Flying With the Southwest Airlines Rapper
Flying Discount Airlines With the Southwest Airlines Rapper
This is flight 372 on SWA
The flight attendants onboard serving you today
Theresa in the middle, David in the back
My name is David and I’m here to tell you that
Shortly after takeoff, first things first
There’s soft drinks and coffee to quench your thirst
But if you want another kind of drink then just holler
Alcoholic beverages will be four dollars
If a Monster energy drink is your plan
That’ll be three dollars and you get the whole can
We won’t take your cash, you gotta pay with plastic
If you have a coupon, then that’s fantastic
We know you’re ready to go new places
Open up the bins and put away your suitcases
Carry on items go under the seat
In front of you so none of you have things by your feet
If you have a seat on a row with an exit
We’re gonna talk to you so you might as well expect it
You gotta help evacuate in case we need you
If you don’t wanna then we’re gonna reseat you
Before we leave, our advice is
Put away your electronic devices
Fasten your seatbelt, then put your trays up
Press the button to make your seat back raise up
Sit back, relax, have a good time
It’s almost time to go, so I’m done with the rhyme
Thank you for the fact that I wasn’t ignored
This is Southwest Airlines, welcome aboard
- David Holmes
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
Where Can I Get the Lowest Airfare?
Where Can I Get the Lowest Airfare?
If you love to travel by air, there’s an eBook by fired travel agent Tony Morrison that can really save you a lot of money. It goes by two different names - My Airfare Secrets or Save on Airfare Secrets, and you’ve probably seen the ads for it on many of the major travel websites. Well, it’s selling briskly and for good reasons. The book has become a travel bible of sorts for the regular flyers, but it can help the average family traveler as well.
My Airfare Secrets
My Airfare Secrets has a mountain of information that will help you save money on your family vacations, business travel, even spur-of-the-moment weekend getaways. Here’s my review…
When I first came across this book last year I was tempted to purchase it right away since it was relatively inexpensive. I held off for a couple weeks but eventually my curiosity got the better of me and I just had to know what those “airfare secrets” really were! Yep, I was pretty curious. and there was a money-back guarantee so I figured I had nothing to lose.
Background on the Author
The story goes that the book’s author was a long-time employee of a major domestic airliner, and he was unexpectedly let go after many years of service with the company. As his revenge against the airline company, he penned this nifty little book which would outline all the major insider secrets to finding cheap airfare.
After reading this little gem, I would say he did an excellent job and the book was exactly as described. After going over the book for the first time, my head was simply spinning with ideas that I wanted to try on upcoming vacation.
Now, was every single thing mentioned in the book brilliantly laid out and new information? No, but I did find more new information than I had ever expected to. Since I felt like I was already privy to lots of good ideas simply by authoring this website, I had decided that I'd be happy if the book gave me even 3 new ideas I could run with. I found much more than that.
There were a few tips that I was already aware of but many of the tricks and tips were new to me – things that I never knew existed. In fact, a few of the tips were really worth the price of the book all by themselves.
Summary
I think the information in Save on Airfare Secrets is well above average. One of the things that really frustrates me in many of the informational books that are available online is that they are full of fluff. I’m not sure sometimes if the authors of these books are just trying to fill pdf space or what, but to me it's just a waste of reading time. Thankfully, this eBook has good stuff and gets right to the point. I really appreciated that because I didn't feel like I was wasting lots of time reading a bunch of fluff while waiting to get to the material I paid for.
All in all, I feel that if you are looking for ways to save money on travel or cruises, or if you are just trying to find the lowest airfare possible, you could do a whole lot worse than My Airfare Secrets. Considering the amount of money you can save, it's really quite a bargain.
More details are available on the Tony Morrison website.
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
2 Ways to Save on Discount Airfare
2 Ways to Save on Discount Airfare
Two ways that you can save money on discount airfare nowadays are to book your air travel online and to book your flights early enough that you get the lowest prices available.
Search and Click
It may sound complicated, but it’s really as simple as searching and clicking, the same way you searched for and clicked on this article that you’re reading right now. Your best discount airfare is a search and a click away!
First, you’ll need to start searching the travel sites online for your final destination. There’s a Kayak search on the right sidebar of this blog which is a good first travel search for sure. Kayak does a fine job of sorting and displaying all of your discount airfare options, and you’ll be well educated in discount airfare prices when your search is over.
Do not purchase your airline tickets from the first website that you search on however, even if they are offering you ridiculously low prices. I strongly encourage you to continuing searching on other websites before making your final discount airfare purchase. There are some Hotwire links on the right sidebar of this blog as well so visit them next.
Now, let’s take this online search for discount airfare just a little bit further. If you want the best savings, search for early morning or late evening flights. These flights have a lower demand so the airlines usually offer these tickets at a reduced. Also, when searching for a flight click the “travel dates are flexible” option.
