| ="body"> | | | | * Plan to schedule at least one day between your |
| Here's a tip that the airlines don't tell you: You can | | | | two tickets. Suppose you arrive late on your first |
| often get great savings on airfares--especially | | | | ticket and miss the departure flight on your second |
| international airfares--when you use more than one | | | | ticket? The airline on your second ticket may not |
| airline ticket for the same trip. | | | | have another departure to your destination that |
| But there is technique to it. Some challenges can arise | | | | same day, or it may charge you high fees to rebook. |
| when you use two tickets--but don't worry, I'm | | | | You can avoid this potential problem by scheduling |
| going to tell you how to avoid them right here. | | | | your departure for the next day from the outset - |
| Coming up with possible combinations | | | | and possibly enjoy the sites, a great restaurant, or |
| When you use two tickets for your trip, you are | | | | friends in that city while you're at it. |
| using two airfares, which normally couldn't be | | | | * If you must check luggage, plan to schedule at |
| combined on the same ticket. Typically, this means | | | | least several days between your two tickets. I |
| booking different airlines. | | | | always recommend that you pack everything you |
| So, how do you find two airfares that are cheaper | | | | need in your carry-ons, but I realize this is not always |
| than one? | | | | possible. So, if you must check luggage, plan to |
| One way is to think of popular cities between your | | | | schedule at least several days between your two |
| origin and destination that you would love to visit. | | | | tickets. |
| Popular cities usually have more competitive airfares. | | | | Since you cannot check your luggage from one airline |
| For example, you may not find a reasonably priced | | | | to another when using two tickets, if your luggage is |
| ticket from your city to Malaga, Spain, but you may | | | | late, the airline on the second ticket may not be |
| find a great deal to Dublin, another fabulous city to | | | | obligated to send your luggage on. So, if you are still |
| visit. And, because Malaga is popular with travelers | | | | in that city when it arrives, you will be able to pick it |
| from Ireland and the United Kingdom, it should be | | | | up yourself. (You can see how picking a city you'd |
| easy to find a cheap ticket from Dublin to Malaga. | | | | love to visit fits in quite well with this strategy.) |
| You've saved a bundle, and enjoyed two destinations | | | | And speaking of luggage, be sure to check the limits |
| for less than the price of one. | | | | on luggage size and weight with all airlines. The rules |
| Another way to save with two tickets is to use a | | | | occasionally change within the U.S., and note that |
| budget airline for part of your trip. | | | | airlines outside the United States have far more |
| For example, you probably won't find good airfares | | | | restrictive limits on luggage size and weight for both |
| from Raleigh to Mazatlan, but you'll almost certainly | | | | carry-on and check-on luggage, when your ticket |
| come across low fares from Raleigh to Las Vegas | | | | does not start or end in the U.S. The penalties for |
| and other major cities in the West because | | | | noncompliance can be steep. |
| low-priced Southwest Airlines flies these routes. | | | | * Consider asking a travel agent to set up your |
| And, because Mazatlan is a popular destination for | | | | itinerary. What if you pay for one ticket and then |
| travelers in the western U.S., you can expect to pick | | | | find that the other ticket is suddenly unavailable for |
| up a great fare from major cities to Mazatlan. In | | | | the price you expected? No airline price (even one |
| most cases, these two tickets will cost significantly | | | | displayed clearly online) is guaranteed until it's paid for. |
| less than buying one ticket from Raleigh to Mazatlan. | | | | Because of this, you may wish to use a travel agent |
| To see where several budget airlines fly, check out | | | | for two tickets. In most cases, he or she can void |
| the route maps of Southwest, JetBlue, WestJet | | | | the first ticket if you are unable to get the second |
| (Canada), and Ryanair (Europe, Ireland, and the | | | | ticket. |
| United Kingdom) at their websites. | | | | On the other hand, if you're flexible about your dates |
| Consider secondary airports and changing airports | | | | and airports, you may wish to go for discounts on |
| When setting up your two tickets, think of | | | | Priceline and other online sites for maximum savings. |
| secondary airports and changing airports while | | | | * If you'll be switching airports, find out how much |
| traveling, if you really want to save. | | | | time you'll need. Research the amount of time you |
| If you're traveling to Europe, Frankfurt, Paris, Rome, | | | | need to switch airports and factor that into your |
| and London all offer less well-known airports with | | | | flight departure time. For example, if you arrive in |
| incredibly cheap fares to other points in Europe. | | | | Paris Charles de Gaulle and depart from Paris |
| (Ryanair's site lists its European airports, which are | | | | Beauvais, transferring from one to the other can |
| also used by other budget airlines.) | | | | take hours, unless you choose to go by taxi--quicker, |
| For example, you may fly into London's Heathrow | | | | but expensive. |
| Airport from the U.S. on a bargain ticket, but you can | | | | * Although a few budget airlines, such as Southwest |
| fly on to other points in Europe more cheaply if you | | | | and JetBlue, are very financially strong, be sure to |
| fly out of London's Lutton, Stansted, or Gatwick | | | | check out ones you're not familiar with. If an airline's |
| airports. | | | | stock price has lost most of its value, the airline may |
| Many cities in the U.S. also have more than one | | | | offer more than the usual number of flight |
| airport, and usually the lesser known is predominantly | | | | cancellations and changes. |
| used by budget airlines, such as the Midway Airport in | | | | Knowledge equals... |
| Chicago. | | | | Using more than one ticket has helped me afford to |
| Five ways to avoid inconvenience when you combine | | | | travel the world. But be sure to follow these tips to |
| tickets | | | | avoid inconvenience. You've heard of knowledge = |
| Using two tickets does increase your chances for | | | | power. Well, here let's say knowledge = great |
| inconvenience, so follow these procedures when | | | | savings plus smooth traveling. |
| you're setting up your itinerary: | | | | |