How to find cheaper airfares and tips for the busy
Christmas and New Year holidays. The number one tip is to be Flexible,
Flexible, Flexible, but there is also luck and travel smarts needed this holiday
season.
Check all dates, but you will probably find much higher airfares if you travel
on the following dates: December 20, 26, 27, 28, 2008 and
January 2, 3, 4, 2009. Be sure to check nearby airports for even lower
airfares with our compare airfare to nearby airports. It's very simple and
not only gives great advantages, but also saves you a ton of money if you
want to fly on a cheap buck to the Caribbean, Mexico or Hawaii. Not only
will you find airfares double or triple the fall and winter rates, but hotel
accommodations will cost you double to quadruple the normal rates. Why not
save money and travel before the holidays or a few weeks after the holidays for
70% off?
HERE IS A BIG BIG PROBLEM: The
bigger airlines have over 3,000 daily flights. They have made many
adjustments to their flight schedules. The question to you is if you have
already booked your flights, have you checked it recently? Has your flight
been cancelled? Have you been put on another flight that be departing
earlier? Can't happen. Think again. I was in Tampa, Florida last
week, a couple that lives in our condo, was flying to Chicago and did not
check their return flight. That flight was cancelled weeks ago and they
had been rebooked on a flight that departed one hour earlier than the original
flight. All other flights were sold out and they had to wait six hours.
Don't let this happen to you. Keep checking, checking and checking.
New Baggage Fees: Today all the legacy airlines, American
Airlines, United Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Northwest
Airlines and US Airways all charge $15 for the
first bag and $25 for the second bag, except United which charges 50 bucks for
the second bag (see chart). USE YOUR BATHROOM SCALE:
If you have to check bags, don't you dare go over 50 lbs. per bag unless
you fly Virgin America. They still permit the first bag free and it can
weigh up to 70 lbs. for no additional charge. Now the other airlines are really bad, especially if you try to check two bags on United
Airlines
weighing, let's say, 60 pounds each. If you and your travel companion each
checked two bags, weight allowed and overweight on other airlines this is your
cost. (United it's like refinancing your home twice.)
Airline
|
Two Checked Bags
50 lbs. and Under |
Two Checked Bags
51 to 70 lbs. |
| Southwest Airlines |
$0 |
$100 |
| Continental
Airlines |
$80 |
$280 |
| American
Airlines |
$80 |
$280 |
| Delta
Airlines |
$80 |
$280 |
| Northwest
Airlines |
$80 |
$280 |
| US Airways |
$80 |
$280 |
| United
Airlines |
$130 |
$630 |
The $630 charge on United is NOT A MISPRINT. To see
a full chart of all airlines please click
here.
Our final thoughts for the holidays is to allow more time at the
airport, especially if your checking bags. Whatever you do, you don't want
to be the person responsible for missing your flight due to not checking in on
time. It may take you hours in airport delays to get another flight.
If your not checking bags then print your boarding pass at home to eliminate and
extra stop at the airport. If you arrive 25 minutes before departure and
you have a boarding pass from home guess what, know one knows the better.
Now your thinking. The airport baggage Gestapo are on the watch.
Don't exceed your free carry-on items or you will pay. Be sure to only
have two carry-on items, one rolling luggage bag, plus a computer bag, a backpack,
or a purse, etc. Your also permitted to bring jackets, coats, bag of food
for consumption on the plane and reading material, etc.
When I travel, I go to the airport thinking the plane is going to
be late, we're going to be delayed due to mechanical or weather issues.
TSA line will be a mile long, etc, etc. Now if all the negatives I can
come up with would actually happen, then I may be a little upset, but I expected
it. On the other hand, the plane takes off ten minutes earlier, we arrive 20
minutes early, the flight was smooth as silk, the flight attendants were all
nice, my baggage showed up on time and I had a super trip! I exceeded my
expectations. Now the only other problem is the return trip.
Those are a few tips you may find helpful this holiday
season. Be sure to check with the airline your flying with for any last
minute changes which they may have instituted.
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