How Far in Advance?
When it comes to booking airfare in advance, the main question that comes up is “how far in advance?”
Terrific question, and it varies depending on whether it is an international, domestic, or local flight. It will also differ depending on the time of year that you are traveling.
The general rule however is this…
Book your flights at least 30 days in advance if international, 21 days if domestic, and 14 days if local. These are merely educated suggestions, but it is safe to say that booking discount airfare well in advance will net you the lowest prices.
One final suggestion…
Using the above tips will not only to get you the best airfare possible but can be modified to get you the best lodging and car rental prices too – often in a single package!
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
What Others are Saying About Jet America Airlines
A new low-cost airline is offering an airline seat for $9 – 9 of them on each flight in fact with no exceptions and no gimmicks.
Called JetAmerica, the company says it will now fly nonstop to Toledo OH, Lansing MI, and Newark, MJ. Service starts on July 13th.
Here’s what others are saying about Jet America…
“Jet America Airlines Reservations has opened up its reservations for flights starting on July 13. And as promised, the flights will be super cheap. Fares will start around $9 each way out of Toledo (for only nine seats)…”- Jet America Airlines Reservations | Cheerleader Contest SEO
“Although Jet American Airlines will have really cheap airline tickets, they will charge many fees and only offer a certain amount of 9 dollar tickets per flight.”- Really Cheap Airline Tickets, Nine Dollars! | PaulMclalin.com
“The jet only holds nine seats, so even if they sellout they’re only making $81. Fees and other charges will be associated with the initial cost, but I don’t expect that to be over $20-$30 bucks.”- Jet America: 9 Dollar Fares | Manolith
“Tickets are supposed to be on sale now at jetamerica.com, though at last check, the site was down due to a database error. This could be one of the most disorganized efforts I’ve seen in a long time.”- Jet America Officially Launches From Its Toledo Base >> The Cranky Flier
“Watch out Jet Blue, Southwest, and Virgin America—upstart Jet America is after your customers. Jet America is following in the footsteps of airlines like EasyJet and Ryanair, offering ridiculously low prices on flights, then nickel and diming the hell out of you.”- $9 Flights on Jet America – BlackBook
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 Airline Coupon Codes | Airfare Coupons and Codes Online
Airline Coupons and Codes
Airline coupon codes are scarce nowadays but they do come up occasionally – you just need to know where to find them. Let’s take a look at some websites where you might be able to find coupon codes for your next airline ticket.
RetailMeNot.com
The RetailMeNot.com website is one of my absolute favorites when it comes to getting airfare codes. The airlines coupon search comes up with with companies like Southwest, Spirit Air and a few other discount airlines pretty regularly.
I just checked and there’s currently a 10% discount for JetBlue that looks good. The coupon reads:
10% off roundtrip flights for American Express cardholders - JetBlue takes 10% off any roundtrip flight via coupon code - The flight must be booked by June 7 for travel between May 24 and June 17- Several exclusions apply, and taxes and fees are additionalCouponCabin.com
My next favorite website for airline coupons is CouponCabin. I like the site because they have an attractive layout and it’s a very easy site to navigate. On their travel page, I was able to find several decent travel deals - no airfare coupons today though.
NaughtyCodes.com
NaughyCodes.com has been around for a while and will occasionally list a god airfare coupon. Bookmark the site and check often because this site is updating constantly.
Airfare-Now.com
We’ll list airfare coupons on airfare-now.com when we find them or at least link to a coupon source. Right now there are some 50% off codes in my right sidebar from Hotwire.com.
Summary
I recommend that you look for airline coupon codes online before buying your next airline ticket. If you combine a coupon code with a nice discount airfare, you could be saving a lot of money! I hope some of the sites mentioned above are useful to you.
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
Discount Airfare 101 | How to Get the Best Airfare
Discount Airfare 101 | How to Get the Best Airfare
Since airfare is likely the largest item in your travel budget, you'll want to be certain you get the best airfare value for your hard earned dollar. Not suprisingly, the airlines will not always tell you what their best airfare options are. Asking good questions, being flexible in your plans, and planning in advance however will greatly increase your odds of booking the best discount airfare for your travel budget.
How Are Airfare Rates Determined?
Airlines calculate their airfare rates based on a number of variables - seat inventory, competition pricing, and supply/demand to name just a few. If a particular flight route (New York to Los Angeles, for example) is in high demand, then it goes without saying that the airfare for that route will go up. Conversely, if a competing flight has more empty seats on it than full, the price of that airfare will drop.
Have you noticed that airlines that offer the same flight routes several times per day have some widely different airfare prices for each flight? This is discount airfare 101 in it's rawest form - more popular flights will have less available seats. Translation - a limited supply and high demand equals higher prices.
