Airfare Meets WiFi - Airlines are Expanding Internet Services

Airfare and WiFi Internet

Have you noticed that more and more airlines are adding WiFi Internet to their list of air passenger services and ammenities?

In fact, AirTran and Delta Airlines are aggressively marketing the new services in their airfare quote results and it seems to be seriously boosting their market share.

The vice president of marketing for Aircell, Niels Steenstrup, explains that the trend is occurring because "travelers want to do in the air what they’ve become accustomed to do at any Starbucks."

Niels should know because his company is without question the largest Internet service provider to the airline industry. He goes on to say that, "We get two reactions. 'Wow, there’s Internet,' and 'Of course, why wouldn’t there be?'"

While the technology is expensive and a bit primitive at the time, airfare-now.com expects the service will become more efficient and less expensive with the passage of time. "Within the next 12 months, almost all air travelers will be able to casully surf the net, check e-mail, and even accomplish business tasks while in the air."

The Language101 Website even predicts a surge in foreign language study - muy bien!


"If you have an airfare purchase coming up, you should consider downloading the new Save on Airfare Secrets course that's being offered by Tony Morrison before you book your flight. It's top quality material and could save you hundreds on that purchase..."

— airfare-now.com

Previous Post: American Airlines Announces New Airfare Fees

How Can I Find Airfare Deals?



How Can I Find Airfare Deals?

You don't have to work that hard to find airfare deals. Let your mouse do most of the work for you by following any or all of these simple travel planning tips.

Are You Being Flexible Enough?

I'm referring to the date, time, and location of your travel plans. If you are flexible enough to fly on the same date but at a slightly different time, you probably will be able to purchase a much less expensive seat on a plane that is only partially filled. The same can be said for flying on a different day that is not as busy as other days.

Also, flexibility of location is a definite key to finding airfare deals. If you are traveling to a major city and there are a number of airports nearby, you should check the airfare prices for the other airports. You will, of course need to factor in the cost of your taxi or rental car from that location to see if it makes sense.

Do Some Airfare Deal Scrolling

When viewing the travel website screen, you'll need to do a little scrolling to find the savings. By scrolling down to the bottom of the list, you;ll notice that fare information is usually listed in the order of fastest travel time to slowest rather than cheapest to most expensive. Selecting a flight from the bottom of the list can save you hundreds of dollars. Also, try to compare airfare prices as far in advance as is possible. Some airlines offer their most discounted flights 21 days out. You can also find last minute airfare deals by searching 3 day prior to the flight's departure mark.

Plan Your Meals Wisely

Avoid purchasing the pricey in-flight meals by doing some advance planning. Even though you may not be able to bring large quantities of liquids on board, you can still make or purchase dried snacks to take on the airplane ahead of time. Due to the inevitable flight delays, layovers etc., it's important that you have a snack or two in your carry-on bag.

Travel Light

And finally, since you may very well be traveling accompanied, you should take a detailed inventory of your baggage and also weigh it prior to your departure date. If it's super heavy, you might want to consider shipping the bag ahead of you. With that much higher charges that most airlines are now assessing for overweight bags, plan for this by leaving some of those articles at home.

By following these airfare deals tips, I hope you will save a lot on your next airfare purchase.

Recommended Reading:
"Save on Airfare Secrets is the BEST material for both casual and business air travelers - all in one place for easy access too!"
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Airfare Price Wars | Airlines are Cutting Fares


Airfare Price Wars | Airlines are Cutting Fares

Discount airfare carriers Southwest and AirTran have launched one of the steepest airfare sales I have seen in years, and they have recently sweetened the deal with some super broad windows of time in which to fly this fall.

For example, passengers can get a one-way fare on certain AirTran flights for as low as $39 for travel through Dec. 16. And Southwest Airlines is offering one way flights for as low as $49 on certain itineraries through Nov. 18.

The good news is that other major airlines have now started matching some of the Southwest and AirTran discount airfare offers. Of course the new come with certain expected restrictions, and the low prices don't apply to all flights on all days to all destinations, but in general this has been a bonanza of deals for frequent fliers.

This sudden flurry of discounts tells me that the airlines are in a fast and furious competition to fill vacant seats this fall - trying to stay above water during this economic slump that has forced the industry to slash all kinds of flights and jobs.

Enjoy the airfare price wars!


Recommended Reading:
"Save on Airfare Secrets is the BEST material for both casual and business air travelers - all in one place for easy access too!"
     - airfare-now.com


Finding Cheap Airfare With "Round the World Flights"

Finding Cheap Airfare

In many ways, travel has become more economical during this decade - particularly air travel. Due to a long run of airfare price wars and the emergence of the discount airfare (no frills) airlines, many travel destinations that might have cost you a lifetime's saving before are now well within reach. I hope this article gives you an idea or two about how to save money on airfare and ultimately how to make your travel dreams a reality.

Is it Cheaper to Fly?
 
