| There is a little known secret insiders use to get their | | | | movement of each plane. The industry term for that |
| air tickets much cheaper than the average traveler: | | | | goal is yield management. |
| Early flight reservations combined with delayed | | | | Only Few Airlines |
| ticketing for maximum flexibility of the travel | | | | I have to admit that not all airlines allow early flight |
| schedule. | | | | reservations combined with late ticketing. An airline |
| Insiders Remain Quiet | | | | which is closely connected to a huge home market |
| Few airlines allow it, and less travel agencies and | | | | knows the sensible flight dates without testing the |
| online booking portals talk about the opportunity. | | | | water every year. But airlines with a relatively small |
| Everyone is looking for a sale, and a reservation is | | | | domestic market and a huge global network, like |
| not yet a sale. But the travel agent has to take care | | | | Emirates or Air France/KLM prefer to test the |
| of every reservation in his portfolio, whether he has | | | | market year by year. |
| issued a ticket or not yet. Early flight reservations | | | | Price Not Guaranteed Before Ticketing |
| mean work for the travel agent work with mere | | | | But please be aware: The airfare is only guaranteed, |
| hope for a payment | | | | after a ticket is issued. Before the ticket is issued, |
| Better Access to Early Bird Airfares | | | | the airline may change the schedule, add a so called |
| But for you as customer an early flight reservation | | | | fuel surcharge to the ticket price, or withdraw the |
| means the chance to get an early birds airfare, | | | | fare in total. If that happens, you are back on square |
| without an immediate firm commitment. This is | | | | one, and you have to pay the price as offered on |
| important if you want to travel in high season, | | | | the day you find out that your old offer is gone. In |
| around Christmas, Easter Holidays, summer vacations, | | | | most cases, airlines give an advance warning before |
| or as far as Asia is concerned, the Chinese New Year | | | | they withdraw a fare. But at times there is no prior |
| season, or if you want to attend a big trade show | | | | warning. |
| like the Frankfurt Book Fare. | | | | Relationship with Travel Agent |
| For Airlines it is Yield Management | | | | The best way for you to save on peak season |
| You may ask why the airlines allow these early flight | | | | flights is to try to use early flight reservations and |
| reservations for a much lower price than you would | | | | back them up with a ticket order as soon as you are |
| pay if you booked your Christmas flight in December. | | | | reasonably sure that you will travel. This requires a |
| Do they have money to give away? | | | | trustful relationship between you and your travel |
| No. Airlines sell only a very limited number of seats | | | | agent. He does not want to work for free, and he |
| for these low prices. And the cheap seats for the | | | | will not do that time and again. But he will be happy |
| best timed flights are gone within a few hours after | | | | to provide this service for you if he knows you as a |
| being available in the reservation systems. This helps | | | | repeat customer, booking tickets through him on a |
| the airlines to identify very early the really hot selling | | | | regular basis. It also is important and a sign of |
| flights, and raise the prices for these specific | | | | fairness to cancel any reservation if you know that |
| connections quickly. The aim of any airline is to | | | | you will not use it. |
| receive as much revenue as possible for each | | | | |