http://lukeford.net/blog/?p=3119 Ask a woman out on a date. What a concept! This means, don’t just say, "Oh, by the way, I’m going to a party Saturday night, want to come?" This also means, don’t send an e-mail (or worse, a text message) saying, "Hey, wanna do coffee sometime?" It means phone her or say to her in person, very specifically: "I’d love to take you out. What are you doing tomorrow?"
Friday, May 30, 2008
How Do You Make Good People?
http://lukeford.net/blog/?p=3095 My travails as a babysitter remind me of the need to keep Jews strapped in their halachic seat-belts so they don’t run around our spinning globe infecting the dumb goyim with transgressive notions of socialism and sodomy.
I Had A Nervous Breakdown Live On My Cam
http://lukeford.net/blog/?p=3126 I got a fit of the giggles while trying to do my voice exercises and imagining what it would be like for a nice Jewish girl to go on a date with her moral leader. I plan to have more such spontaneous and uncontrollable breakdowns live on my cam every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 5:30 p.m. sharp.
Taking Israel Lobby To Israel
http://lukeford.net/blog/?p=3123 In recent decades U.S. Middle East policy has been strongly influenced by the political activities of the "Israel lobby," a loose coalition of groups and individuals that works openly to encourage the "special relationship" between the United States and Israel. This talk will identify the main features of this special interest group, explain how it works to shape U.S. policy, and suggest that its influence has been unintentionally harmful to Israel itself.
United By Platitudes
http://lukeford.net/blog/?p=3124 Two months ago, the Rev. Eric Lee and Daphna Ziman were embroiled in a high-profile feud. Ziman, a Jewish philanthropist, had written a widely circulated e-mail accusing Lee of having launched into a hateful tirade attacking Jewish influence in Hollywood at a banquet she attended.
I Hate Myself!
http://lukeford.net/blog/?p=3112 I've made a massive media buy in all the major markets to launch this attack ad on myself. I'm mad as heck and I'm not going to take it anymore. Here's why I hate myself.
At The Top Of Every Hour, I'm Gonna Pop A Balloon Until My Demands Are Met!
http://lukeford.net/blog/?p=3099 I am sick and tired! I won't take it anymore. Do what I want or I'll kill a balloon live on my cam. Can't take the killing any more? Then stop thwarting my desires, Emma!
How Do We Make Good People?
http://lukeford.net/blog/?p=3095 My travails as a babysitter remind me of the need to keep Jews strapped in their halachic seat-belts so they don’t run around our spinning globe infecting the dumb goyim with transgressive notions of socialism and sodomy.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
I Fear I'm A Lousy Lover
http://lukeford.net/blog/?p=3071 I’m watching the movie American Gangster. The cop, played by Russell Crowe, is making love to his lawyer while carrying her around a kitchen (she’s facing him with her knees around his hips, you get the picture?). He puts her on a counter top and they push everything out of their way on to the floor.
Jewish Vigilantes In Crown Heights
http://lukeford.net/blog/?p=3072 An Orthodox Jewish vigilante group, under fire in Brooklyn after one of its members attacked a black man, uses "Soviet-style tactics" and continues to operate "outside the boundaries of the law," critics said yesterday.
Luke Ford's Guide to Overcoming Materialism
http://lukeford.net/blog/?p=3073 As long as I’ve been Jewish — 15 years — I’ve been poor. I’ve never been treated badly because of it. On the contrary, on countless occasions, Jews (and goys) have helped me out. I’ve had countless occasions to bemoan my poverty. Some years I haven’t been able to afford a lulav and etrog so I’ve had to borrow one at shul. It sucks not being able to go out with your friends, but I’ve never found "materialism" a problem in Jewish or goyish life.
Luke Ford's Guide to the Best Movies
http://lukeford.net/blog/?p=3075 The best guide to movies is the imdb.com rating. Check out their top 250. I looked over the top 100 Sunday and rented The Lives of Others and Downfall. Both are superb German films.
‘Countersinning: How to Practice Jew-Jitsu on the Devil’
http://lukeford.net/blog/?p=3077 A young man came into my chat room seeking moral leadership. He lives in West Virginia with his friend and his wife. The Mrs. has been coming on to him. What should he do? In the short term, he should practice onanism, thus using one sin to fight another. In the long run, he should move out.
When To Move In For Your First Kiss
http://lukeford.net/ The most nervewracking time in a relationship is when you move in for the first kiss. Asking a girl out, asking her in to see your etchings, etc, that's all easy as pie compared to moving in for the first kiss. Your Moral Leader provides guidance.
Sydney Pollack RIP
http://lukeford.net/ Luke Ford shares his very personal memories of Sydney Pollack, the great movie director -- Tootsie, The Way We Were, Out of Africa. He died of cancer at age 73.
Keep it comin' love
http://lukeford.net/ Your Moral Leader celebrates his joy with HaShem. Live from the hovel. Just look into his eyes and you'll know what you need to do to change your life.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Cheap Tickets & Cheap Cruises
From msnbc:
From mega cruise ships to houseboats, and steamboats to windjammers, we’ve got you covered. 1.
Although most adults would jump at the chance to lie out on exotic island shores for a week or two, long-haul
From the glittering lights of Hollywood, to the exotic desert and ocean landscapes of the Baja peninsula, a 4-night Royal Caribbean cruise is a great way to sample the bounties of Southern California and Baja California, Mexico. 3.
You may not associate fine wines with cruising, nor cruising with portside vineyard tours and tastings, but that’s exactly what you’ll get on a 3-night “Culture of the Vine” cruise to
4. Cruise to nowhere from NYC
Autumn is an enchanting time to visit
There’s no better way to sail the historic open waters of New England than on Maine Windjammer Cruises’ flagship 19th-century, 29-passenger schooner, the Grace Bailey. 7. Mississippi River barge cruise
It’s fitting that the largest river in North America — the great
8. Ohio River steamboat sailing
While sailing might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you picture Ohio, the “American Discovery” cruise, operated by Majestic America Line, has redefined the landscape of this slice of Middle America. The real attraction of the cruise, though, is the 88-stateroom Delta Queen herself. 9.
Celebrity Cruises’ recently refurbished Mercury proves that life can be fine indeed in "outer space." Between ports, sip cocktails at any of the ship’s numerous onboard bars, enjoy signature spa treatments, and gamble and dance the night away. 10. Tex/Mex cruise
For quick cruise flings to
Cheap Tickets & Following The Crowd
From msnbc:
Follow the crowd.
That’s right, stand in that long line at the airport. Book the happenin’ hotel, the popular cruise. Go on, vacation with the masses.
When you’re visiting family for the holidays
Ask travel experts how to have a trouble-free trip around he holidays, and they’re quick to offer the following advice: schedule your flight on the actual holiday, like Christmas Day, when everyone is opening presents, or New Years Day, when half the world is hung over. The roads are quiet and the flights are flying practically empty.