As a result of the above variables, airfare prices fluctuate in real time - all the time!
When you’re shopping for discount airfare, the price that you see quoted this very minute could change by the time takes you pull out your credit card. That's why getting the best airfare often comes down to being able to act quickly.
Can One Day Really Make a Difference?
If you have a strict travel itinerary with restrictions on the dates you are able to travel, you will probably not get the discount airfare you desire. If you can keep your travel days flexible however, departing even a single day earlier or later than your original plans, you’ll greatly increase your chance of getting an airfare deal you can live with.
If you need to travel during a holiday season, you can still get a good airfare by staying flexible and planning ahead. The best airfare during peak travel times like Thanksgiving or Christmas comes to those who plan ahead, book ahead, and remain flexible.
When it comes to holidays, most folks want to arrive a couple days before the holiday and stay a couple days after the holiday. If you're looking for discount airfare and you're familiar with supplydemand, you'll take note of this and fly on the holiday rather than a few days before or after. Flying on December 25th can often get you the best airfare for the year simply because most airlines consider the actual holiday date to be a low demand date.
Are you a Morning Person?
Another effective strategy for getting the best airfare is flying very early in the morning - the first flight of the day. The first flight of the day and the last flight of the day tend to be less popular and will often yield a better price. If you’re willing to get up extra early, booking a first flight out can get you the best airfare.
Don't Mind Driving?
If you don't mind driving a little bit, shopping for the best airfare by airport will usually get you a good deal. Discount airfare prices are often lower at smaller, regional airports that are serviced by the discount carriers.
Flights departing from Fort Lauderdale for example, generally carry a lower airfares than flights departing Miami. This same concept holds up in other metropolitan areas as well (Washington DC, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, etc.). If you’re searching for discount airfare online, choose a site like Kayak that allows you to research airfare and include surrounding airports.
When Should I Book?
While there’s no perfect time to purchase discount airfare, you are advised book your flight as early as possible because the chances are likely that it will cost more if you wait. The general consensus is that the best domestic airfare prices are obtained with a 14-day advance purchase and the best international airfare proces are obtained with a 30-day advance purchase.
And if Prices Go Down...?
Purchasing discount airfare is a little bit like gambling -placing your bet on what you believe is the best airfare for your money. But what happens if you bet wrong and airfare prices go down?
Most of the major domestic airlines include a price drop guarantee in their fine print. If you purchase your airfare and the price drops for the exact same itinerary, cabin class, and flight, then the airline will issue a price-difference voucher that can be applied to a future airfare purchase. Website airfare is sometimes excluded from this offer so you'll want to be familiar with their terms and conditions.
Anything Else?
I hope you've picked up a good idea or two by reading this article. If you want even more tips and tricks for saving on airfare, buy the Save on Airfare Secrets book from Tony Morrison. It's loaded with great techniques for saving a bundle at the ticket counter!
Have a safe and enjoyable journey.
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
Free Travel Checklist for Plane Trips | Free Download from Airfare-Now.com
Here's a free download travel checklist that might come in handy for your next plane trip...
Free Travel Checklist for Plane Trips
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Can I Get A Refund if my Airfare Price Drops?
So you finally decide to push the "buy now" button for your plane ticket. You've found what you believe to be the best discount airfare, you've inhaled deeply, and you've make the click. But then your biggest fear – you see a lower fare on another website or you see the price of your ticket drop on your current website. What now?
Here are some general details about refunds on airplane tickets. Keep in mind that each travel website and each airline sets their own policy so these are generalities - your mileage may vary...
If your fare drops within 24 hours, your airline might very well refund the difference.
Several major airlines offer what they call a low-fare guarantee: If, for example, you see your flight advertised for less on another website within 24 hours of originally booking your airfare, your airline might refund the difference in price and also reward you with a travel voucher. The lower fare needs to meet some precise conditions in order to qualify, but it is definitely worth looking into.
On American and United Airlines for example, the lower airfare must match your original airfare itinerary, cabin classification (economy, business, or first) and letter designation. The letter designation is usually the hardest of all criteria to match because there can be a dozen or more letter designations within a single cabin. For Continental and Northwest Airlines, the lower airfare must match the original airfare cabin classification, itinerary and flight.
If you book your ticket through the Orbitz travel website, you’re eligible for a voucher under their low-fare guarantee if you find a lower fare on a different website. You might also receive a cash credit through their separate "price assurance policy" if another Orbitz website customer books your same itinerary at a lower price. Again, the class and itinerary for the two tickets must be exactly the same in order to qualify.
If the price drops after 24 hours, you might get a flight voucher.
