Thanks for downloading this excerpt from the 1995 Discount Airfare Guide! This is the section called "Finding the Lowest Fares". This text document looks pretty boring here since it's saved in AOL format so all AOLers can read it. The actual booklet of 60+ pages is very easy to read, and best of all, it list OVER 200 DISCOUNTERS AND CONSOLIDATORS all over the US and around the world. Each discounter/consolidator listing is by State (or Country), and lists the name, phone numbers and the destinations served. Very easy to use! Very easy to read! Very easy to save on airfares!
Promotional Fares
Although not always the case, low airfares may be right in your newspaper or advertised on radio or television media. Generally, there are three types of fare classes consisting of first class, business class (sometimes called executive class), and economy or coach. Domestic flights use the term coach and international flights use economy. Although economy class fares are less than first class and business class, it is still a full fare ticket.
As airlines know they will not always sell all seats on a flight, and they can not get back the revenue lost from the empty seats, they offer a number of seats at discounted prices. These are called ╥Promotional Fares.╙ These limited number of seats the airline has designated to be discounted, are designed to allow them to publish the low rate to attract business and increase sales. These promotional fares can often save between 30% to 70% off the normal fare which can be substantial on high priced destinations.
Promotional fares are called by various names. Domestically, you will see names like Super Saver, Easy Saver and Ultra Saver. On international routes, the abbreviation of Advance Purchase Excursion, or APEX, is used to specify the promotional fares.
These fares are controlled by very sophisticated computer systems that start calculating the demand on seats as much as one year before departure. The computers use what is called yield management, increasing or decreasing promotional fares depending on the demand of each and every flight.
Based on this demand, 20 to 40% of the seats can be assigned as promotional-fare seats. Each flight may have a different number of these seats, even flights that are just a couple of hours apart. High peak seasons and hours will have the least number of promotional-fare seats.
If you call to reserve a seat at a promotional fare, you will often be told that those seats are sold out. This is due to the limitation of the availability of these seats. What may seem unfair is that the same seat in another row will cost much more, yet identical in every aspect.
The airlines have only offered these promotional fares to fill seats they expect to go unsold at the regular rate. If the promotional fare is no longer available, it will usually mean that the flight will be nearly full upon departure by customers buying most of the full fare seats.
It is important to note however, that if seats are not being sold on upcoming flights, airlines will cut fares to fill the empty space and the promotional fare you were once told was unavailable, may become available in the future.
To get the news out quickly, the media is the first place they will go. You must watch and listen carefully, take notes, and look at the fine print. The advertising will usually be fast coming and fast going. Paying attention and acting fast are the keys to grabbing these last minute specials.
Often, airlines will advertise seven day advance purchase tickets to get interest, but at the same time be offering a less expensive 30 day advance, purchase ticket that they may not be advertising and won╒t tell you unless you ask. Remember, just because an airline isn╒t advertising any specials, doesn╒t mean they aren╒t offering any and the heavily advertised fares of one airline might not be the best deal available. Always check the other airlines for similar or maybe even better deals.
When you feel you╒ve obtained a low fare from an airline, make a reservation but just say you╒ll pay for your tickets tomorrow. As you may find a still lower fare, don╒t stop now. Continue searching for a better fare just as you found the first one. If you find a better fare, make another reservation, and call the first airline you reserved with and cancel that reservation. This will permit others to buy that ticket.
Some Restrictions Apply. How many times have you seen this statement? To keep last minute travelers like business travelers from obtaining these promotional fares, the airlines place various restrictions on them. Some restrictions can be 7 to 30 days advance purchase requirements, on round trip flights only, or a minimum and maximum number of days required to stay at the destination. Other restrictions may include requiring you to stay at your destination over a weekend night or carry a penalty for cancellations or changes to your ticket.
Promotional-fare tickets are what you want to obtain. Unfortunately however, you need to buy your ticket many days in advance, to meet the advance-purchase requirements, and before these discounted seats are sold out.
Don╒t Give Up When Promotional-Fares are Sold Out
Just because you╒re told there aren╒t any more promotional-fares available on a flight you must take, there is a smart tactic you can use. Ask to be wait listed for the promotional-fare. If someone holding a promotional-fare seat makes a cancellation, or if the airline╒s commuter increases the promotional-fare seats to fill unsold seats, you will get your discounted ticket before it is sold to the public.
To make sure you can fly on this flight, you should always make a back-up reservation at the full-fare. If you get your promotional-fare seat, just cancel your full-fare reservation.