Please! I recently traveled on some of the busiest air travel days of the year, the Friday, Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving. No kidding. When you’re planning a seasonal vacation
Another popular tip is to vacation at a place during off-peak season. Go to
Here’s a piece of advice that gets dispensed a lot: Avoid those popular morning flights, because they’re crowded and expensive. Take the red-eye instead. I’ve given that advice for years. I’ll never forget the Virgin Atlantic flight from
The bottom line is, sometimes you should follow the crowd when you travel. Mary Huff, a communications consultant from
Meanwhile, a crowd of people was running away from the unstable passenger. Now Huff thinks twice before listening to her inner contrarian.
Cheap Tickets & Cheap Flights
Here's a comprehensive essay:
3. USE THE INTERNET
4. USE A TRAVEL AGENT
Airline pricing is a complex, unpredictable beast driven by three ugly words: competition, demand, and inventory. Airlines call it "yield management," but we doubt if even airline CEOs fully understand it. All major airlines feed their available seats and prices into four central reservation systems that are owned by various airlines. Airlines then change their prices based on demand. If a certain flight is selling well, the price will increase. If another flight has no takers, the fare will drop until the airline gets some. As a result, fares and inventory are changing every minute.
Internet travel sites and travel agents use the central reservation systems which are updated periodically during the day. The systems also may use different algorithms to search for the lowest fares, which subsequently provide varied fares.
Airlines change their prices based on competition. If one airline flying the New York-Miami route drops its rates by 20%, chances are all airlines will drop their rates, so as not to give the discounter a competitive advantage.
Fare differences can exist for the same route on different airlines because of other factors. For example, if one airline has the market share for that route, it may not need to lower fares to attract passengers.
Prices for a specific flight can go up or down even as your travel agent is getting your credit card information from you, so your cheap ticket can be whisked out from under you. Naturally, the lowest fares draw your attention to advertisements. If there is low availability and high demand, you will have to wait for a cheap fare. Sometimes airlines will change their fares or open up more discounted seats, depending on how sales are going.
Regardless of whether you use the Internet or a travel agent, you will come up with a wide range of prices. The challenge is to know how to make the cheap fares yours.
Ask for the lowest fare, saying that your dates are flexible. If you can adjust your times to fly, you increase your chances of getting a cheap fare. Airlines typically attach restrictions to discount fares, like a 7-, 14-, or 21-day advance purchase and/or a Saturday night stay. Keep checking. It behooves airlines to have full planes, so they may add discount seats without warning. Ask about senior discounts or student discounts. Check smaller discount airlines that may not be included in the central reservation systems. These smaller airlines usually only have area-specific flights available (e.g., the Southeast), but they are much cheaper than the big airlines. So especially consider them if you're not travelling too far.
Join a travel club. Fly on a mid-weekday. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the cheapest days to fly. A consolidator is an intermediary company that buys tickets at a discount directly from the airline. Here are the web sites of some ticket consolidators. They use the central reservation systems to find cheap fares but also offer some tickets at an even greater discount.
www.lowestfare.com
www.cheapseats.com
www.cheaptickets.com
3. USE THE INTERNET
It has given you, the customer, access to the same computer systems that travel agents use (that's why travel agents always seem so sad nowadays . . . ). Not everyone who finds their best rate online actually buys online, instead turning to the airline or a travel agent. Below is a review of some of the most popular Internet travel sites by category.
Trip planners
These sites have several services that slice and dice your flight inquiries in any number of ways. They can search one-way trips, round trips, each leg of the trip, by price, by date, by time, and by multiple airports. Travelocity.com has airplane seat maps for 13 airlines, in case you want to choose your seat too. Many trip planning sites also have hotel room finders and car rental options. Cheaptickets.com has a Fare Aware option that shows what other passengers paid for a certain trip at the same time last year. For the top 1,000 routes in the United States, the service shows the average price, average number of passengers, what a one-way trip costs, the airline that flies that route the most often, and the low-fare courier rate. Popular sites include:
www.expedia.com
www.travelocity.com
www.travel.americanexpress.com
travel.yahoo.com
www.cheaptickets.com
www.webflyer.com
It also advertises the latest travel bargains and ongoing airline sales.
Auction sites
At reverse auctions, individuals specify the price they will pay for a seat and the airlines either agree to the price or not.
Reverse auction sites include www.priceline.com and www.expedia.com, a Microsoft-owned travel site that has a feature enabling customers to name their price. Regular auction sites include SkyAuction.com, which sells available airline tickets and vacation packages. Airline sites
Finally, one way to use the Internet to check for prices is to go to the airline sites directly. Many airlines have lower fares that you can only get when you book online or when you buy an e-ticket (a paperless ticket). So don't overlook them when searching for fares. Use any search engine, such as www.yahoo.com or www.altavista.com, and enter the airline of your choice to get to its site. While the Internet travel sites are unbeatable resources that enable you to see the range of available prices, there is no one site that can guarantee the lowest fare -- no matter what they advertise. A recent search for flights from Boston to Toronto, Canada, on the above sites turned up "lowest fares" ranging from $222 to $500 at a variety of times and airlines.
4. USE A TRAVEL AGENT
Travel agents have an edge over Internet travel sites, because they are trained to work the system. Travel agents know how to use the central reservation systems better and faster to unearth information. Typically, airlines outside the systems are the smaller, discount airlines. Internet travel sites also provide these services, but like the airline searches, they require an affinity for entering dates and specifying choices.
Agents make 5% commission on airplane tickets, which is capped at $50 for a round-trip and $25 for a one-way domestic ticket.
The commission system could also affect how hard they search for the cheapest tickets. While travel agents say they actively pursue the lowest fare for each customer, how much time would you spend tracking down a $200 ticket rather than selling the $500 one? Which ticket makes your 5% commission bigger? That's why you should still do your own independent research on the Internet, even if you use a travel agent (and vice versa). If you find a lower price, throw it in his/her face.
Cheap Tickets & Northwest
From northwest:
BUYING TICKETS
Here are some issues of which you might want to be aware, when dealing with the web sites that sell air tickets.
Booking process
Usually online booking only, so no "person-contact". You will want a web site which offers excellent security and privacy. Economy Travel 
has a user-friendly interface.
Ticket type
Do you prefer electronic tickets, known as "e-tickets" or traditional paper tickets? Tickets are often only issued electronically. A way to see if paper tickets are offered is to check for home-delivery if that is your preference.
Paper tickets. Losing a paper ticket can be costly.
They might attract a fee if you want to pick the ticket up at the airport.
Not as readily available and convenient as e-tickets.
- E-tickets. In the meantime passengers can have difficulty moving between airlines, for example in the case of delayed or cancelled flights, or even connecting flights.
Time frame
Check whether there is a limited time frame between booking, paying for and using the ticket. This is often the case with airlines posting last minute bargains. Additional costs
Check whether quoted prices include additional mandatory costs.
tax charges such as US$2 on each flight segment
passenger facility charges (PFCs) of up to US$12
ticket processing charges
fuel surcharges
Changing your mind
Check whether the ticket is refundable. If you can cancel a ticket, check whether there are penalties for doing so. Multiple specials
If you put several web specials together will they be ticketed separately?