If you purchased your ticket from the airline and your price drops, the airline may award you a voucher for the price difference toward your next ticket. You'll only get that voucher however if the amount of the price drop is more than the rebooking fee that the airline charges.
For example, let's say that you found a disount airfare to Los Angeles International for $429 that has since dropped to $374. If the rebooking fee on your airline is $125, your fare would need to drop below $304 (yourr original $429 minus the $125) before you would see any type of an award voucher. If you want to get in the business of chasing vouchers and catching them, call your airline before you book to see if they have a rebooking fee (the flight tracking site Yapta maintains a chart of rebooking fees at major airlines) and book your ticket as far in advance as possible.
Persist, and you might get more than one travel voucher.
Like Travelocity and most of the other online travel agencies, Yapta searches for the best discount airfare for your planned itinerary. For the voucher-minded traveler however, Yapta only returns airfares that can be booked through the airline directly. After you buy your ticket, Yapta monitors your airfare and sends you an e-mail when the price rises or falls.
If your airfare drops to a point where you qualify for an award voucher but you don’t want to deal with the airline yourself, Yapta will do it for a $15 service fee.
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
Military Discount Airfare Now | Discount Airfare for Service Members
Member of the Military?
Stop looking for discount airfare because you automatically qualify for free airfare!
A "Space Available Flight", also referred to as Space A trip or a military hop, is a benefit that is provided to servicemembers, retirees and their immediate families. Under the Military Hop program, eligible passengers are permitted to occupy unused seats on DoD-owned or controlled aircraft once all of the space-required (duty) passengers have been accommodated. What this means is that military members who are flexible with their travel plans can take advantage of free airfare!
Now for the drawbacks....
First, it's important to understand that Space Available (Space A) travel has changed a a great deal over the past few years. Mission schedules used to be available on the web and you could sign up for a military hop online. In the post 9/11 world, national security has warranted that flight information be removed from the public domain. Translation... determing flight schedules is much more difficult.
Now for some tips:
Look for Super Saver and Discount Airfare First
We recommend looking for super-saver airfare or discount airfare to your destination prior to planning a Space A flight. You may find a bargain airfare and determine that it is a better way to go than taking the assortment of scheduling risks of flying Space A. Yes, Space A flights can save you money, but a ticket in your hand provides great peace of mind.
Word of Mouth
If you're considering a Space A flight rather than a discount flight, ask around your command to glean some information from others who have used the service in the past. Find out which flights are typically available to and from your target destination.
Prepare to Wait
Bring lots of snacks, plenty of reading material, and your portable electrronics - game boy, walkman, laptop, etc. You may have to wait for awhile and the conveniences of the airport ane not available.
Thank you for serving your country!
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
Free Luggage Tag from Northwest Airlines
Stop looking for discount airfare for just a moment and look at this recent find from one of our Airfare-Now.com readers!
For a limited time, you can redeem 1,000 of your Northwest Airlines WorldPerks Miles and create your very own custom baggage tags. You get to choose an image from their photo gallery or you can upload your own you choose.
Talk about multitasking! Use your custom baggage tags to express your unique individual style while helping you identify your baggage. Your custom baggage tags also make great gifts for family members and friends.If you are having a problem with which image to use, why not consider the airfare-now.com logo to remind you to return here when it's time to fly again!
The only flaw I have found in this airline freebie is that NWA limits you to 10 - still a super deal though. I hope this helps someone else out - now I'm back to finding discount airfare!
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
Discount Airfare to Orlando... Get the PACKAGE
Looking for airfare deals to Orlando?
Since the early 1970s when Walt Disney opened his ever popular Magic Kingdom, Orlando has been the most popular destination in Florida. More than 40 million tourists from all over the world progress through the gates of Orlando International Airport every year, and many of those ventures began with a simple Google search...
discount airfare orlando
Locating an attractive discount airfare to Orlando is not real difficult nowadays. While standalone airfare searches can present some deals, the best discount airfares to Orlando come when they're bundled together with hotel accommodations, rental cars, and theme park admission tickets. When it comes to Orlando, package deals offer the best discount airfare now!
There are thousands of companies out there that are selling discount airfare packages to Orlando. Each website that you encounter is trying to outsell their competition, so the good news is that they will lower and lower their prices in order to get your business.
In addition to the travel websites that sell discount airfare to Orlando directly, there are now a number of companies that use an "auction" format for selling discounted plane tickets and discount package deals. With theses sites, you simply enter in the amount that you are willing to pay. The auction website will then notify you if you are the winning bidder.
Best wishes for a "magical" vacation to Orlando!
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
Flying with Dog | Do I Need an Airplane Ticket for a Pet?
