Rick,
You are so right about gate agents. I worked for a “major” as a gate agent for over 5 years.
Believe me, those guys WANT to help you. If for nothing else, just to get you out of their hair. But please don’t confuse them with soul-less robots.
They are very compassionate to the situation, and to tell you the truth, it makes them feel good to help someone who is stranded so far from their home.
BUT…like you said, be nice. They themselves did not put you in that situation. If you treat them like they are to blame, and owe you something for it…they will shut down and not WANT to help.
You don’t need an enemy so far from home. You need to realize…they might be your ONLY friend. Treat them like crap, and they will do for you only what they MUST, and not what they CAN.
Who wouldn’t???
Comment by Nick — November 9, 2007 @ 10:45 pm
ALERT:
While on a tranfer of planes/stopover, Shanghai International recently required my wife and I to not only go thru the Bird Flu Isolation Station and question booth, we also had to gather our bags and go thru customs and then go up 3 levels to recheck into the United Airline counter for our flight to Chicago.
We had 1hr 45min between flights but United closed ticket counter closed completely 50 minutes before departure so counter staff could be used for the planing process. So, we missed our connection and United refused to automatically rebook us on the next Chicago flight(1xdaily at 3:45PM) and also refused to get us overnight acomodations or even give us directions to an overnight hotel. We were on our own; and very few airport personnel spoke English and the directional signage was pretty much non-existent.
These were some of the rudest United counter people we have ever encountered. RECOMMENDATION: If possible avoid Shanghai International for connection/transfer flights and by all means, if you are on a United flight, be aware that these are some really hard case rude people in Shanghai.
Comment by John Wharton — November 13, 2007 @ 12:29 am
I agree with the myth of from flying big hubs being cheaper. Sometimes, not only are the fares higher, if you do not have
a ride to the airport, the means of getting there can be pretty expensive.
Surprised to read about 240, thought that was my ticket to first class!
Mala Mukunda
http://www.traveling-stories-magazine.com/
Comment by Mala Mukunda — November 16, 2007 @ 1:17 am
These aren’t secrets. It’s overstating the obvious.
Also most discount fares and low cost carriers are far cheaper than a bereavement fare. “Drive to a big airport” is logical, but every trip has it’s own circumstances.
I frequently fly to Chicago and drive to Michigan - but in the winter I’ll gladly pay $100 more, avoid renting a car and potential bad roads to fly right to my destination.
“”Fly cheap airlines?” Profound. How about “Sunny days are nice?”
Comment by james — November 27, 2007 @ 6:14 pm
While I agree with the example that LAX is often cheaper for the actual fare than Burbank or Long Beach, the fact that their parking rates (or my transpo costs for a shuttle) are cheaper can make it about the same. If it’s about the same, I’m going to opt for an airport that’s a little more civilized.
Comment by cybele — November 27, 2007 @ 6:22 pm
By the way #2 - fly cheap airlines isn’t limited to the Low Cost Carriers. In Denver UAL matches Frontier on many routes, and their e-fares are inexpensive as well.
Also if you’re going low cost know what your buying. Skybus with it’s heavy resrictions and no customer service - (and self transferred hub baggage) is a hell lot different than jetBlue or Frontier - which I don’t even consider “low cost carriers” even though they brand themselves as such.
For every price point you take off there’s tradeoffs - and that should be acknowledged or addressed.
Comment by james — November 27, 2007 @ 6:27 pm
By the way if I may pick apart this laughable list even more: “Bereavement Fares” are as antiquated as rotary phones and cassette tape answering machines. A walk up on most airlines is cheaper, and the pricing structure on airlines such as Southwest and Frontier are far far cheaper than a legacy’s bereavement.
Also #10? The ONLY two sites you need and one just happens to be yours?? Come on. Kayak and many others are great sites for “fare comparing” - and it’s all up to preference.
And again - price should NEVER be the only factor when considering an airfare. Look what happened to the people that booked ski vacations to Whistler on Skybus - who abrubtly exited the Seattle/Vancouver market.
Comment by james — November 27, 2007 @ 6:47 pm
Comment by Rick Seaney — November 27, 2007 @ 10:04 pm
Don’t be so sure. Recently I had to quickly find a flight to attend a funeral. Many of the major airlines have gotten rid of them, but I got what I felt was a fair deal from United on a bereavement fare and at a better price than Southwest or others had to offer. They treated me very well.
Comment by Brandon — November 28, 2007 @ 4:09 am
Comment by Rick Seaney — November 28, 2007 @ 11:08 am
I’m not testy - I just don’t find these “insider” tips that compelling or profound. And even a novice traveler knows “fly cheap airlines”
But I do appreciate your excellent pun:
You are dead wrong on bereavement airfares
Comment by james — November 28, 2007 @ 1:12 pm
I don’t think it’s true that rule 240 doesn’t exist anymore, at least on Northwest. I used it a couple of months ago and the agent knew what I was talking about and put me on another airline when my flight was canceled on Northwest. Not sure if it’s changed since then, but I know it did exist pretty recently. so not sure how accurate these tips are.
Comment by Audrey — November 28, 2007 @ 4:00 pm
Audrey, 240 really does not exist anymore. However, when people who pretend to “know how it works” bring up 240, most agents will just do whatever it takes to get rid of you simply because those people (you know, those who are so sure they know everything about everything and quote antiquated rules) out of their face. I suspect that Audrey’s experience had more to do with getting rid of her than the fact that it is still a rule.
Comment by Net — November 28, 2007 @ 5:21 pm
Comment by Rick Seaney — November 28, 2007 @ 7:36 pm
I’ll be flying from Canada to Asia due to a relative who passed away.
Isn’t it cheaper to use travel agents than to go straight to the airline’s ticketing office?
Would an airline drop the price and make it cheaper than an agent/broker if they knew you were traveling for bereavement reasons?
Comment by JC — November 29, 2007 @ 2:03 am
Rick,
The link “RSS feed for comments on this post” doesn’t seem to work.
Please advise.
Comment by JC — November 29, 2007 @ 2:05 am
Last minute bereavement fares worked for us.
We called American as they were the only ones to listen to us. Showed up in Toronto after driving 2 hours. Brought all the information with us. Hospital, time of day he died, doctor’s phone number, time of death, anything to prove our case which helped greatly.
We flew out within an hour. What we paid essentially was 2 for 1. I don’t know how American did it but it is possible.
Comment by Otto Bear — November 29, 2007 @ 3:47 pm
I WAS LOOKING TO BOOK A CHEAP FARE ON SKYBUS, BUT THEIR
BOOKING CALENDAR ENDED AT MAY 31,2007. WHY ARE DATES NOT AVAILABLE FOR A YEAR IN ADVANCE AS WITH MOST AIRLINES?
Comment by EMILY DEAN — December 6, 2007 @ 9:51 am
WOW James - lighten up. Rick is trying to help us all and doing all the leg work that none of us have time to do. If you can do it better or have more “inside information” then maybe you should start your own website. And by the way, bereavement fares are alive and well. I took advantage recently when my grandmother died and the airline was amazing.
Comment by Romie Bourne — January 4, 2008 @ 2:30 pm