Frequent flyer programs
Will the purchase go towards your frequent flyer account? Sometimes bonus miles for booking online apply. If using an airline's own web site, can you enroll in its frequent flyer program online? Can you access your account online?
Online travel auctions allow you to name your price, but you might not be able to name your airline. And as mentioned above, you might want to check whether your ticket (paper or e-ticket) will be honored by another carrier in the event of flight delays and cancellations. Can you risk disruptions to your itinerary?
Payment
Look for the site's customer service section describing security, privacy, returns policy and guarantees. When purchasing from any site, avoid those requesting cash. Cash on delivery or credit card are the best options (often credit card is the only method offered). With credit card you can dispute charges if goods are misrepresented or don't arrive. For example, search under “security” in the browser's "help" file, and look for merchant security information under headings like "Help," "Information" or "About us."
If you are buying your ticket though a third party using check or money order, after booking but before paying, call the airline directly to ensure you have a confirmed booking.
Auction fraud accounts for nearly nine out of every 10 Internet-related complaints filed with the National Consumer League's
(The law recently intervened in a dispute between "quikbook.com" and "quickbook.com".) Verify the contact information by calling them, or, by checking with directory assistance.
If you are booking through a travel agent, look for membership in organizations such as the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA). If you are booking through a tour operator (they usually specialize in package deals), look for membership in organizations such as the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA). Our affiliate, Economy Travel , is fully licensed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Check up on a company through the American consumer protection agency, the Better Business Bureau. Check what others are saying by doing a search on the name of the web site in newsgroup search engines such as Deja.com, Remarq or Talkway. The only complaint is that Economy Travel has a smaller selection of airlines than some other ticket sellers.
Cheap Tickets To Disneyland
Brett writes:
Those are just some of the reasons to consider taking your trip to the
Bob Deuel, public relations director for
Besides personal space, the length of lines for rides makes or breaks a trip, particularly with small children. That said, there is a slight chance of rain in
Expedia.com and other discount travel Web sites also offer deals, depending on how much browsing one wants to do. A search on Expedia shows round-trip air fare to
Packages start at $247.
A: The smaller the children, the closer the hotel needs to be. If the budget allows, stay in one of the three lodges on site: The Disneyland, The Paradise Pier and The Grand Californian hotels, with the last being the closest, the most beautiful, the most extravagant and the most expensive.
When rental car costs and parking fees are figured into the equation, the cost of staying within walking distance can be the same or cheaper. The
Hotel shuttles don't require them, so parents don't have to bring them, even for infants. Travelers renting a car should just plan to bring their own child seats, rather than mess around with the rental companies'. The rental version at the park is a costly $10 per day. The contraption doesn't fit portable infant seats or multiple children.
A: Dining at the park is really tricky. Everyone tends to want to eat about the same time of day, so restaurants draw clusters of cranky customers. And prices are high. So it's best to pack some peanut butter sandwiches, nuts, raisins, carrots, fruit and water. Opt for more memorable and enjoyable dining experiences at the park's restaurants that take reservations. Q: There are about 100 rides and attractions inside the two theme parks,
A: Simply searching the Web for "
For the parents, a little bit of the joy, too, is saving 10 percent on the purchase.
Cheap Tickets & Cheap Flights
From cheapflights:
Something high- (or low-) tech that will make air travel more comfortable, safe and secure — and take the edge off flying in coach? We've got dozens of suggestions, for every budget and every type of traveler. • Fund all — or part — of a getaway: U.S. airlines offer gift certificates or cards that let you pay for some or all of a giftee’s trip. Airlines offering gift certificates or cards include: American Airlines; Alaska Airlines; Continental Airlines; Delta Air Lines; Hawaiian Airlines; jetBlue; Midwest Airlines; Northwest Airlines; Southwest Airlines; US Airways.
In some cases, you can also buy miles to help a giftee rack up enough miles for free award travel.
Travelocity’s Hotel Gift Cards can be redeemed at over 30,000 hotels all over the world. … Hyatt Hotels’ Gift Cards and Gift Checks can be used for restaurant dining, in-room services, golf fees and spa services, as well as room charges. Travelocity offers gift certificates for its last-minute travel packages. Gift certificates are emailed and include a personal message. (Last-minute deals include airfare, hotels, air/hotel packages and car rentals.)
A subscription to Budget Travel magazine is a must-have for anyone who wants to squeeze the most out of their travel dollars. Travelers can cut the cost of sightseeing at top attractions with a City Pass Gift Certificate. The 2008 editions of the Entertainment Book include discounts and coupons (up to 50 percent off and 2-for-1 offers) for local restaurants, retail stores, attractions and services as well as travel discounts for hotels and rental cars. The books and passes are a great value for all travelers, but are terrific money-savers for families.
Fortunately, the editors of Budget Travel magazine have done the groundwork and compiled their favorites in Secret Hotels: Extraordinary Values in the World's Most Stunning Destinations. The book details different types of lodgings (cottages, villas, guesthouses, etc.), many of which are known only to the locals, in top travel destinations. If cashmere is a bit too opulent for your gift budget, opt for the less luxurious, but still soft, lightweight (and hygienic) microfleece airline blanket; $19.85, Magellan’s… You’ll help save any flyer’s sanity with noise-canceling headphones like Sharper Image’s “quiet place” Noise-Cancellation headphones; $149.95. You can ease the stress of airport wait-times (not to mention extended delays or layovers) with a day pass to an airline’s airport club. • Get a novice traveler road-ready: Each issue of Budget Travel magazine includes “20 Tips,” a compilation of savvy, clever and “Why didn’t I think of that?” travel tips and strategies submitted by real-life travelers. The magazine has compiled the crème de la crème of these in The Smart Traveler’s Passport, a must-read primer for travel newbies and anyone else who wants to smooth out travel’s rough edges.
Check out luggage tags from Flight001; Magellan’s and the cool mix of designer choices (including the retro 1960s Yosifa-Penina tags) at LuggagePoint.com.
If your friends are concerned about security checks, opt for the SearchAlert Combo Locks. There’s a reason that many frequent flyers wear passport/ID holders around their neck when traveling: They know how easy it is to misplace or lose important travel documents (photo IDs, tickets, boarding passes and passports) when going through security checks. Round out your novice traveler’s gift pack with one of these. Travel writers such as Pico Iyer, Russell Banks and Jan Morris transport readers to a bevy of global favorites in The Conde Nast Traveler Book of Unforgettable Journeys: Great Writers on Great Places.
• Keep a gadget guru (or techie) organized — and connected: Traveling with tech “toys” (cell phones, MP3 players, PDAs, iPods, etc.) means packing lots of those special chargers and their cables and cords, small-ish items that are easily lost. If staying connected is a key concen for your favorite traveler, you’ll want to wrap up the $29.99 Mobile Edge WiFi Signal Locator. • Give wings to your female pals’ travel dreams: The New York Times bestseller Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia, author Elizabeth Gilbert’s ode to the transformative power of travel, isn’t a travel book per se. But the wildly popular book (and Oprah favorite) has inspired many women to make time for travel adventures. It’s a terrific gift for someone who needs some gentle nudging to move forward with her own travel dreams and make travel a priority.
