| Tis the season to save money and enjoy your | | | | That’s always a good way to spend a flight. |
| vacation. | | | | And if you combine flying on the off days with flying |
| Air travel is expensive. But I’m not telling you | | | | a red-eye on an off day, you may get a real deal. |
| something you don’t already know. There are | | | | - Do your homework by comparing rates on the |
| many ways to save money on air travel — | | | | different websites. Travelocity, Priceline, Expedia, |
| some of them will save you a little, some will save | | | | Orbitz, Cheap Tickets and many other websites have |
| you a lot. Before you book your next trip, see if any | | | | discounted airline tickets as well as discounts on |
| of these money savings tips are options for you. | | | | hotels, car rentals, and other things related to travel. |
| - Consider flying out of another airport. Sometimes | | | | Take the time to check out the rates for each |
| the nearest airport does not have the best rates. | | | | website each time you book your travel. |
| Checking the rates at one or two of the next | | | | - While you are doing your homework, don’t |
| nearest airportsmay yield better airfare rates than | | | | forget to check out the airline’s websites. |
| the airport that is closest to you. It may be worth it | | | | Sometimes the airline’s websites have even |
| to travel an extra hour to the airport to save | | | | better deals than the discount sites. All this |
| hundreds of dollars. | | | | homework takes some time, but it will pay off in the |
| - If you have a trip planned for the future, butyou | | | | end with big savings. |
| aren’t ready to order your tickets yet, sign up | | | | - Go outside your comfort zone. You may be used |
| for e-mail alerts from all of the airlines that fly from | | | | to always flying the same big airline, but if you |
| the airport(s) near you to your destination. You | | | | consider one of the newer smaller airlines, you may |
| never know when an airline may be running a special | | | | be surprised at the savings you can grab. |
| to your exact destination. | | | | - Before you book your tickets, make sure that the |
| - If you are ready to order your tickets, order them | | | | price you have includes all fees and taxes. If |
| as far in advance as possible. The cheapest airfares | | | | you’re not getting the full price of the tickets |
| sell out quickly. The closer to the flight you buy your | | | | including fees and taxes, you may not actually be |
| tickets; the more expensive the tickets are likely to | | | | booking the least expensive airfare. |
| be. This is especially true around the holidays. | | | | Now that you’ve saved money on your |
| - If you are booking travel during the holidays, | | | | airfare, there are some things that you can do to |
| consider flying on the holiday itself. The days prior to | | | | help save money in other areas of your flight. |
| a holiday, airfares can be the highest they are all | | | | - Find out what the maximum luggage weight is for |
| year. If you can fly on the day of the holiday, you | | | | the airline you are traveling, and make sure you |
| can get some of the lowest airfares of the year. If | | | | don’t exceed it. If you check in luggage that |
| you do decide to book on the holiday, try to book as | | | | is over the weight limit, the airline can charge you a |
| early in the day as possible in case there are any | | | | fee for each bag that is over the limit. |
| delays so you don’t miss the holiday festivities | | | | - If you are driving to the airport, plan to leave early |
| once you get to your destination. | | | | enough so that you can park at one of the off site |
| - If you are phoning the airline directly for your | | | | parking facilities that are close to the airport. |
| tickets, ask for the cheapest fare, not just the fare | | | | - Ifyou’ve got a college age niece or nephew, |
| for coach. There may be a cheaper fare in a better | | | | next door neighbor or someone in that age range |
| seat, but you’ll never know if you | | | | who lives nearby ask them to drive you to and from |
| don’t ask. | | | | the airport. You can pay them $25 each way and |
| - Fly on the off days. Tuesday, Wednesday, | | | | save a bundle on airport parking, and get door to |
| Thursday, and sometimes Saturday are considered | | | | door service to the airport. |
| the off days (unless it’s around a holiday). If | | | | - Take your own snacks. If your airline does serve |
| you can fly to and from your destination on those | | | | food, they may charge for it, and chances are it |
| days, you are much more likely to get cheaper | | | | won’t be very good. You also won’t |
| flights. | | | | be tempted to pay the high price for the snacks you |
| - Check out the fares on red-eye flights. Those | | | | buy at the concessions after security because |
| flights don’t sell out as quickly as other flights | | | | you’ll already have what you’ll need on |
| and therefore may have less expensive fares. Sure, | | | | the plane. |
| if money were no object, the red-eye probably | | | | Same goes for your reading materials. Bring your own |
| wouldn’t be your first choice, but then again | | | | that you already have at home instead of buying |
| you may sleep your way through the whole flight. | | | | them from the airport stores. |