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- Finding Cheap Tickets
Aerial View of Mt. Kenya
Photo by Alfredo De Simone
The no-frills airline, launched by Southwest in the 1980s, is no longer a U.S. phenomena. Discount airlines are popping up around the world. They are taking over domestic and international routes throughout Europe and Asia and select routes in South America, Africa and the Middle East. A few even operate intercontinental flights. And many are profitable.
Yet there is a flip side to cheap tickets. Travelers can spend a significant amount of time scouring the web for the best deal. Not all countries have a no-frills airline and not all airports are serviced by a low-fare airline. Many low-cost airlines cannot be booked through on-line agencies or airline ticket consolidators, such as Momondo, Expedia, Orbitz and Lastminute. Promotional offers are usually limited and expire on a daily if not hourly basis. And when you finally find a cheap plane ticket, it is difficult to compare the offering.
The following tips will reduce your search time and prepare you for any additional travel time.
Research- Determine which low-cost airlines service the route you wish to fly. Many airport web sites include a route map as well as a list of carriers. Alternatives will only become apparent if you check the web site of both airports, arrival and departure.
- If you are traveling abroad or within a foreign country or continent, identify local on-line agencies and consolidators of discount airfares.
- Discount airlines often use secondary airports. Verify distance and ground transportation before you book. Most low-fare airlines and many airline ticket consolidators provide such information on their web sites.
- Many no-frills airlines offer point-to-point service. It may not be possible to check-in for a second flight at a transit desk. Thus you may need to build-in time between flights to accommodate any passport formalities, claim your luggage and check-in for the second leg of your journey.
- Security precautions introduced by major credit card companies may limit your ability to book flights on foreign web sites.
- Initiate your search with on-line agencies and airline ticket consolidators.
- Subscribe to the airline and to the consolidator’s newsletter.
- Utilize services that enable you to set a price, such as the Orbitz “Deal Detector”. Orbitz will send an email if fares on the route you select drop to the price level you set. The service is available for free.
- Use the consolidator as a tool. Book directly with the discount airline. This may reduce the service charge without affecting the fare.
- Discount airfares are often quoted on a one-way basis.
- Taxes, handling fees and other surcharges such as checked baggage are not always included in the initial price. Click through to the final page to effectively compare cost.
- Cheap plane tickets may be quoted in the airline or consolidator’s local currency only. Converting fares to a single currency will facilitate comparison.
- Pack a lunch or a snack and drinks for all. No-frills airlines charge extra for food and drinks!
- Arrive at the airport early if you want to sit next to the kids. Seating is likely to be open and boarding is oftentimes based on the order in which passengers' check-in.
