Air Travel Information
To maximize your chances of getting the
lowest fare, read the tips below. Don't be afraid to experiment
— try selecting different airlines, dates, and departure
times, if possible.
Make your reservation early -- see
travel policies
Many discount fares require that you make
a reservation 7, 14, or 21 days before your trip, depending on
the fare. Airlines sell only a limited number of seats at the
lowest fares. When those seats sell out, the price goes up. Making
a reservation as soon as you know your travel dates increases
your chances of finding the lowest fare.
Fly on a weekday
Flights on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
usually have the lowest fares. Sometimes (but not always) fares
are higher on Monday and Friday than on other weekdays. Saturday
flights occasionally have discount fares, but as a rule it's more
expensive to fly on a weekend than a weekday.
Stay over a Saturday night
Most low fares require that you stay over
at least one Saturday night before your return flight. However,
some fares may only require you to stay a minimum of three or
four days.
Stick to one airline
It’s almost always less expensive
to use only one airline for a trip. In some cases, booking two
airlines can cost hundreds of dollars more.
Experiment with dates and times
If you don’t at first succeed, try
an earlier or later flight. To get the lowest roundtrip fare,
it must be available on both the departing and return flights
you select. If the fare is sold out on either of these, the price
you end up with will be much higher. Try an earlier or later flight
if you can’t find the fare you want, or, if possible, consider
flying on another day.
Fly into nearby airports
For example, when traveling to Los Angeles
(LAX), you may want to consider flying into the Burbank (BUR),
Orange County (SNA), or Ontario (ONT) airports. Similarly, the
cost of a trip to San Francisco (SFO) might be reduced by flying
into San Jose (SJC) or Oakland (OAK), while travel to Miami (MIA)
may be less expensive if you fly into Ft. Lauderdale (FLL).