The idea of traveling alone keeps many women stuck at home. Author, world traveler and travel blogger Beth Whitman tackles those fears and anxieties head on with practical advice and guidance in Wanderlust and Lipstick: The Essential Guide for Traveling Solo. Click thru Flight001, a fun and funky hodgepodge of practical, stylish and unusual travel items and the online catalogs from Magellan’s, TravelSmith and World Traveler. Check out the gift baskets from TravelBaskets.com.
Something high- (or low-) tech that will make air travel more comfortable, safe and secure — and take the edge off flying in coach? We've got dozens of suggestions, for every budget and every type of traveler. • Fund all — or part — of a getaway: U.S. airlines offer gift certificates or cards that let you pay for some or all of a giftee’s trip. Airlines offering gift certificates or cards include: American Airlines; Alaska Airlines; Continental Airlines; Delta Air Lines; Hawaiian Airlines; jetBlue; Midwest Airlines; Northwest Airlines; Southwest Airlines; US Airways.
In some cases, you can also buy miles to help a giftee rack up enough miles for free award travel.
Travelocity’s Hotel Gift Cards can be redeemed at over 30,000 hotels all over the world. … Hyatt Hotels’ Gift Cards and Gift Checks can be used for restaurant dining, in-room services, golf fees and spa services, as well as room charges. Travelocity offers gift certificates for its last-minute travel packages. Gift certificates are emailed and include a personal message. (Last-minute deals include airfare, hotels, air/hotel packages and car rentals.)
A subscription to Budget Travel magazine is a must-have for anyone who wants to squeeze the most out of their travel dollars. Travelers can cut the cost of sightseeing at top attractions with a City Pass Gift Certificate. The 2008 editions of the Entertainment Book include discounts and coupons (up to 50 percent off and 2-for-1 offers) for local restaurants, retail stores, attractions and services as well as travel discounts for hotels and rental cars. The books and passes are a great value for all travelers, but are terrific money-savers for families.
Fortunately, the editors of Budget Travel magazine have done the groundwork and compiled their favorites in Secret Hotels: Extraordinary Values in the World's Most Stunning Destinations. The book details different types of lodgings (cottages, villas, guesthouses, etc.), many of which are known only to the locals, in top travel destinations. If cashmere is a bit too opulent for your gift budget, opt for the less luxurious, but still soft, lightweight (and hygienic) microfleece airline blanket; $19.85, Magellan’s… You’ll help save any flyer’s sanity with noise-canceling headphones like Sharper Image’s “quiet place” Noise-Cancellation headphones; $149.95. You can ease the stress of airport wait-times (not to mention extended delays or layovers) with a day pass to an airline’s airport club. • Get a novice traveler road-ready: Each issue of Budget Travel magazine includes “20 Tips,” a compilation of savvy, clever and “Why didn’t I think of that?” travel tips and strategies submitted by real-life travelers. The magazine has compiled the crème de la crème of these in The Smart Traveler’s Passport, a must-read primer for travel newbies and anyone else who wants to smooth out travel’s rough edges.
Check out luggage tags from Flight001; Magellan’s and the cool mix of designer choices (including the retro 1960s Yosifa-Penina tags) at LuggagePoint.com.
If your friends are concerned about security checks, opt for the SearchAlert Combo Locks. There’s a reason that many frequent flyers wear passport/ID holders around their neck when traveling: They know how easy it is to misplace or lose important travel documents (photo IDs, tickets, boarding passes and passports) when going through security checks. Round out your novice traveler’s gift pack with one of these. Travel writers such as Pico Iyer, Russell Banks and Jan Morris transport readers to a bevy of global favorites in The Conde Nast Traveler Book of Unforgettable Journeys: Great Writers on Great Places.
• Keep a gadget guru (or techie) organized — and connected: Traveling with tech “toys” (cell phones, MP3 players, PDAs, iPods, etc.) means packing lots of those special chargers and their cables and cords, small-ish items that are easily lost. If staying connected is a key concen for your favorite traveler, you’ll want to wrap up the $29.99 Mobile Edge WiFi Signal Locator. • Give wings to your female pals’ travel dreams: The New York Times bestseller Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia, author Elizabeth Gilbert’s ode to the transformative power of travel, isn’t a travel book per se. But the wildly popular book (and Oprah favorite) has inspired many women to make time for travel adventures. It’s a terrific gift for someone who needs some gentle nudging to move forward with her own travel dreams and make travel a priority.
The idea of traveling alone keeps many women stuck at home. Author, world traveler and travel blogger Beth Whitman tackles those fears and anxieties head on with practical advice and guidance in Wanderlust and Lipstick: The Essential Guide for Traveling Solo. Click thru Flight001, a fun and funky hodgepodge of practical, stylish and unusual travel items and the online catalogs from Magellan’s, TravelSmith and World Traveler. Check out the gift baskets from TravelBaskets.com.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Buying Cheap Tickets
Rick Seaney writes:
Step-by-Step
Medium-sized cities: airline tickets from/to smaller citiies are often more expensive than larger hub cities
Lack of competition: this can mean higher-prices for smaller-cities
Travel is 6-months away; plenty of time to make the best airfare purchase
Step-by-Step
STEP 1 - Go to FareCompare.com. Enter Harissburg and
Also look at the “Lowest Fare Last 30 Days”; fares between these 2-cities are likely flat (not volatile).
STEP 3 - Check the Departure Month Star-Rating
A 4-star rating means buy now; 3-stars is also a good rate, and 2-stars is so-so. When I originally looked up this airfare, I saw that that travel departing in February had a 2-star rating ($718). But travel departing through December had a 3-star rating ($559).
A December price-break is not unusual and indicated the airlines were managing this market in five month increments. STEP 4 - Check the Airfare Trend
Always look at our price-trend graph; after enter your city pair and click to find the fare, this chart is on the lower-left of your screen. Thats a good sign, obviously. If we wait a bit, at least we are on the proper price trajectory.
STEP 5 - Check the Previous Year Airline Ticket Prices
Just above the Airfare Trend Chart, you’ll see the words Advanced Historical Graphs; click that to see previous months, even years. If a buyer can be flexible on travel dates, its easier to find cheaper airfares
Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday are the cheapest travel days
Cheap Tickets And London
Jane Engle writes:
Americans visiting
10 DO'S . . .
Here are 10 tips for saving on a London vacation, plus five budget-busting mistakes, all gleaned from a recent trip, travel agents and other experts:
1.Go in winter, spring or fall. In a recent spot-check of flights online, the lowest LAX-London round-trip fare was $1,200, including taxes and fees, for nonstops in summer, compared with less than $700 for travel into March. 2. Book packages or group tours. Packages combine flights, hotels and often airport transfers and other costs into one price; tours typically add guides, meals, ground transportation and more. To book a package or tour, see a travel agent or check websites of travel sellers and major airlines.
