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Booking
airline tickets has become an art form. One day too
late, or choose the wrong layover, and you're paying
hundreds more than you need to. It takes a lot of
sleuthing and a bit of finesse to get the seat you want,
the price you need and the dates you prefer. Often you
can find good deals through online airline
ticket purchase especially you are buying from
low cost or budget airlines. Here's how
to get from point A to point B on your own terms.
Instructions
STEP 1:
Start your search at least a few months ahead of time to
take advantage of advance-booking fares. Travel midweek
and stay over a Saturday night whenever possible. Stay
on your toes: The cheap seats always sell out first.
Always visit budget airlines websites such as Airasia.com, Ryanair.com Jetblue.com. They often have
offers towards the end of the month.
STEP 2:
Look for flights on your frequent-flier carrier first
and compare its cheapest rate to those on sites such as
Priceline.com, Expedia.com and Travelocity.com. Also
check out consolidators such as AirTravelCenter.com and
auction sites. Many airline Web sites offer lower
Internet-only fares. This is applicable if you intend to
travel overseas to countries like the U.K., United
States or other European countries. If you are
travelling out of Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei or
Indonesia, please check out with your travel agent on
the next MATTA fair or any applicable travel fair where
you can get good bargains.
STEP 3:
Consider flying through a secondary airport. Orange
County and Burbank are alternatives to LAX, and Newark
International can substitute for the busier and
oft-delayed JFK or LaGuardia airports in the U.S. You
may have to drive further, but if flights are impossible
to get or impossibly expensive, you might be surprised
by the ease of use and friendlier prices of smaller
airports. The same goes for those cheap airlines
travelling in Europe such as Easyjet, Ryanair etc.
STEP 4:
Request your seat preference (aisle or window) when
buying your ticket. You could find yourself with a
middle seat if you wait until check-in. SeatGuru.com has
detailed maps of the best and worst seats on specific
planes, so you can avoid seats that don't recline and
keep an eye out for those with extra leg room.
STEP 5:
Request any special assistance or equipment (such as a
wheelchair) for disabled travelers prior to arriving at
the airport.
STEP 6:
Keep the length of the flight, the layovers, the amount
of gear you're carrying and the time of day in mind when
deciding whether to buy a seat (often discounted) for an
infant. Domestic carriers permit you to hold children
under 2 years of age on your lap, while international
flights require a ticket and a seat for every passenger.
STEP 7:
Place special meal orders at no extra charge, if they
are offered on your flight. For example, United offers
diabetic, low fat and low cholesterol, low-calorie,
high-fiber, low-protein, low-sodium, kosher and vegan
meals. There are also meals for children. These special
meals are often tastier than the regular fare.
STEP 8:
Find out whether tickets are refundable, transferable or
changeable (and at what cost) before you buy. Get
e-tickets when possible. Having paper tickets mailed
usually involves an extra fee, and they're like cash: If
you lose them, they're gone.
Overall Tips & Warnings
-
Join a frequent-flier program if you haven't yet.
Even if you fly on a bunch of different airlines,
the miles will eventually add up.
-
Print boarding passes online usually a day before
your flight.
-
Sign up for e-mail newsletters from airlines to read
about cheap fares.
- If
you opt to fly with an infant on your lap, bring
your car seat on board anyway, head directly to the
very back (and most undesirable) row and install the
seat next to the window as required by the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA). If the flight is not
full, you will be allowed to keep your child in the
car seat, which is far more comfortable (and safer)
for both of you.
- If
your favorite airline doesn't go to your
destination, ask if it has reciprocity with another
airline. For example, United's partner for much of
Western Europe is Lufthansa, so miles booked through
United on Lufthansa earn you United frequentflier
miles. Northwest has a similar deal with Continental
and KLM. [article adapted from
ehow.com]
How To Buy
Cheap Online Tickets
Instructions
STEP 1:
Keep yourself updated on airfare wars by watching the
news and reading the newspaper. Look for limited-time
promotional fares from major airlines and airline
companies just starting up.
STEP 2:
Be flexible in scheduling your flight. Tuesdays,
Wednesdays and Saturdays are typically the cheapest days
to fly; late-night flights ('red-eyes'), very early
morning flights and flights with at least one stop tend
to be discounted as well.
STEP 3:
Ask the airline if it offers travel packages to save
money in other areas. For instance, is a rental car or
hotel room available at a discount along with the
airline ticket?
STEP 4:
Find out whether the stated fare is the cheapest, and
inquire about other options when speaking to the airline
reservations clerk. If you're using the Internet, check
more than one Web site and compare rates.
STEP 5:
Inquire about standby fares if you're flying off-season.
High season is a bad time to fly standby because most
airlines overbook flights, making it difficult to find a
spare seat.
STEP 6:
Purchase tickets through consolidators, who buy blocks
of tickets and sell them at a discount to help an
airline fill up all available seats. Check the travel
section of the newspaper under 'Ticket Consolidators.'
STEP 7:
Book early. You can purchase advance-ticket discounts by
reserving 21 days ahead; book even earlier for holiday
flights, especially in November and December. Keep in
mind that holiday 'blackout periods' may prevent you
from using frequent-flier miles.
STEP 8:
Stay with the same airline during your entire trip to
receive round-trip or connecting fare discounts. Tips &
Warnings
-
Note strict refund and exchange policies on tickets
bought through name-your-price sites.
-
Once you've shopped around, consult a travel agent
to find out if he or she can ferret out a cheaper
ticket.
- If
you take at least two trips a year, you can get
discounted fares by joining a travel club.
- If
you will be visiting different countries on the same
trip, you can save by asking the agent to arrange
open-jaw flights, in which you arrive in one city
but depart from another.
-
Ask about student, senior and military discounts.
-
Consolidators may delay in delivering your tickets,
don't allow refunds or exchanges, and don't take
reservations.
- To
protect yourself, purchase through a travel agent,
pay by credit card, and consider buying
travel-cancellation insurance.
Article
source: http://www.ehow.com |