If there is more than one person traveling, one excellent way to increase your chance of getting promotional-fare tickets in a wait list situation is to book your wait list for each person separately. This way, each time a single promotional-fare seat becomes available, your individual names have a much better chance of getting the reservation.
In addition, if you have two seats wait listed together, you might get skipped completely if cancellations are being made for single reservations only. Remember too, computers are controlling the reservations, and the higher your name is on the list, the better your chances are. It is very important to get your name on the wait list as soon as you can.
Remember the Start-Up and Discount Airlines
Across the United States today, there are a tremendous amount of new ╥start-up╙ airlines, and many ╥discount╙ airlines are continuing in spite of warnings of failures from the press. Many of the start-ups have been in business now for years, and are just as reliable as most any major airline in the country.
Additionally, the majors have started separate divisions within their companies to compete against the ╥start-ups╙ as they have seen their market share drop where the start-ups fly. United╒s ╥Shuttle By United╙ and Continental╒s ╥CALite╙ are good examples of these.
The start-ups basically provide you with a low price, minimal service, and few ticket restrictions. Some don╒t even give you a ticket, but instead provide you only with a confirmation number, similar to a rental car reservation. You check-in, they give you a boarding pass of some sort, and you wait for them to call your number to board.
For one thing, this style makes you feel as if you╒re going on a ride at Disneyland, not flying half-way across the country! For that matter, the flight may even be better than some of the rides at Disneyland, and cheaper too!
The biggest advantage is many of these start-ups sell tickets to you at rock bottom prices, whether you are going one way, round-trip, need to go right now, or next month. This is invaluable to many travelers, as most of the majors require overnight or weekend stays for discounted round trips as well as advance purchase requirements.
Though flying with a start-up may not be the ╥most comfortable way to fly,╙ it will often be the very best deal for getting from point A to point B. Surprisingly, many of these start-ups do provide good service, both on and off the ground. Their safety is usually comparable to the majors, and the pilots are quite frequently veteran pilots from dis-continued companies like Pan Am and Eastern.
One important thing to remember, is that although a start-up may not fly from or to where you need, you may be able to combine 2 start-ups, or even a major airline and a start-up airline to get to your destination. Even on round-trips, you can just as easily buy 2 r/t tickets on 2 different airlines, as you can buy one r/t ticket on one airline. Just remember to give yourself time to change planes at the stop in-between.
Here╒s a list of some of the so called ╥start-ups╙ and ╥discount╙ airlines. If you see one going your way, be sure to check it out for a possible great deal!
Air South Midway
AirTran MidWest Express
American Trans Air Private Jet
America West Reno Air
CALite Shuttle by United
Carnival South West
COMAIR Spirit Airlines
Commercial Air Sunbird
Grand Airways Tower Air
Kiwi International Airlines UltrAir
Mahalo Air ValuJet
Mark Air Vanguard Airlines
Holiday Flights Don╒t Have To Be High
To avoid the high cost of tickets around holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, check with the airlines to see if the rates are less on the holiday. Since most people want to get to their destination before the holiday, often the holiday itself can be in low demand for air travel and rates can drop dramatically.
You may have to work around blackout dates set by the airline, but this strategy can save you a tremendous amount of money. It isn╒t rare to save 50 to 70% off the holiday fares, and you╒ll be getting a discount near a regular season promotional-fare ticket. Be persistent with the airlines to get your lower fare as airlines often won╒t offer you the lower fares without you being very persistent.
Advertising
The first place to start looking for low airfares is in advertising. If you aren╒t near a major airport, buy the paper from the nearest major airport city. When airlines aren╒t selling seats on particular flights, they need to get the word out fast to avoid flying half empty.
Check the ads in the travel sections for ads from the airlines, especially in the Sunday issue. Be observant of the ads on radio and television as these too are a way the airlines can get the word out fast. On international flights, you╒ll need to watch for advertisements from your nearest city where international flights begin.
The Airline Reservationist
After finding a low fare through the airline╒s advertising, call the airlines and ask for their lowest fare to your destination. If the fare they quote you isn╒t the low fare you found, ask about its╒ availability. If you have the particulars on the special fare, like the designator or the special fare name, mention it to the reservationist.
If the reservationist gives you a quote on a ticket you feel is what you╒ve been looking for, make a reservation and tell the reservationist you will pay for your ticket in 24 hours. This is called a ╥courtesy reservation╙. You should not make your travel plans firm right away because you might still find a better deal. Just make sure you cancel this reservation if you do in fact find a better deal elsewhere so someone else can buy that ticket.