As an example of savings, a recent Virgin Vacations package charged $2,670 total per couple for LAX-London round-trip airfare, six nights at the Holiday Inn Kensington Forum, daily breakfast, taxes and fees. 3. Lower your standards. Why book a luxury hotel if all you will do is sleep there? 4. Try a hotel alternative. (Some hotels include breakfast too.) For longer stays, consider renting an apartment to save on food costs or a room at a private home. For families, a home-exchange program can work well. 5. Budget for breakfast. Expect to pay $15 and up for even a modest spread at a
Buy an Oyster card, available at transit stations, to ride buses and the Tube. This card offers substantial discounts off regular fares, which run about $4 on buses and $8 on the Tube in central
9. Haunt museums.
Entrance fees at other attractions can be steep; the
10. Get theater discounts. The days of $10 seats in big
DON’T DO THESE THINGS: 2. Booking a rail ticket at the last minute. 3. Taking a pricey city tour. Instead, check out London Walks, www.walks.com. Excess- baggage charges on airlines can cost hundreds of dollars. 5. Leaving tips for drinks at pubs and cafes.
Cheap Tickets Yet Flying First Class
Americans visiting London these days may feel as destitute as the young Oliver Twist. And with $400-a-night hotel bills, $80 cab rides and $8 Tube tickets, they won't need Fagin's band of pickpockets to empty their wallets.
For their predicament, tourists can mostly blame the woeful U.S. dollar, which, after sliding 14% in two years, was recently worth half a British pound.
Another culprit is increasing costs in London, judged the world's second-most-expensive city by Mercer Human Resource Consulting in New York. (Moscow was No. 1; New York, No. 14.)
But if Americans plan carefully, they need not scratch the British capital off their 2008 travel lists. And there are new reasons to go: the redesigned St. Pancras Station, now home to the Eurostar and boasting fresh-food markets and soaring architecture; a reimagined London Transport Museum; and a big British Airways terminal, opening in March, that may reduce hassles at Heathrow.
10 DO'S . . .
Here are 10 tips for saving on a London vacation, plus five budget-busting mistakes, all gleaned from a recent trip, travel agents and other experts:
1.Go in winter, spring or fall. By avoiding the summer peak season, which many carriers define as late May through the first week of September, you'll save hundreds on airfare. And because theaters, museums and many other pastimes are indoors, you'll still have fun.
In a recent spot-check of flights online, the lowest LAX-London round-trip fare was $1,200, including taxes and fees, for nonstops in summer, compared with less than $700 for travel into March. Expect to pay $50 to $200 more in April and early May, said Brian Clewer, owner of the Continental Travel Shop, an air consolidator and travel agency in Santa Monica.
To snag the best price or even to get a seat, book way ahead. Most fliers are buying international tickets more than three months before departing, said Amy Ziff, editor at large for Travelocity.com.
Don't count on fares dropping in 2008, experts told me, even though more airlines will fly to London. That's because Heathrow and Gatwick have limited slots; oil prices remain high; and fuel surcharges of up to $220, along with taxes and fees, already add hundreds to each transatlantic ticket.
2. Book packages or group tours. Packages combine flights, hotels and often airport transfers and other costs into one price; tours typically add guides, meals, ground transportation and more. Either option can save you money, because operators get volume discounts and may buy British currency in advance to cover expenses. To book a package or tour, see a travel agent or check websites of travel sellers and major airlines.
Here are some good links:
Booking Strategies Large Internet Sites Student and Budget Specialists Domestic Bucket Shops Ethnic and Foreign Bucket Shops Courier Flying Round-the-World Tickets Charters Bumping To Gateways Glossary
15 Tips for Cheap Travel:
- Ask What's Fixed and What's Flexible
- a. How to Find Cheap Tickets and b. How to Find Cheap Plane Tickets
- How to Find Cheap Lodging
- Consider a Package Deal
- Creating a Travel Budget
- Doing Research Before You Go
- How to Save at Home While You're Away
- What to Pack
- How to Get to (and from) the Airport
- Enjoy Yourself While You're There
- How to Exchange Money
- How to Get a Cheap Rental Car
- Getting Around
- How to Find Cheap Eats
- Getting Home- VAT Taxes, Ordering Photos, and More
Wouldn't it be nice to just go to one website or call just one phone number and find the cheapest plane ticket? Maybe someday this will occur. For now, the best way to find a cheap plane ticket is to spend some time doing research and checking multiple websites. I've divided this section into "fixed vs. flexible." (If you haven't read the post on planning your vacation you can find it here.)
If you have Fixed Dates and a Fixed Place: (i.e. you want to go to Boston from Washington DC on July 3rd to July 10th)
When you have fixed dates and a fixed destination the best option is to use Aggregators. These sites search hundreds of sites find the cheapest flight out there. My favorites are:It doesn't hurt to also try a few traditional online travel agencies including: Orbitz, Expedia, and Travelocity. If you use these be sure to book through the airline's own website though (see tip 3 below)
If you have Fixed Dates and a Fixed Place, and your dates are within the next few weeks also check Site59 which finds package deals within the next two weeks. Even if you don't need a hotel at your destination, sometimes it finds an entire package cheaper than you can find a flight alone.
If you have Flexible Dates: (i.e. you can go anytime in July or you can leave within 1-3 days of a particular date)
If your dates are within 1-3 day spread (i.e. you can leave July 1st, 2nd, or 3rd): Use Kayak
If your dates are very flexible (i.e you can leave any time from now until July): Fare Compare, Farecast, and Travelocity — All have searches available by the monthIf your Destination is Flexible: These sites find cheap airfare to many places from your originating location.
By Rick Seaney, CEO - FareCompare.com
No one wants to pay more than they have to for air fare. But next time, look around. The guy in the seat next to you might have bought a ticket that cost $100-more than yours; the woman on the other side of you might have paid $50-less.
Arghhh!What to do? Start by going to FareCompare.com. And Ill walk you through the process.
How to Buy Right: An Example
Got this letter awhile back; lets solve this problem, so youll learn how to solve your own.
"Looking for Senior rate (if available) for travel about 6-months from now; leaving Harrisburg, PA on Jan. 30, 2007 to Kelowna, British Columbia, and returning on 2-6-07 … do you have available itineraries?"
First, the bad news:
- Medium-sized cities: these are often more expensive than larger hub cities
- Lack of competition: this can mean higher-prices for smaller-cities
- Senior fares: these are disappearing; when they are offered, such fares are typically not the cheapest (though the tickets are usually fully-refundable and require no advance-purchase)
Now, the good news:
- Travel is 6-months away; plenty of time to make the best air fare purchase
STEP 1 - Go to FareCompare.com. Enter the above cities.
STEP 2 - Check for Volatility - Notice the fares that appear on your screen may look high, but again, thats not unusual for smaller markets. Also look at the "Lowest Fare Last 30 Days"; fares between these 2-cities are likely flat (not volatile).
STEP 3 - Check the Departure Month Star-Rating
A 4-star rating means buy now; 3-stars is also a good rate, and 2-stars is so-so. When I originally looked up this fare, I saw that that travel departing in February had a 2-star rating ($718). But travel departing thru December had a 3-star rating ($559).
A December price-break is not unusual and indicated the airlines were managing this market in five month increments. This quick look gave me an inkling that we might want to wait a few months before purchasing a fare.