A. More than likely, your dog can travel in the cabin with you under what the airlines call "accompanied baggage." If you want your dog to travel in the cabin with you as accompanied baggage, you must be a passenger traveling on the same. Many airlines place a limit on the number of pets that are allowed in the cabin during a flights, so you'll need to inform the airline that you plan to bring a pet on board with you when you make your reservation. At that time, ask if there are any specific rules regarding pet travel on your flight. Also ask about the recommended dimensions for your pet carrier.
Remember that Federal aviation law prohibits you from taking your pet out of the carrier while you are in the plane's cabin.
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
10 Tips for Buying Airline Tickets
First time buying airline tickets or perhaps it's been a while? Here are 10 tips on buyng airline tickets that should make the process easy!
1. Decide Your Airfare Limits in Advance
Have a meeting with your spouse or travel partner and decide what your airfare "go price" is. That way, whoever is buying the tickets has a green light to "go" (purchase the ticket) when a good airfare price comes along. The best deals tend to go very quickly so a predetermined airfare "go" price will permit you to act quickly to take the deal.
#2. Check Direct
Check the available airfare prices online with one of the travel consolidator websites, then check the specific airline’s website for their direct sale ticket price. Sometimes the direct price is $5-$10 less because you are not paying any ticket seller surcharges. It just takes a few minutes so it’s worth a look.
#3. Hang Up the Telephone
The airlines have streamlined their costs and are encouraging people to use online ticket purchasing services. With the development of online vending, many of the airlines are now adding a surcharge on telephone ticket purchases. You can still use the telephone to inquire about existing reservations, just don't use it for the initial purchase.
4. Get the Card
Get a frequent flier account for the airline you are traveling on, even if you don't intend to travel with them again. If a flight is over-booked, the discount airfare seats are first in line to be involuntarily “bumped”, so having a frequent flier account with the airline gives you an element of protection.
5. Bow to Your Partner
When it comes to frequent flier miles, remember that many airlines will award points for flights with their partner airlines. For example, you can earn Delta miles on Northwest Airlines or Continental Airlines flights.
6. Identify Yourself
Have your frequent flier number available when you make the initial reservation. This becomes a "tag" of sorts to your reservation and makes it easy for a customer service representative to see your flight plans if you have misplaced your original boarding pass.
7. No Nicknames Please
Make your airfare reservation in the name that's on your driver’s license. New airport security measures require exact matches. For example, a man named Thomas should book his airfare as Thimas rather than Tom or Tommy.
8. Get Rid of the Locks
Remember that new airport security measures prohibit the use of locks on personal luggage. Locked luggage will be cut open and the airline will not become liable for repairs. If you absolutely require a lock, there are some new TSA approved locks that you can purchase at the ticket counter.
9. Excess Baggage
Most airlines are now charging for a second checked bag, and many are now charging for the first. Southwest Airlines does not charge for checked baggage, so a fare that costs a few dollars with them might actually be the cheaper once you consider the checked baggage fees.
10. Dial for Dollars
If your fare goes down after making the initial purchase, you should call the airline and politely request an air voucher (credit) towards future travel. Expiring in one year, most airlines will issue the voucher as a customer courtesy adjustment.
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
Airfare for Babies: Ticket or No Ticket?
We all want to save money on airfare, but when it comes to babies and airfare I recommend comfort and safety over cheap airfare every time. Would you travel in your car with your infant baby loose? If you wouldn't travel in a car with your infant baby loose, you probably should exercise the same caution when it comes to flying!
If you're flying with your baby, I'm sure it's tempting to save a few bucks on your airfare by sharing a seat. Airlines don't require a ticket for babies and toddlers (children under the age of two) who sit on an adult's lap so your baby is technically able to fly for free. The problem is that this isn’t really a very safe way to go and we at airfare-now advise against it.
There are several very good reasons for coughing up the cash and buying your baby his or her own airplane ticket. Here are 4 very good reasons:
Cheap Airfare or Security?
Your baby will be secured in an airline adapted car seat and secured by the airplane's seatbelt. In the aircraft experiences turbulance, this could prevent major injuries.
Cheap Airfare or Freedom?
You will be freed from holding the baby for the entire flight. While this doesn't seem like a big issue on a short flight, Pittsburgh to Charlotte for example, it will be appreciated on longer flights without question. Consider a trans-Atlantic flight with a squirmy toddler or a fussy baby on your lap - not good.
Cheap Airfare or Comfort?
Your baby will be more comfortable and much less fussy in an assigned airline seat, and it will be easy to give your baby a bottle when the aircraft is inducing ear pressure - takeoff and landing in particular.
Cheap Airfare or Indigestion?
Your meal on the aircraft will be much easier. It's difficult and sometimes impossible to eat a meal while a little one is on your lap.
So in summary, please buy an airplane ticket for your baby!