After calling other airlines, you will eventually end up with the lowest fare. Call back the airline that gave you the best deal and again ask for the lowest fare to your destination. You╒ll be surprised how many time you╒ll get an even better quote with another agent.
The more calls you make, the better your chances are in finding the best deals. You can expect to find the lowest fare will save you substantial amounts over the highest fare you were quoted. Just think if the high fare you were quoted was the first one you called and you went with that fare.
As you will want the reservationist to do some searching for you, it is best to call during slow times such as the weekend and late at night or early in the morning. It may take them some time to find the lowest fare for you, but if you╒re friendly with them and are open to being flexible in your route to your desired destination, you╒re more likely to get the best deal. Just emphasize your priority of finding the lowest available fare.
The Travel Agent
Travel agents make their money from commissions paid by the airlines. In most circumstances, you will pay the same for a ticket whether you obtain it from a travel agent or directly from the airline.
There are some problems with travel agents, however. Of major importance is the experience of the agent. When you call a travel agency, you have no idea how good he or she is in finding you a good deal. This makes it important to call more than just one or two agencies. Also, since agents make commissions from the sale of a ticket, the more they save you, the lower their commissions become.
A 10% commission on a $400 ticket makes a $40 commission compared to the $26 on a $260 fare. With volume sales, an agent can make a lot more by selling higher priced fares, so the responsibility is yours when looking for the very best deal. Some agents may not be so helpful if they think you╒re just shopping around. They will have to work hard to find a good deal for you, and then you may get your ticket elsewhere.
It is a fact that many agencies won╒t spend time finding the best deal for you. It can be too much trouble to spend half-an-hour looking for a low fare when you might not purchase through them. Also, with the complicated computer system agents must use, even good travel agents may not be able to find your best deal.
When you find an agent that is willing to spend time looking for you, you╒ll want to keep that agent in mind for the next time you need a ticket.
Another important idea is to check with agencies in other areas. Agents in major cities or rural areas may find a better deal for you. You can always have the ticket sent to you or pick it up at the airport ticket counter. Just try to have the agent pay for delivery fees or a possible prepay charge applied by the airline. They might not agree, but it╒s worth a try.
Timing Your Ticket Purchase
As most promotional fares have non refundable restrictions, you must be cautious as when to purchase your ticket. If you buy a ticket that requires you to purchase it 7 or 30 days before the flight and your plans change, you will be charged a cancellation or a change fee. Make sure your plans are firm before buying a non refundable ticket, and don╒t forget the start-up airlines who normally have much fewer restrictions.
After Buying Your Ticket
After you╒ve purchased your ticket, watch to see if the fares still go even lower. Often, if an airline is not filling seats on a flight, they will reduce the price to increase passengers. If they do, check to see if you can get a refund on the difference of you ticket cost and the new, lower rate. Each airline has different policies on this, so you╒ll need to call to find out.
If you find a better deal on another airline after buying a ticket, it may be cheaper to pay a cancellation fee on your original ticket and buy the lower priced ticket on the other airline. Don╒t stop looking for a better deal once you╒ve bought your ticket. You may surprise yourself by finding a better deal!
Standby Bargains
If you can be very flexible with your itinerary, standby fares can be the best deal next to flying for free. Standby rates are often half of the lowest promotional fare. The key to savings is again your flexibility in your schedule.
If you want to be somewhere by a particular date and can take the chance of being late, try going standby a couple of days earlier. If you get to your destination too early, your savings should make it all worth while.
Airline Passes
If you plan to do a lot of flying, an air pass may be an excellent way to save. Some airlines offer passes for seven, fourteen, twenty-one or more days. Check to see if it might be less to buy an air pass rather than individual tickets.
This is especially true on long international journeys. Some domestic airlines including TWA and carriers in Hawaii like Hawaiian Airlines and Aloha Airlines also have passes for both foreigners and US citizens alike although the rates may be different.
Reduced Fares Based on Your Status
Many airlines have special fares for people in particular groups. Some of these include senior citizens, students, military personnel, families, and youth. Still others have discounts for those traveling in an emergency or maybe to a particular meeting or convention. You may need proof of your status or affiliation, but this tactic can save you incredibly just by asking.
Savings with Travel Packages
You╒ve seen them. The super low travel packages that include airfare, hotel, transfers, and possibly even a tour and meals. Large travel agencies and sometimes even airlines sell packages that are far lower than the promotional fare to the same destination.
Check the ads for these packages in your newspaper and with the airlines and travel agents. Many people buy these packages and if they don╒t want the hotel or other included items, they merely throw away the extras.
As most travel packages are based on double occupancy, you will normally have to pay a single supplement, but it still may be better than your normal choice of ticket purchases.
