Yeah baby, twice in a single weekend -I'm stoked to present another Top 10 list. This time it's in regards to finding the best airfare. Read on:
1. Act fast. Many airlines are reducing their fleets this year, starting in September, Mr. Harteveldt said, so travelers will compete for fewer seats. "If you see a good price, it's where you want to go, a price you can afford, then don't wait around. Chances are there aren't going to be many seats at that low price," he said.Argh! Again with that Wednesday middle-of-the-night business (tip #4). But, okay, this is a better explanation. What the author is talking about scoring midweek are webfares. I get that and guess I'll agree. But the airline's weekly webfares are typically set for a limited set of cities (usually not the ones you want) for the next weekend and maybe the weekend after that. They are also set for short stays (e.g. 2-3 days). If that's the type of trip you are seeking or you are looking for a more last-minute deal, then I guess I have to agree with that advice and stand corrected from my earlier post.
2. Rethink your destination. If you have got to get away but prices are hindering you, think about changing your destination. Airfares to New York are up about 23% this summer from last summer, versus a 7% rise on airfares to Seattle, according to Travelocity, based on booking data. Airfares to Rome are up 19%, while airfares to Cancún are up 2%. Airfares to the Bahamas are up 14%, while those to the U.S. Virgin Islands are down almost 3%, according to Travelocity.
3. Plan. Some industry watchers see prices rising higher; others aren't so sure. Still, planning is often a better strategy than waiting. "Half of us know where we want to be for Thanksgiving ... yet most of us wait. If you know right now, book now," said Rudy Maxa, host of the travel show "Rudy Maxa's World" on PBS.
4. Time your search. Start looking for deals midweek. Airlines often file their weekly Web specials on Tuesdays, said Amy Ziff, editor at large with Travelocity. "As those come online, that availability will be seen Tuesday or Wednesday."
5. Time your stay. If heading to a vacation-centric market, go midweek, when fewer leisure travelers go. If your destination is frequented by business travelers, there isn't a hard-and-fast rule, so check different days for the best pricing, Ms. Ziff said.
6. Search hard. Check the airlines' own Web sites, and other sites like Kayak.com, Mobissimo.com, Priceline.com, Hotwire.com, Cheapoair.com, and Farecast.Live.com. Southwest generally doesn't appear on these sites, so check Southwest.com. Mr. Maxa said that he likes CheapFlights.com because it is easy to see price variation by date. He said he likes Priceline for hotel and car deals, though he noted Enterprise Rent-a-Car has been offering a 50% discount on weekend rentals.
7. Stay flexible on travel dates. A good way to find the cheapest fares, Mr. Parsons said: Plug in a date, and then compare that price with the fare for travel two weeks after that, and again to two weeks beyond that. Also, he said, avoid Sunday travel and, if possible, go in September or October instead of July and August.
8. Consider cruises. While cruise lines also feel the pinch of rising fuel costs, some are offering deals. European cruises can offset the brutal effects of the dollar-to-euro exchange rate. "With Norwegian Cruise Lines I'm seeing a huge effort in specials and promotions," said Lauren Volcheff, who is marketing director for LastMinuteTravel.com, in Orlando, Fla.
9. Try travel agents, online and off, for deals. They purchase volume deals in advance and may have locked in lower rates on hotels and airfare, Mr. Harteveldt said.
10. Sign up for airline (and other travel-company) newsletters. Airlines eager to fill up seats may send out email alerts about last-minute deals. On June 18, Virgin America issued a note to customers saying those booking by June 25 could fly from New York to Las Vegas for $159 each way (service starts Sept. 4); from Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles or San Francisco for $149 each way; and from Seattle to Las Vegas or San Diego for $99 each way.
However, I'll share a real tip with you on that very same topic. Go visit and subscribe to AirFareWatchdog.com. Enter in your home airport and they'll send fare updates to your RSS reader. I scored a $122 (inclusive of all taxes & fees) trip to DEN tipped from that site - and I was able to get my desperately needed beauty sleep as well!
Otherwise, all good tips. Very good.
Deals await the flexible flier [WSJ, subscription required]
AirFareWatchdog.com [Official Site]
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