Saving on Airfares

It pays to be flexible when searching for the cheapest airplane fares but it's confusing to know which way to turn. If you're traveling on a budget or want to stretch your travel dollars, saving money takes time and skill. The airlines, caught in intense competition to fly the most people at the least cost, offer many options today. These can result in significant cost savings. Knowing when and where to fly is as important as knowing when and where to buy .

When You Fly

Planning your travel dates and times can save lots of money. If you can be flexible in when you travel, you can get good savings by knowing which days and times tend to be cheaper.

• A Saturday night stay used to be essential in getting a good price. It can usually save you money, but it is no longer the only consideration.
• Late night (red eye) flights can be a less expensive way to get across the country or between continents.
• Flying between noon on Monday to noon on Thursday can cost a lot less. Your ticket may be cheaper if you wait to catch a 1 pm flight on Monday, rather than leave at 11 am.
• Travel off season. The time of year you fly makes a huge difference. Flying to Europe in the winter is much cheaper than in the summer, and spring and fall are generally moderate compared to summer. Flying to Florida is cheaper in the summer.
• If you're really flexible, another way to fly on the cheap is to fly standby. This works well for those who have the time to go to an airport in hopes that the flight they want is not full. Airlines often are willing to bargain for a cheap rate rather than fly with seats empty. But be prepared for extra security screening as a last-minute traveler.

Choosing the airport

Often it is cheaper to fly to or from a nearby airport rather than the main metropolitan airport, especially if the terminal is a hub for a discount airline. Flights into Orange County, CA, may be less expensive than those going to Los Angeles Airport. Baltimore/Washington International usually has cheaper flights than those leaving from Reagan National. Prices for the much smaller Midway Airport in Chicago are less than those going to O'Hare.

Competition among airlines flying to an alternate airport, especially when a low cost airline flies there, drives prices down.

Airports and travel agents can tell you which airlines fly to which airports, and individual airlines will be glad to tell you where they fly.

Where to buy

• Compare, compare, and compare. No matter where you like to shop, always compare prices. The best price from one place on one day may not be the best price the next day - or an hour later.
• Search major online travel sites like Expedia and Travelocity. Check more than one because they have different fares and schedules and report different search results. Once you book the ticket, you are locked into it. No changes are possible. If you can't use the ticket, you lose your money.

• Jose V. learned the hard way. He booked airfare for his son's wedding through Expedia. But he got the date wrong: he was scheduled to arrive the day after the wedding.

• Check the airline sites, too. Many encourage online booking with special offers with the lowest fares. Some airlines may offer lower fares than on travel sites such as Expedia.
• Talk to a reputable travel agent. Many people don't want to hassle with computers and ordering tickets online. Travel agents, even if you have to pay a small commission, can help you come up with best deal taking into account all the options of alternate dates, times, airlines and airports.
• Try a consolidator. For travel to a foreign country the best prices can be found by calling a travel agent who will look for "consolidator" tickets. Consolidators are companies that purchase blocks of tickets at discount prices from airlines and resell them through travel agents. Be sure to check out every detail, including refund policies, for any travel package.

Buy your ticket early

Buying at least 14 days before you fly nearly always saves money. If you need to book at the last minute, you might be lucky to find a great deal but more likely you will have to have to pay an outrageous price. If you are flying because of a death in the family, it is possible that -- after your trip - the airline will give you financial relief after you provide them with a death certificate or newspaper notice. But there is no guarantee.

AARP Resources

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AARP Travel Newsletter
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Additional Resources

Travelzoo.com
Top 20 Travel Deals, a free emailed newsletter.

www.smarterliving.com
Sign up for free email with hot travel deals.