STEP 4 - Check the Fare Trend
Always look at our price-trend graph; after enter your city pair and click to find the fare, this chart is on the lower-left of your screen. In this particular case, I saw the trend was moving downward, to lower prices. Thats a good sign, obviously. If we wait a bit, at least we are on the proper price trajectory.
STEP 5 - Check the Previous Year
Just above the Fare Trend Chart, you'll see the words Advanced Historical Graphs; click that to see previous months, even years. Again, in this particular case, I saw some nice sales occurred (down to the $400 range) and the prices trended down from November to December of the previous year. You cant always count on that, but generally its a good indicator.
STEP 6 - Sign Up for FareCompare's FREE Email Alerts
You'll see this right on our homepage; it takes about 20-seconds to sign up and we will alert you to the best prices for the cities your interested, as soon as that information becomes available. And no one, not even the airlines, will get you that information faster. We guarantee it.
BOTTOM LINE: The buyer should wait a few months before purchasing these tickets, as the price will likely go down.
2-FINAL THOUGHTS:
- If a buyer can be flexible on travel dates, its easier to find cheaper fares
- If a buyer can be flexible on airports, again, its easier to find cheaper fares
With gasoline prices going through the roof and increased costs due to new security measurements, airline ticket prices have risen drastically in the last few years. Flights that were once under two hundred dollars can now cost up to three times as much as before. However, it is still possible to find a cheap ticket if you are willing to be flexible and to do a little research.
The Internet is a great tool for helping you find affordable deals that leave you with a little extra cash to spend on your vacation. Today�s most popular way to locate cheap tickets is through online discount sites like Expedia and Hotwire. These two sites and others like them are devoted to finding discount travel rates on cars, flights and hotels. You can type in a departure and arrival city and the dates you want to travel, and the site will search its databases and bring up a list of budget rates.
The more flexible you are, the greater your chances of finding a cheap ticket. There is a catch, however, when you book flights on Hotwire or Expedia. Most of the discount rates are available on unpopular flight times, typically with early morning or late night departures or arrivals. Also, if you have set dates and times that cannot be adjusted, it can be hard to find a cheaper rate. These website services work best if you have a two or three day window for both your departure and your return. That way, the site can choose from a wider variety of flight combinations, giving you the lowest ticket prices available.
Another cheap ticket seller on the Internet is Priceline.com. This website allows you to enter your travel dates and to offer your own ticket price. If your price is accepted by an airline, you can purchase the ticket at that guaranteed rate. This process can several hours, and if you receive the price you proposed, you are obligated to purchase the ticket. Because of this, you are not able to choose which airline you use. Though Priceline is not as flexible as other ways of purchasing cheap tickets, sometimes you can get amazing deals that you can�t find any other way. Travel sites like Priceline and Hotwire do offer another advantage in addition to cheap airplane tickets. They also offer the options of booking hotels and car rentals at the same time as your flight. When you book all of your travel needs at once, you can save even more on your expenses, leaving you more money to spend once you reach your destination.
There are an abundance of websites out there to help you find the best deal for a flight. There are also additional things that you can do to leverage these tools more than the average traveler. Here are some examples:
Buy your flight 21 - 45 days in advance. Other than last minute deals, you will pay more as your date to leave approaches. Sometimes buying too soon also brings penalties, shoot for the middle.
Finding cheap airline tickets online is a tricky thing. Maybe you will find a cheap deal at Travelocity and start to believe that it is the place to get the cheapest airline ticket, only to find a cheaper airline ticket at Expedia, albeit a month later. You will not be surprised at this if you are aware of the functioning of online airline ticket vendors. Travel agencies can�t compete with online air ticket sellers. Online companies purchase tickets in bulk (read after a big bargain) and sell the tickets online for a margin. Therefore travelers get cheaper-than-at-agents tickets. But again, no online ticket seller will be able to give you cheap airline tickets all the time. While planning a trip, consider visiting at least three of the websites listed below.
- Travel on Wednesdays - it can give you cheaper tickets.
- Consider connecting flights – often it can get you cheaper tickets than a direct flight.
- Check flights to a second airport in the city you are visiting. However don't rely on this tactic too much as you may end up paying more than you can afford for traveling from the airport to your destination.
- It is real hell continuously keeping a tab on airline ticket fares. If you are lucky enough, you may get some last minute offer – a first class journey at cargo shipping price.
# Stay over a Saturday night. The famous Saturday rule, requiring a stay of at least one Saturday night, can help with ticket costs. For longer visits, of course, this isn�t a problem, but if you are only planning to be somewhere only for a couple of days, say on a business trip, a Saturday is less likely. But be creative: perhaps you can include a personal day (or two) on that trip, letting you stay over a Saturday and have a little R&R (catch up with an old high school chum, or just relax in the hotel hot tub) � then you can fly back not only refreshed, but with a few more bucks in your wallet (or department�s budget) as well.
# Fly on weekdays. Lowest fares are usually found on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday flights. Monday and Friday flights are usually higher-priced (if you�re wondering why, just remember that Monday and Friday are around the weekend, so often higher in demand for departures and returns). However, Saturday flights sometimes have discount fares, but the rule is weekends are more expensive than weekdays.
Always looking for the cheapest way to do things, I searched several websites that claimed to have cheap international airfare. The cheapest from Traverse City, Michigan to Quito, Ecuador, was $1720. Out of curiosity, I checked Miami to Quito, and it was only $404. Airfare from Traverse City to Miami was $299. Book two separate flights and I could save more than $1000! The discount sites aren't set up to check in this way, so you have to do this on your own.We've found that travel agencies just can't compete with the discount ticket websites. You can search Google ("cheap airfare Europe", for example), or go straight to one of the well-known sites, like Expedia, Travelocity, Cheap Tickets, Hotwire or Priceline. Doing a quick search for the cheapest airfare from Tucson, Arizona, to Buenos Aires, Argentina, using the five sites mentioned, here's what I just found: They ranged from $1221 down to $873 for the lowest fares, with fares as high as $3728. Hotwire happened to be the cheapest, but they were the worst of the five when I searched for a domestic flight earlier. You cannot say which service will find the cheapest international airfare from week to week. My number one money-saving tip is to always check several websites when shopping for inexpensive flights.
Air courier opportunities are becoming rarer, due to the recent heavier regulation of international flights, but there still are opportunities. Find out more at The Air Courier Association Website (www.aircourier.org). The ACA can also help you get really cheap plane tickets by way of airline ticket wholesalers, discounters, last minute specials, and stand-by travel.
When searching the discount websites, try several different departure and return dates if you can. The difference of a day or two can save you a lot. There's little logic to airfare pricing, so don't try too hard to figure it out. Just be aware that if you leave on Friday instead of Wednesday (or vice-versa), you may save $100. Check the boxes that say "any time" for departure and "2 or more connecting flights". Even if you aren't sure that you want to leave at midnight, see what your options are. The savings might change your mind. When search criteria allow you choices, first take the ones that are the least restrictive for the airlines. If the savings aren't enough, you can always book first class, direct flights, or whatever you prefer. Buying your plane tickets two weeks in advance is usually cheaper. There can be a dramatic difference (but not always) if your trip is over thirty days. You may want to cut it from 32 days to 30 to save hundreds of dollars on your fare. Play with the dates. You never know what you might discover.
