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 Travel & Outdoors | February 2005 
Travel Tips: Finding the Best Fare
 Nancy Chandross - CBS News
 If budget concerns have been preventing you from seeking out palm trees, ski slopes or out-of-town relatives, this may be a good time to revisit your travel wish list.
Struggling Delta Air Lines announced earlier this month that it was cutting some fares by as much as 50 percent, and its competitors have begun matching the prices. So there are definitely some deals to be found.
"If you're making a domestic flight … book it now," said Fodors.com editor Dave Downing. "Those are the ones they tend to slash to get interest going."
Delta also dropped its required Saturday night stay, lowered fees for changing tickets and capped prices on domestic flights. The company said that in the first five days of the offer, it received a 60 percent boost in sales as compared to the same period last year.
As the prices drop and travelers seek the best bargains, there's also a fair amount of haggling going on within the airlines. United Airlines and US Airways have been undergoing labor negotiations to cut costs and counter rising fuel expenses. Downing said travelers should not be overly concerned about the potential implications of airline restructuring or, in the worst-case scenario, bankruptcy.
"For an airline to go belly up is not something that happens overnight," said Downing. "If you pay attention to what's going on with an airline, you'll have a hard time getting stuck with your [frequent-flier] miles or your tickets."
Also, other airlines will likely honor your fare if you have a ticket for a defunct airline in an attempt to gain your allegiance at a time of confusion. "The people who lose in this are really the airline employees who give in to such wild concessions [during restructuring]," said Downing.
Europe on a Weak Dollar and Other Deals
While the dropping fares are good news for travelers, you may get a little confused by all the options for how to plan your vacation. Downing offers these tips to help you use your budget wisely, leaving plenty of spare change for meals, hotels and touring...
Affording Europe: The dollar is hovering around record lows as compared to the euro, which means a trip abroad will stretch your wallet this summer. But there are some ways to shield yourself from further expense if the dollar continues to drop and you still want to taste gelato in Italy or take a stroll through Nice.
"Lock in your tour now," said Downing. "If you can get the closure, pay the deposit and tell them to charge you now. You're taking a chance, but you can save some that way."
He also advises using automatic teller machines while abroad to get the most for your dollars. "The charges are lower than the amount you would pay to swap currency at the airport," he said.
Buy One Way: Conventional wisdom may lead you to look for round-trip airfare on domestic travel, but with carriers such as Jet Blue offering one-way tickets, buying in halves has become another alternative for finding a competitive rate.
"I rarely buy round-trip tickets these days," said Downing. "I went to Florida over Christmas and I couldn't find a round-trip ticket one week out for less than two one-way tickets. … So the closer you get to travel time, consider one-way tickets."
Spend More Time, Pay Less: With competition remaining strong among the airlines, it's tough to know when you'll the get best deal, which may leave some shoppers panicky about completing their purchase. Start scanning travel Web sites now, and keep track of the prices for the routes you're considering. As the fares change, you'll know when to buy. And shop quickly — since Web fares can quickly come and go.
"They change so rapidly, in some cases they're updated hourly," said Downing. "If your objective is to travel this summer just start now — you will know a good deal when you see one. A lot of times they're unadvertised."
"Lately a lot of airline Web sites, particularly foreign Web sites, are posting equal to or better than fares rather than using a consolidator," he said. "And there are incentives … sometimes they'll offer you $5 or $20 off for booking online." |
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