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
Fly First Class 5 Ways
Making all ticketed passengers walk through the first class and business class seats on their way to those crammed coach seats in the back of the airplane just seems a little wrong to me. I always thought it was some type of an airline industry cruel joke...
Perhaps you have imagined or wondered what it would be like to have one of those nice wide seats and all that legroom, free drinks and the personal service. Then comes reality and you pass through the curtain into coach class anonymity to tough out a few hours with the regular folk.
First class flying doesn't have to be out of your reach however. Many of the travelers that are sitting sitting up front are not millionaires - they are simply frequent flyers and/or savvy travelers. If you really want to fly in the first class or business class sections for less, try out these top five tips for sitting in first class without spending a fortune.
1. Become An "Elite"
Elite fliers are the VIPs (very important passengers) of the airline. Flyers that have gained airline elite status get exclusive check-in lines, the opportunity to board the airplane first, and all kinds of special perks including complimentary upgrades to first class or business class. Some airlines will upgrade elite status members on every flight if those seats are unsold, while other airlines give out upgrade certificates that they may redeem for a first class seat. If you really want to sit up front without paying any additional fees, airline elite status is the way to go.
One point to consider about elite status however, is that while you may not have to pay for upgrades you do have to pay your dues to be an elite member in the first place. Most airlines require you to fly 25,000 miles in the calendar year just to attain the lowest tier of the elite member hierarchy. The average traveler may not fly that much in a year or they may use multiple airlines to get the better fares. If you really want to earn the elite member status, you will need to choose a preferred airline and fly on that airline exclusively in order to rack up the required miles.
Now the good news! There are some ways to gain elite member status without flying 25,000 miles. Airlines sometimes have promotions that award elite member status for completing certain requirements within a specific window of time. For example, an airline might award you elite status if you fly a certain number of flights or miles in a limited amount of time. Be proactive though because most of these special campaigns require you to sign up before you take any of your qualifying flights.
2. Use Your Frequent Flyer Miles
You have a couple different ways of using your frequent flier miles for a first class ticket.
The first way is to use your collected miles to purchase for a free first class or business class flight. YIn order to do this, you'll need between 40,000 and 60,000 miles depending on the airline - and this is just for domestic flights.
The second and more cost effective option is to use your frequent flyer miles to upgrade an already purchased coach seat. It usually costs 15,000 frequent flyer miles to upgrade a one-way flight. Be aware that some of the very deeply discounted economy fares can't be upgraded, and some ot the other discount fares may require a copay. If you're planning on purchasing a first class upgrade with your miles, be certain that you know the rules associated with your ticket before purchasing it.
3. Buy The Upgrade at the Gate
If you don't have enough frequent flyer miles or the elite member status, you can still occasionally get away with upgrading for less. Lots of airlines offer "standby upgrades" which permit you to upgrade your coach ticket at the gate. Delta Airlines, for example, offers this at only $50 per flight leg, and AirTran offers this for even less ($30 or $35 per leg). Check with your airline to determine if this is a possibility and how much it will cost.
4. Buy the Full Fare Economy Ticket
You can also get upgraded for free if you purchase the most expensive coach tickets. US Airways offers the "GoFirst fare," which is a full-fare economy class ticket that receives an automatic upgrade to first class if a seat is available. America West Airline offers a fully refundable economy class (Class Y) fare that includes free upgrades.
Full-fare economy tickets can be a lot more expensive than regular coach fare, but they are cheaper than first class tickets and can be handy for travelers who want a first class at a lower cost.
5. Fly Airlines With Cheapest First Class
America West claims that their first class airfare is 40-70 percent less than other airlines with it's cheapest upper-class fares starting at $189. US Airways and Delta Airtlines have put a price cap on their one-way first class fares as part of their new, simplified pricing structure. The US Airways' domestic "GoFare" has a $499 cap each way, and Delta Airlines "Simplifare" is capped at $599 each way.
Bonus Tip: Sit in the Front of the Airplane
Ther cheapest option is to suck it up and fly coach. If you can't ride first class, just choose a seat towards the front of the aircraft and use their better bathroom!
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
Flying Standby | Airfare Then and Airfare Now
Flying as a "standby" passenger used to be one of the cheapest ways to travel by air.
The general concept was simple and sensible. Since an empty airplane seat didn't earn the airline any revenue, the airlines would sell special airfare "standby tickets" to ensure that all seats were occupied. Passengers holding a standby ticket were not guarranteed a seat on a particular flight, but instead would be placed on the next available flight after all the passengers with regular fare reservations and all passengers that were bumped from a previom flight had boarded. No stopovers were permitted on standby fares.
Since advance reservations were not accepted for standby travel, you would get to the gate as early as possible to put yourself down on the standby list. If it was a particularly busy day with most flights full, you might have to wait several hours to finally get a seat - you might not get a seat at all. Although the standby ticket didn't guarrantee your seat, it would provide you some terrific airfare deals if you were willing to wait.