Rick Brown gives these tips about upgrading to first class:
1. Ask the ticket counter agent nicely. Does this work? 99% of the time, absolutely not. In most cases, on most airlines, the ticket agent is not authorized to upgrade passengers unless you have frequent flyer status and even with frequent flyer status, you will most likely need to use miles to get your upgrade.
2. If you are late because of a competitor, make sure the airline is aware of that. They may want to give you a good impression of their airline, especially after your bad experience with one of their competitors. This is also dependent on seats being available and with today's oversold flights, don't expect much here.
3. Use your connections. If you just so happen to be related to a family member or are friends with an airline employee, you certainly could ask for an upgrade, but keep in mind that airlines are in the business of making a profit, and if there are upgrades to sell, or loyal frequent flyers to keep happy, don�t expect to be first in line for an upgrade. It can work if flights are not full and seats are empty in first class.
4. If you happen to be a travel agent, show your ID. Again, if and only if seats are available will an airline offer a free upgrade and even though a travel agent might have some cloat, you always have to assume that frequent flyer status will help more than just travel agent status. If you have both, you will only improve your chances of an upgrade. It certainly does not hurt to try.
5. Ask a flight attendant for an upgrade if you see a seat available. Typically flight attendants never upgrade passengers and simply asking for an upgrade is not going to work. However, there are legitimate reasons why a flight attendant will upgrade you.
Here are a few tips to help you find a cheap airfare to Europe:
- Consider flying into European hubs like London and Paris. There is a lot more competition going to those cities, and frequently better deals to them from other continents. Get a Eurail Pass and see the continent from there.
- If you do make it to a European hub city, use some low cost Euro airlines to fly around Europe. Flights as low as 1 pound per flight do exist!
July 10, 2003 - America West�s online site, like most of its rivals, used to ask prospective passengers when they wanted to travel and returned a price quote accordingly. Unlike most of its rivals, however, America West relies heavily on leisure travelers. So when customers said they wanted an easier way to search by price, the airline listened. Price-conscious customers were frustrated by how long it took on traditional systems to hunt for low fares. So the airline offered a different method: Choose your fare, then browse the available dates. �Before, when you picked a market you�d have to go back and forth, back and forth, back and forth to pick a lowest price,� says Chris Stanley, America West�s director of Internet distribution. �This essentially allows you to search by price.�
Cheap Tickets & Cheap Airfare
# Stay over a Saturday night. The famous Saturday rule, requiring a stay of at least one Saturday night, can help with ticket costs. For longer visits, of course, this isn�t a problem, but if you are only planning to be somewhere only for a couple of days, say on a business trip, a Saturday is less likely. But be creative: perhaps you can include a personal day (or two) on that trip, letting you stay over a Saturday and have a little R&R (catch up with an old high school chum, or just relax in the hotel hot tub) � then you can fly back not only refreshed, but with a few more bucks in your wallet (or department�s budget) as well.
# Fly on weekdays. Lowest fares are usually found on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday flights. Monday and Friday flights are usually higher-priced (if you�re wondering why, just remember that Monday and Friday are around the weekend, so often higher in demand for departures and returns). However, Saturday flights sometimes have discount fares, but the rule is weekends are more expensive than weekdays.
Always looking for the cheapest way to do things, I searched several websites that claimed to have cheap international airfare. The cheapest from Traverse City, Michigan to Quito, Ecuador, was $1720. Out of curiosity, I checked Miami to Quito, and it was only $404. Airfare from Traverse City to Miami was $299. Book two separate flights and I could save more than $1000! The discount sites aren't set up to check in this way, so you have to do this on your own.We've found that travel agencies just can't compete with the discount ticket websites. You can search Google ("cheap airfare Europe", for example), or go straight to one of the well-known sites, like Expedia, Travelocity, Cheap Tickets, Hotwire or Priceline. Doing a quick search for the cheapest airfare from Tucson, Arizona, to Buenos Aires, Argentina, using the five sites mentioned, here's what I just found: They ranged from $1221 down to $873 for the lowest fares, with fares as high as $3728. Hotwire happened to be the cheapest, but they were the worst of the five when I searched for a domestic flight earlier. You cannot say which service will find the cheapest international airfare from week to week. My number one money-saving tip is to always check several websites when shopping for inexpensive flights.
Air courier opportunities are becoming rarer, due to the recent heavier regulation of international flights, but there still are opportunities. Find out more at The Air Courier Association Website (www.aircourier.org). The ACA can also help you get really cheap plane tickets by way of airline ticket wholesalers, discounters, last minute specials, and stand-by travel.
When searching the discount websites, try several different departure and return dates if you can. The difference of a day or two can save you a lot. There's little logic to airfare pricing, so don't try too hard to figure it out. Just be aware that if you leave on Friday instead of Wednesday (or vice-versa), you may save $100. Check the boxes that say "any time" for departure and "2 or more connecting flights". Even if you aren't sure that you want to leave at midnight, see what your options are. The savings might change your mind. When search criteria allow you choices, first take the ones that are the least restrictive for the airlines. If the savings aren't enough, you can always book first class, direct flights, or whatever you prefer. Buying your plane tickets two weeks in advance is usually cheaper. There can be a dramatic difference (but not always) if your trip is over thirty days. You may want to cut it from 32 days to 30 to save hundreds of dollars on your fare. Play with the dates. You never know what you might discover.
Rick Brown gives these tips about upgrading to first class:
1. Ask the ticket counter agent nicely. Does this work? 99% of the time, absolutely not. In most cases, on most airlines, the ticket agent is not authorized to upgrade passengers unless you have frequent flyer status and even with frequent flyer status, you will most likely need to use miles to get your upgrade.
2. If you are late because of a competitor, make sure the airline is aware of that. They may want to give you a good impression of their airline, especially after your bad experience with one of their competitors. This is also dependent on seats being available and with today's oversold flights, don't expect much here.
3. Use your connections. If you just so happen to be related to a family member or are friends with an airline employee, you certainly could ask for an upgrade, but keep in mind that airlines are in the business of making a profit, and if there are upgrades to sell, or loyal frequent flyers to keep happy, don�t expect to be first in line for an upgrade. It can work if flights are not full and seats are empty in first class.
4. If you happen to be a travel agent, show your ID. Again, if and only if seats are available will an airline offer a free upgrade and even though a travel agent might have some cloat, you always have to assume that frequent flyer status will help more than just travel agent status. If you have both, you will only improve your chances of an upgrade. It certainly does not hurt to try.
5. Ask a flight attendant for an upgrade if you see a seat available. Typically flight attendants never upgrade passengers and simply asking for an upgrade is not going to work. However, there are legitimate reasons why a flight attendant will upgrade you.