Flying has become a very common mode of travel, however statistics show that the airfare purchase  is still the lion's share of our travel expenditure. There are a number of creative methods for finding cheap airfare that will permit you to travel by air on a tight budget.

Should I Book My Airfare with the Airline?

If you decided to use phone the airline directly and book your discount airfare with an airline agent, make sure you specify your desire is for the lowest possible airfare or the cheapest airfare. Some of the specific flight specials, airfare coupons, and cheap flights promotions do not fall under the airline's economy or apex fares so asking for a seat in economy class is not enough.

Should I Use a Travel Agent?

While most travel agents are reputable, remember that not all travel agents are motivated enough to help you find the cheapest airfare. Travel agents are paid by commission, so you are almost always better off by looking for cheap airfare on the Internet.

What if I'm Planning Many Stops?

If you're planning an international itinerary or you're planning many stops, you might want to consider a Round the World (RTW) ticket. According to the article on Wikipedia,
"A round the world ticket is a plane ticket allowing you to fly around the world, usually over a period of up to a year and with between three and twenty stops at different airports. Round the world tickets cost far less than the sum of the one-way tickets between each set of individual stops.
Many travelers plan entire holidays using a round the world itinerary. This cheap airfare option is great for the intrepid type of traveler who spends time going from continent to continent. Best of all, the travel route can be pre-determined but normally only the first leg of the flight itinerary needs to be booked in advance.

Why do Budget Airlines Offer Cheaper Flights?

Have you noticed that the budget airlines usually offer lower airfares? They offer cheaper flights for many reasons, but much of their magic comes because they fly through secondary airports. Book with the budget airlines and you'll save quite a bit - giving you lots more to spend when you arrive at your destination.

What About Foreign Airlines?

You can often fly cheap by searching and booking your flight through a foreign airline's website (via an airline that lands in another neighboring country).  For example, one local airline offered a return flight from Kuala Lumpur to New Zealand for $4000, however a quick search on a foreign airline that was still reachable by road offered the same flight for $3200. $760 is a BIG savings!

Should I Become a Frequent Flyer Member?

If you find yourself flying pretty regularly, then you should definitely sign up for the airline's frequent flyer program. Points accrued through these programs will reward you with free flights and free upgrades. Make sure you sign up for the frequent flyer newsletter or e-mail too as most airlines send out notifications and promos that way.


Recommended Reading:
"Save on Airfare Secrets is the BEST material for both casual and business air travelers - all in one place for easy access too!"
     - airfare-now.com

How to Find Cheap Flights to Hawaii

flying to hawaiiHow to Find Cheap Flights to Hawaii

There are some general rules that apply to almost all flights, but there are some specific rules when it comes to flying to Hawaii - rules that will make finding cheap flights to Hawaii a lot more possible than you thought.

1) First and foremost, the further out you can plan your Hawaii trip, particularly your air travel to Hawaii, the cheaper they will be. Try to book your flight to Honolulu at least 21 days out - 30 days if you're continuing to Maui. Extra tip... "red eye" trips will save you lots of money on your return to the mainland.

2) Very important - stay over a Saturday night!! If your trip to Hawaii is for 5 days, plan your flight to arrive Wednesday morning to early afternoon, then return to the mainland on Sunday to get a better fare. Extra tip... try mid-week flights for arrival and departure for the BEST airfare.

3) Don't ever buy airline tickets for Friday evening or Monday morning. These are obviously the busiest times for the airlines and the airfare will reflect that. You won't ever find cheap flights to Hawaii on a Friday night.

4) Avoid holiday travel to Hawaii if you can. If you must travel to Hawaii for a holiday, book your flight for the actual Holiday (fly in ON Christmas Day rather than Christmas Eve, for example).

5) With the exception of Thanksgiving, airfare to Hawaii is cheapest between November 1st and December 15th.

6) Pretty obvious, but fly from a major city - preferably a major international hub. If you live an hour outside Chicago for example, choose Chicago Ohare anyway. Take the bus or some other form of public transportation if necessary but fly from the international hubs.

7) Flights to Honolulu on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday will usually offer the lowest prices. The heaviest travel days TO Honolulu are Monday, Friday and Sunday, so the prices can be higher.

8) Solid gold tip!! If you are willing to be bumped from an overbooked flight, you could be given a very large discount for a future trip or possibly een a free roundtrp. If you are not in a hurry and the airline announces your flight is overbooked, ask the gate counter representative what they are offering for a volunteer "bump".

9) Use your status as a senior citizen or a college student to get discounts - sometimes as much as 25% off! If you are at least 55 years of age or you can show a student ID, this is definitely an avenue you need to explore. 

10) If you call the airlines directly, ask them for their most inexpensive flight. Believe it or not, It is not always coach. Your airline may be having a special on business travel that you qualify for. Always ask!


Flying to Hawaii?
"Save on Airfare Secrets is the BEST material for both casual and business air travelers - all in one place for easy access too!"
     - airfare-now.com


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