Charter Flights
There are a substantial amount of companies offering charter flights. These aren╒t flights with only you as the passenger, they are flights which operators fly to popular destinations and are usually seasonal. They may not operate daily, but again, if you can be flexible, you may find this as a very good option.
Some things to consider with charter flights are they are more prone to have delays and cancellations, are able to increase the fare by up to 10%, may have unusual cancellation policies, and may be inconvenient by requiring extra early check-in times causing you to wait in line at the airport longer. They may also not be as financially stable as a regular airline.
Discount Travel Agencies
Some agencies offer no-service ticketing whereby they will sell you a ticket at a discount. They deal in volume customer sales and will give you a rebate from the commissions they receive from the airlines. Most airlines don╒t like this practice, but it is still practiced around the world.
These agencies sell their tickets by advertising the low rates in newspapers. You may even find some in the yellow pages by asking if they sell ╥net-rate╙ tickets. It╒s not illegal for you to buy these tickets. Domestically, it is legal for the agencies to sell net-rate tickets. On international flights, it is illegal for the travel agent to sell net-rate tickets, but the US Department of Transportation doesn╒t take any action as long as the consumer is not hurt. The listing in this guide provides names and numbers of over 200 discounters.
Ticket Consolidators
With the modern conveniences of telephones, credit cards, and overnight couriers, you may find that dealing with a consolidator is your best deal. Consolidators are those who buy huge amounts of tickets from the airlines at substantial discounts. Then they sell these tickets at great discounts to travel agencies and the public.
All airlines want to sell their seats at the published prices, but to fill their planes, they will often use consolidators to increase their percentage of occupied seats. They would rather get 50% of a fare on a seat than nothing at all by it being empty. This practice is not so well known because the airlines are sure not going to tell you.
Prior to calling a consolidator, check with the airlines to first obtain the lowest promotional ticket. Then when you get a quote from the consolidator, you will know if you are really getting a good deal. Make sure you find out if there are any additional fees involved, including taxes and credit card surcharges, and don╒t forget to get the restrictions spelled out to you in advance.
With consolidators, the tickets they sell do not have advance purchase requirements. This is an exceptional advantage for last minute travelers who can not make advance arrangements.
Disadvantages with dealing with consolidators is you╒ll get very little in the service department. They don╒t sell service, they sell tickets. They are also non-refundable, but since you can wait until the last minute to purchase your ticket, this shouldn╒t be a problem. A refund will surely cost you a fee and you╒ll have to get it from the consolidator, not the airline.
Most consolidators are law abiding so you have little to fear about getting swindled. Getting your ticket a couple of days before your flight or even picking it up at the airport counter when you check in for your flight may make you nervous, but it may be the only way to get your good deal.
There are some travel agencies who work with consolidators. C. L. Thompson, the largest consolidator in the US, sells only to travel agents including the travel agency chain, Uniglobe. You might find that there is a Uniglobe agency in your town that will sell you a discounted ticket. Look for them in the yellow pages.
Buying Airline Coupons
Frequent flyers obtain airline coupons from the airlines for accumulating large amounts of air miles. Often, these coupons are sold to brokers who turn around and resell them at a surcharge to the public, yet still less than most comparable published fares with the exception of promotional fares.
When you don╒t have the advance purchase ability for promotional tickets, buying frequent flyer coupons may be a good option. Although most airlines do not allow others to use these coupons, rarely does anyone get caught.
Just make sure you don╒t ╥advertise╙ that you are holding a coupon, make sure you have your own travel agent issue the airline ticket in exchange (just in case the airlines are watching out for tickets issued by the broker╒s agent), and get the broker to guarantee they will re-issue a coupon if you do in fact get it confiscated.
Using someone else╒s coupon is usually not the best method when you have the option to utilize consolidators for a good discount. Only the gutsy and bold traveler should consider this method of airfare savings.
Buying Someone Else╒s Ticket Through the Classifieds
You can find many tickets for sale in your local paper╒s classified section as well as ╥penny saver╙ type publications. These tickets too can offer you substantial savings in comparison to all other ticket sources. Usually, no changes are possible to these tickets so you must be able to fly exactly as the ticket states.
A few cautions to remember include being able to make sure the ticket is valid (by checking with the airline), not letting the airline know it╒s not your ticket, the ticket should be with a name of your same sex, and your check-in baggage should have the same name as the ticket.
Don╒t ever buy an international ticket through this source. You will be required to show ID when you check-in and no matter how good the deal looks, you╒ll never get to your destination this way.
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