Here are a few tips to help you find a cheap airfare to Europe:
Finding Cheap Plane Tickets
Finding cheap airline tickets online is a tricky thing. Maybe you will find a cheap deal at Travelocity and start to believe that it is the place to get the cheapest airline ticket, only to find a cheaper airline ticket at Expedia, albeit a month later. You will not be surprised at this if you are aware of the functioning of online airline ticket vendors. Travel agencies can�t compete with online air ticket sellers. Online companies purchase tickets in bulk (read after a big bargain) and sell the tickets online for a margin. Therefore travelers get cheaper-than-at-agents tickets. But again, no online ticket seller will be able to give you cheap airline tickets all the time. While planning a trip, consider visiting at least three of the websites listed below.
- Travel on Wednesdays - it can give you cheaper tickets.
- Consider connecting flights – often it can get you cheaper tickets than a direct flight.
- Check flights to a second airport in the city you are visiting. However don't rely on this tactic too much as you may end up paying more than you can afford for traveling from the airport to your destination.
- It is real hell continuously keeping a tab on airline ticket fares. If you are lucky enough, you may get some last minute offer – a first class journey at cargo shipping price.
Cheap Tickets & Travel Sites
Wouldn't it be nice to just go to one website or call just one phone number and find the cheapest plane ticket? Maybe someday this will occur. For now, the best way to find a cheap plane ticket is to spend some time doing research and checking multiple websites. I've divided this section into "fixed vs. flexible." (If you haven't read the post on planning your vacation you can find it here.)
If you have Fixed Dates and a Fixed Place: (i.e. you want to go to Boston from Washington DC on July 3rd to July 10th)
When you have fixed dates and a fixed destination the best option is to use Aggregators. These sites search hundreds of sites find the cheapest flight out there. My favorites are:It doesn't hurt to also try a few traditional online travel agencies including: Orbitz, Expedia, and Travelocity. If you use these be sure to book through the airline's own website though (see tip 3 below)
If you have Fixed Dates and a Fixed Place, and your dates are within the next few weeks also check Site59 which finds package deals within the next two weeks. Even if you don't need a hotel at your destination, sometimes it finds an entire package cheaper than you can find a flight alone.
If you have Flexible Dates: (i.e. you can go anytime in July or you can leave within 1-3 days of a particular date)
If your dates are within 1-3 day spread (i.e. you can leave July 1st, 2nd, or 3rd): Use Kayak
If your dates are very flexible (i.e you can leave any time from now until July): Fare Compare, Farecast, and Travelocity — All have searches available by the monthIf your Destination is Flexible: These sites find cheap airfare to many places from your originating location.
By Rick Seaney, CEO - FareCompare.com
No one wants to pay more than they have to for air fare. But next time, look around. The guy in the seat next to you might have bought a ticket that cost $100-more than yours; the woman on the other side of you might have paid $50-less.
Arghhh!What to do? Start by going to FareCompare.com. And Ill walk you through the process.
How to Buy Right: An Example
Got this letter awhile back; lets solve this problem, so youll learn how to solve your own.
"Looking for Senior rate (if available) for travel about 6-months from now; leaving Harrisburg, PA on Jan. 30, 2007 to Kelowna, British Columbia, and returning on 2-6-07 … do you have available itineraries?"
First, the bad news:
- Medium-sized cities: these are often more expensive than larger hub cities
- Lack of competition: this can mean higher-prices for smaller-cities
- Senior fares: these are disappearing; when they are offered, such fares are typically not the cheapest (though the tickets are usually fully-refundable and require no advance-purchase)
Now, the good news:
- Travel is 6-months away; plenty of time to make the best air fare purchase
STEP 1 - Go to FareCompare.com. Enter the above cities.
STEP 2 - Check for Volatility - Notice the fares that appear on your screen may look high, but again, thats not unusual for smaller markets. Also look at the "Lowest Fare Last 30 Days"; fares between these 2-cities are likely flat (not volatile).
STEP 3 - Check the Departure Month Star-Rating
A 4-star rating means buy now; 3-stars is also a good rate, and 2-stars is so-so. When I originally looked up this fare, I saw that that travel departing in February had a 2-star rating ($718). But travel departing thru December had a 3-star rating ($559).
A December price-break is not unusual and indicated the airlines were managing this market in five month increments. This quick look gave me an inkling that we might want to wait a few months before purchasing a fare.
STEP 4 - Check the Fare Trend
Always look at our price-trend graph; after enter your city pair and click to find the fare, this chart is on the lower-left of your screen. In this particular case, I saw the trend was moving downward, to lower prices. Thats a good sign, obviously. If we wait a bit, at least we are on the proper price trajectory.
STEP 5 - Check the Previous Year
Just above the Fare Trend Chart, you'll see the words Advanced Historical Graphs; click that to see previous months, even years. Again, in this particular case, I saw some nice sales occurred (down to the $400 range) and the prices trended down from November to December of the previous year. You cant always count on that, but generally its a good indicator.
STEP 6 - Sign Up for FareCompare's FREE Email Alerts
You'll see this right on our homepage; it takes about 20-seconds to sign up and we will alert you to the best prices for the cities your interested, as soon as that information becomes available. And no one, not even the airlines, will get you that information faster. We guarantee it.
BOTTOM LINE: The buyer should wait a few months before purchasing these tickets, as the price will likely go down.
2-FINAL THOUGHTS:
- If a buyer can be flexible on travel dates, its easier to find cheaper fares
- If a buyer can be flexible on airports, again, its easier to find cheaper fares
With gasoline prices going through the roof and increased costs due to new security measurements, airline ticket prices have risen drastically in the last few years. Flights that were once under two hundred dollars can now cost up to three times as much as before. However, it is still possible to find a cheap ticket if you are willing to be flexible and to do a little research.
The Internet is a great tool for helping you find affordable deals that leave you with a little extra cash to spend on your vacation. Today�s most popular way to locate cheap tickets is through online discount sites like Expedia and Hotwire. These two sites and others like them are devoted to finding discount travel rates on cars, flights and hotels. You can type in a departure and arrival city and the dates you want to travel, and the site will search its databases and bring up a list of budget rates.
The more flexible you are, the greater your chances of finding a cheap ticket. There is a catch, however, when you book flights on Hotwire or Expedia. Most of the discount rates are available on unpopular flight times, typically with early morning or late night departures or arrivals. Also, if you have set dates and times that cannot be adjusted, it can be hard to find a cheaper rate. These website services work best if you have a two or three day window for both your departure and your return. That way, the site can choose from a wider variety of flight combinations, giving you the lowest ticket prices available.
Another cheap ticket seller on the Internet is Priceline.com. This website allows you to enter your travel dates and to offer your own ticket price. If your price is accepted by an airline, you can purchase the ticket at that guaranteed rate. This process can several hours, and if you receive the price you proposed, you are obligated to purchase the ticket. Because of this, you are not able to choose which airline you use. Though Priceline is not as flexible as other ways of purchasing cheap tickets, sometimes you can get amazing deals that you can�t find any other way. Travel sites like Priceline and Hotwire do offer another advantage in addition to cheap airplane tickets. They also offer the options of booking hotels and car rentals at the same time as your flight. When you book all of your travel needs at once, you can save even more on your expenses, leaving you more money to spend once you reach your destination.
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