All good things must come to an end, and sadly the days when college students could hang out at the airport and fly standby on the cheap are long gone. Although the term "standby" is still used frequently, it no longer means what it used to:
1. Most airlines no longer sell their standby tickets at a reduced fare however they will sell you a standby ticket at the regular fare. A misuse of the term standby really, because all it really means is that the gate agent will sell you a ticket on the spot if there are seats available - more like a very last minute ticket.
2. Nonrefundable and/or nonchangeable tickets can often be used for standby air travel on the same or a similar route (sometimes there is a slight surcharge). This situation can come up if you miss your flight or you are unable to travel for some reason.
3. If you're booked to depart on a later flight but get to the airport early, you may be able to get on the
earlier flight is there's space available.
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
Flying to Hawaii? 10 Tips for Cheaper Airfare Now!
Flying 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 your Hawaii airfare cheaper from the very beginning.
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.
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!
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
Book Flights Now |Fares are Going Up... Up... and Away!
Hurry!!!
If you're planning to travel this summer you really shouldn't wait any longer to book your plane ticket.
Acting quickly, a couple months in advance of your planned departure, will save you plenty of cash in the long run because demand is so much higher during the summer months and because a number of other factors are influencing a price increase like we have never experienced before.
Translation.. airfare is going nowhere but up!
Right now, airline passengers are landing some terrific bargains. For example, travelers are currently booking roundtrip flights from San Francisco to Brazil for well under $500 - an amazing rate, but not to last much longer! That $276 round trip that I'm puling up right now for a flight between San Francisco International and Honolulu will jump to $454 in July - and that's without considering the added fees. Crikeys!
What else is influencing the blastoff?
United Airlines just reported a loss of $382 million for the current year and Delta is expected to report a loss of more than twice that amount. Airlines just can't afford to cut prices any lower and the summer demand is going to be their green light to higher fares.
Adam Meron, the Vice President of Strategy and Operations at mobissimo.com recently was quoted as saying, "I think they (airfare prices) are at rock bottom. If you find a good airfare or hotel, now is the time to act." He went on to say that airlines are cutting back on service in mid-sized cities.
Where to begin? There are tons of very good travel web sites out there. Sites like Travelocity, Orbitz, and Kayak to name just a few, and experts are saying to use them all! Researching airfare has never been as important as it is now, and researching hotel rates is so important that experts are sugesting that travelers call the hotel personally and negotiate a better deal.
Sorry for my "sky is falling" outlook, but just wanted my readers to be forewarned!
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
Move Over Jet Blue and Southwest
Low cost airliners, carriers like Southwest Airlines and Jet Blue for example, have been rapidly expanding their services and their customer base over the past few years. By providing cheaper airfares and convenient flight itineraries, these carriers have established themselves as discount airlines to be reckoned with.
Times are changing however and the low cost airlines are not always the obvious choice for discount airfares anymore. That's because the traditional airlines, name brand airlines like United and Delta, have spent the past few years improving their bottom lines and slashing fares along the way.
With this new truth, the best bet is to shop around and keep your eyes and ears wide open at all times.
Remember that each of the airlines have flexible airfares at different times, influenced by time, date, and destination. Also keep in mind that last minute airfare prices are always more expensive than pre-planned air travel, so plan ahead and keep your eye on the prize!
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
4 Ways for College Students to Save on Airfare Now!
Are you a college kid on a tight travel budget?Here are four travel tips for college students - guaranteed to save you money on your next airfare purchase. Use these tips to save on airfare now!
Be Flexible
The single most important thing to implement when you're searching for the best online airfare is to be flexible with your dates and times. Limiting yourself to air traveling on the busiest travel day of the year for example, will without a doubt kill your available travel funds in one online session. Flying a few days before or after a major travel day will always land you the best airfare. Best thing to do - click "my dates are flexible" when searching online.
Research Before Buying
Get in Kayak, Hotwire, Travelocity, and fly.com to compare overall airfare rates. Don't buy the first airfare at the top of the list - sort, search, and diversify (search more than one consolidator).
Plan Ahead
The best airfare nowadays goes to the buyer who plans ahead. Start considering your airfare options 2-3 months before departure because last minute flights will very rarely save you money.
Travel Mid-Week
Even if you have to skip some classes, remember that the best airfare is usually on a school day. Mid-week travel will always ring up cheaper than weekend travel - Tuesdays are the BEST!
Summary
So to summarize... be flexible, research before buying, plan ahead, and always travel mid-week. These are the key strategies for college students to save money on your airfare now!
