About the Author
Ivana Wright
Ivana Wright is a Student who enjoys writing on a variety of topics.
As prices of every oil barrel continue to soar, airplane companies are now finding it hard to keep their airplanes on air without hiking up the fare. In 2007, airplane travel authorities recorded a total of 23 airfare hike attempts with 17 of them being successful. But this year, airplane officials disclosed how 2008 is barely over yet there are now 21 airfare hike attempts with 14 of them successful!
So if you are planning on getting an airplane ticket, Rule No. 1 is to decide, book, and buy your plane ticket early. Research online with www.farecompare.com which is being updated by Rick Seaney, a sought-after national airfare expert who provides interview and analysis for major news organizations: Wall Street Journal, New York Times, CBS Network news, ABC Network News, and CNN. Seaney has a chart that compares not just the fares but other fees and other charges.
Plan your travel to make sure that you come to travel on weekdays. Airplane travelers revealed that airline sales are usually cheapest when you fly on a Tuesday or Wednesday rather than Saturday or Sunday. And if you can handle it, check out airline schedules for late nights and early mornings as they usually have the better deals as compared to airline fares offered during peak periods of the day.
But if possible, remain flexible with your departure times, dates and destination. You can also get the best rate at Farecast, Travelzooʼs Top 20 or Airfare Watchdogʼs Top 50. There are also the best deals at www.dealoftheday.com.
Choose airlines with not only cheaper airfare ticket rates but also those which offer the least fees and other extra-charges. Look out for those Reservation by Phone per Person fee, 1st and 2nd Checked Bag and additional cost for seat selection/priority or leg room. Do not forget to check out their beverage/snack packet, meal, alcohol, oversize bag for each way and the extra-cost for overweight bags. If you are traveling with pets or when you are sending your minor son or daughter alone on the flight unaccompanied, it might do you good to ask how much you have to pay for them. Then there is the Non-Refundable Ticket Change fee.
Another tip that jet trotters are recommending is to use your travel mileage. If you do love to travel, then get enrolled on those membership rewards program offered by your favorite airlines. You will see that in the end they indeed pay off more than you can imagine.
Published by Ivana Wright on August 14, 2008 11:38 AM
