Airline Ticket Buying: Making Your Money Go As Far As You Want It To Go
With competition among airline companies stiffer than ever before, air travel is fast becoming (if not already) a buyer’s market. This means that airline companies are fiercely competing with each other to get you to book your next flight with them.
They try to win you over by offering lower rates and / or better services. But even with that kind of situation you, as a buyer, still need to do the necessary homework in getting the best deal for your needs.
Plan ahead and be flexible.
The advantage of planning your trip in advance is that you allow yourself more time to consider more travel options you may not be able to do if you’ve only started to plan a week before you leave.
In particular, consider what kind of flight you wish to get. Will it be direct, non-stop, or connecting?
These kinds of flights vary in demand with non-stop usually commanding the highest rates and are the first to be sold out since it is the fastest way to get to your destination. A direct flight makes scheduled stops, but doesn’t let out its passengers off the plane. A connecting flight makes a scheduled stop to let passengers off so they can take another plane that will take them to their destination. Prices of these kinds of flights vary with these features among others.
Another option you may consider is deciding what city & airport you wish to depart / arrive at and which routes to take. A difference of a half-hour’s ride to your final destination could allow you to shave off a good part of your intended airfare if you decide, for example to land at Rockford instead of Chicago.
Buy from a travel agent or consolidator.
Travel agents and consolidators buy tickets from airlines at bulk rates. They, in turn, sell in retail to passengers like you. Since they bought the tickets at a discounted price, agents and consolidators can sell you the tickets at a lower rate compared to what an airline might quote you for that same flight.
While this is may be great news, be aware that the possibility is great that higher restrictions have been set for these discounted tickets. Restrictions are limitations on what you can do with the ticket you’ve bought (such as decreased refund options, transferability and cancellation charges). Ask your travel agent what these restrictions are and decide whether you can live with those limitations in exchange for a lower price.
Consider e-ticketing.
With heightened security features, transactions made online are safer than before. Now you can pay for your ticket online and print your own boarding pass. This option saves you either the effort of picking up your own ticket or the cost of having that ticket delivered to you.
Be sure, however, to secure the confirmation code issued to you, as this is as good as any paper ticket. Losing the code is just like losing your paper ticket, which may open you up to further charges from the airline, not to mention the headaches it may cause you.
Act fast.
The airline industry is a volatile one with rates capable of changing overnight. So if you see a deal that sounds fair to you, it is recommended that you secure it as soon as you can because it may not be available for far too long.
This is where consulting with a travel agent helps a lot because they’re more likely to be in touch with the industry than you are. A good agent will inform you about the trends that can affect airfare rates and will advice you what to do to get the best deal.
As it is with making any purchase, a good deal is not getting the lowest price but getting the best value for your money. In the case of buying your plane ticket, it’s getting the best travel arrangements your money can buy.
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