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
2 New Strategies for Saving on Airfare
Searching for last minute flight deals but coming up a little.. sticker shocked?Here are a couple techniques that you may not have considered - good ideas for last minute airfare shoppers.
Strategy #1: Website Madness
If you have the patience, try visiting every major airline's website for their last minute "website-only" deals. This strategy of combing the airline websites at the very last minute can sometimes yield a terrific airfare buy because the airline is quietly unloading any and all available seats according to the law of supply and demand. For example if they have 5 empty seats (supply) and only one person is expressing any interest (demand), then the price will gravitate downwards until the vacant seat is purchased.
Strategy #2: Dialing for Dollars
Try calling around to the area travel agents to see if they have any "block seat reservations" that are not yet sold. Sometimes out of simple desperation, a travel agents will sell these seats on the cheap - sometimes as much as 90% off!
According to Two Ways to Get Cheap Last Minute Flights,
"Travel agents are allocated airline tickets for top resort destinations and last minute travelers. (I) still encourage you to check the travel search engines for cheap airline tickets last minute but you may get lucky and score a great fare by using the travel agent method."I hope these two strategies help take you where you want to go!
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
American Airlines Offering New PriorityAccess Perks
Are you a member of the American Airlines AAdvantage program? I'm asking because they just announced the addition of new privileges for their top customers that they are calling PriorityAccess.
According to AAdvantage, members that have achieved elite status (executive platinum, platinum, gold AAdvantage or Oneworld Alliance emerald, sapphire or ruby), along with all first class and business class travelers, AAirpass customers and even economy class travelers who have purchased full fare tickets will all benefit from the addition of these PriorityAccess perks:
- Dedicated check-in lines at each and every American Airlines checkin counter.
- A private PriorityAccess security lane at the 10 largest American Airlines airports as well as several others based on TSA permission. The airports that have confirmed PriorityAccess lanes are Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago O’hare, Miami International, Los Angeles (LAX), New York's JFK and La Guardia, St. Louis, San Francisco International, Boston and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
- A separate boarding lane at the AA gate so that PriorityAccess passengers can bypass the general boarding lines.
While other airlines seem to be cutting perks, it's refreshing to see American Airlines blazing a customer-friendly trail!
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
Announcing The All New Airfare-Now.Com (Find the Cheapest Airfare) T-Shirt Contest!
Announcing The Airfare-Now.Com (Find the Cheapest Airfare) T-Shirt Contest!
Want to be the envy of your neighborhood (or at least your own home) in this sporty airfare-now.com (find the cheapest airfare) t-shirt?
Link to us and win...
Each month, we'll be giving a free airfare-now.com t-shirt to one lucky linker! Simply copy the following code into your website or blog. Then leave us a comment with your link to let us know you're in.
Good luck and safe flying!!
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
Is it Still Possible to Find Cheap Airfare?
By Ali Kendall
With the world economy in shambles, is it still possible to find cheap airfare? Believe it or not, the answer is a resounding YES!
Money is tight, but people are still flying. Hopefully, some of the tips found in this article will help you find a better airfare and make your travel budget a little looser.
When searching online for the best airfare, there are a number of things that you'll want to keep in mind. First and foremost, in my opinion, is to keep your travel dates flexible. Trying to schedule your flight for a specific day may increase your airfare by as much as 500%. Adjust your travel days just slightly, and you will absolutely save money.
Another important thing to do is to book your flight in advance. How far in advance....? Well that is open to interpretation. Some travel gurus say that booking a flight two weeks in advance is enough, however I have found through my own experiences that booking a month or better in advance will usually net the biggest savings.
How about this one? You should try to fly in the middle of the week because it will ALWAYS get you a cheaper fare. Weekend flights are n high demand and are terribly expensive. Unless it's an absolute emergency, don't fly anywhere on the weekend.
Did you know that flights from a neighboring airport will often get you a cheaper airfare? It's usually very easy to catch a train or a shuttle bus from neighboring airports so it's actually very convenient too. Good news... lots of travel websites will now include searches at neighboring airports if you request them to.
When it comes to holiday travel, know that this will be the most expensive time to purchase a plane ticket. The best way to handle this may be a surprise however. Book your flight for actual day of the holiday and you will save quite a bit. Most folks want to travel a few days before the holiday and return a few days after. Fly on the holiday and you'll get the better fare.
I hope these tips will help you save a few bucks and enjoy your travel a little bit more!
Ali Kendall authors several blogs dealing with airline travel including the very popular "Cheapest Airline Flights" Blog. She is a native Hawaiian, an avid traveler, and a self-proclaimed "very average surfer."
Visit Ali on her blogs and websites:
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ali_Kendall
http://EzineArticles.com/?Is-it-Still-Possible-to-Find-Cheap-Airfare?&id=2267622
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
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