Save Money On Your Next Airline Flight

For the latest deals on airline tickets please see my website at http://www.vegaskyle.com/airline There are so many airlines and so many online websites selling tickets that the prospect of buying the perfect ticket at the right price seems daunting. When you look at the entire picture, it does seem overwhelming but if you break the task up into small and manageable pieces you are sure to get the best price possible on the airline ticket that you want. Most importantly- you can save money on your airline tickets without having to rely on airfare price wars or on travel agents. The first thing you need to understand is that prices depend on three factors. Supply, demand, and competition. These are the same market forces that affect prices in the rest of the real world. What increases prices? A decrease in supply, an increase in demand, or a decrease in competition. On the flip side, prices decrease when there is an increase in supply, a decrease in demand, or an increase in competition. So, here are some secrets... Call the airline directly just after midnight during the week. First, there are few people calling at that time of night. Second, the price changes almost always take effect at midnight. This isn't as true as it used to be but sometimes still effective. The internet has caused the airlines to be more efficient at changing airline prices. If you have other airports nearby consider using them. This works not only for destinations but also arrivals. But, consider all costs involved (parking, cab fare, and of course, your time. Book your flights as soon as your travel plans can be finalized. By doing so, you give yourself more options. Some tickets may be non-refundable so check all of the fine print. If you find an inefficiency---Where one site is offering the same flight for less than other sites then you need to jump on the flight and purchase it now before the inefficiency goes away. How does this happen? There are 4 different central reservation systems that various airlines use. They all update at different times so therefore inefficiencies do often happen. But, great deals can also be obtained at the last minute. Once an aircraft has left the airport the empty seat is worthless so sometimes airlines will, in fact, reward procrastinators for booking their flight at the last minute. Often, you must be much more flexible in your travel plans. Mid-week travel is often cheaper than beginning and end of week travel. Wednesday is typically the cheapest day to travel followed by Tuesday and Thursday. Seasoned travelers may consider the use of split tickets or one-way tickets to save money. Sometimes, a one way ticket to your destination and a one way ticket from your destination is cheaper than the original round-trip. Or, a split ticket can be used. For example you might fly from your airport to some intermediary city then from that city to your destination. This often works better when you can fly into an airline's hub. Your age can play a factor in airline discounts. Ask for student or senior citizen discounts. What is the worst thing that can happen? In some cases, just one member of the party needs to qualify for everyone to get the special price. Military discounts are also a possibility if you or a family member serves in the military. Do not be afraid to use the internet to search for the cheapest flights available. One caveat, not all airlines appear at all internet search sites. In fact, Southwest appears at none of them. So, if you are using an internet search engine like Travelocity or Expedia you will want to get their lowest price then compare it to Southwest. Here is what I often do. First, I check airline prices on Travelocity, then compare it to Orbitz, and then to Expedia. If I feel adventurous, I go to Priceline and attempt a cheaper price there. If unsuccessful, I continue by checking the airline website to ensure it is the best deal. You would want to check independent airlines like AirTran and Southwest If you would want to fly them as well. If you have some time to book your airline ticket you can watch the Sunday edition of a local paper near an airport for advertisements from "Bucket Shops" or "Charters". Bucket Shops buy seats from airlnes that are going to be unsold at a severe discount. They in turn try to fill them at a profit. A charter company might actually book an entire flight and crew for their own customers and hope to fill the plane. The downside is that they are much quicker to cancel a flight that is undersold leaving the customers with no way to reach their destination. Some additional tips once your flight is booked. Get extra leg room by flying in the emergency row. Of course, you must be willing to assist in the event of an emergency. Get BUMPED! I love to get bumped from an oversold flight if I am not in a hurry. The compensation can range from cash to a free room or airline ticket voucher or even a free meal. It is a great way to get something for just some of your time. Travel as light as possible. Traveling light allows you to be more flexible if you need to change flights or get bumped. Check into first-class upgrades. Sometimes, these can be bought for just $25! Remember, asking is a no-obligation question. If the price is too high, just pass. If there is a problem at the airport, use a cell phone or pay phone to call the airline's central reservations center. It will be quicker than waiting in line with a whole plane full of angry passengers and only two clerks. Finally, start your search at our website http://www.vegaskyle.com/airline Are you having a hard time finding the tickets you want? We'll help you by email if you are ready to buy now and through our links. Email me at kyle@mcpeck.com. Have a tip that we did not mention? Email us at the same address and we'll mention it in our next update and give you the credit. Now, get going. Get your cheap airline tickets now! Additional Resources: Our Forums: http://www.vegaskyle.com/forums