Is RyanAir Runnng Out of Things to Eliminate?

Is RyanAir Runnng Out of Things to Eliminate?

It seems that Ryanair is now running out of things to eliminate.

Case in point... they now they want to eliminate checked luggage.

Although some travel blogs felt this was a good thing, I need to disagree. In case you didn't know it, Ryanair has already eliminated ticket counters. They charge an insane amount if you can’t do your check in online, but they also charge you if you do.And now, a new luggage plan...

Under the new plan, passengers drop all bags but one at the entrance to the aircraft. I'm monitoring the situation, and will report back when I have a clearer opinion. My opinion doesnt matter much though, because Ryanair doesn’t seem to care about how they are perceived by anyone.

Here's a funny parody video from YouTube...



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Airfare Now | Finding the Cheapest Airfare



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How to Use Kayak for Airfare Searches


What is Kayak

Kayak is a travel search and booking engine. Unlike Expedia, Travelocity, and Orbitz, however, Kayak does not sell travel directly. Instead, it finds the airfare ad takes you to the airline to complete your airfare purchase.

Here's a quick tutorial...



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The Internet and Cheap Airfare

 
The Internet and Cheap Airfare

The Internet is still the best place to look for cheap airfare, and the process has become quite simple.

So simple in fact that you really just need to go to a few travel search engines like Mobissimo.com, Kayak.com or Travelocity.com and enter the planned date of travel and the desired destination. After that, you press the search button and just about every cheap airfare option will be displayed on screen.

With travel websites, the cheapest airfare will generally be displayed first. You can book your airfare online immediately if you like the price or you can refine the search if you're not happy with the offers.

Travel search engines are very handy for a number of reasons:
  • The search options are super flexible on these sites making it very easy to book tickets in advance. 
  • You can  register yourself to get low fare alerts (an email whenever the rates go down). 
  • You can view and purchase cheap airfare package deals which include car rentals and hotels. 



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Airfare Ticket Prices are Subject to Supply/Demand Fluctuations


Airfare Ticket Prices are Subject to Supply/Demand Fluctuations

Did you know that discount airfare prices can change as often as three times each and every day?

The only time your discount airfare is truly locked is when you press that "buy-it-now" button and commit yourself to the airfare purchase. Until you book that cheap flight, your actual airfare prices will move up and down based entirely on whether seats sell out or remain open - the law of supply and demand.

Did you know that international airfare prices can change as often as five times per day?

Those airfare rates are actually more "fluid" than domestic airfare rates and can change up to five times per day. It's a wild dance between the overall supply of seats versus the demand of seat buyers. It's no surprise then that the Economics 101 theory on airfare pricing is this simple... the more travelers who want to fly to a particular location, the higher the airfare.

Maybe this will work in reverse when you're searching for cheap flights!

Duh!

What Factors Affect Supply and Demand?


Weather related and seasonal issues, regional activities (conventions), high school and/or college graduation festivities, major sports events, and dozens of other factors go into the programming side of online discount airfare pricing.

Is There a Solution?

I recommend the Kayak search engine's "my dates are flexible" option because it will take in all of the above factors and suggest the cheapest flights for your planned destination. Buying discount airfare is possible if you're a flexible and diligent shopper.

There's a Kayak engine on my right sidebar if you want to give it a go. Make sure you use the flexible dates option.

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Standing By for Last Minute Airfare Deals

 

Standing By for Last Minute Airfare Deals 

There are some terrific deals for last minute travelers, particularly when it comes to international airfare. Here are 5 tips for standing by...

1. Make sure that you have all of your travel documents in order (passport, visa, etc). You never know when a great last minute airfare opportunity is going to present itself so you need to be ready.

2. Keep your eye on unsold and undersold flights. International flights cost the carrier lots of money, so many of them take the position that it is better to make some revenue with last minute airfare rather than none at all. Unsold seats usually become discounted one day prior to departure.

3. If you are looking for last minute airfare and you don't see a price that you can live with, try another travel website and check their prices. There can be a huge difference between aggregators at the last minute - sometimes as much as a $300.

4. Be super flexible in your last minute airfare arrangements. Booking a multi-leg trip can often save you several hundred dollars over a non-stop flight so stay flexible.

5. Act quickly when you find a good rate. Since the available seats are limited on last minute airfare, the deals will vanish quickly.

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Southwest Airlines Companion Ticket

Airfare2

Southwest Airlines: Cheap Airfare and Rapid Rewards

In my opinion, Southwest Airlines has the cheapest airfare and best airfare rewards programs out there. They require only eight round trips for a free ticket and you get a double credit for each flight in business class.

This is a great program, and even better when you take into account their already super cheap airfare. Southwest Airlines is well aware that they do things differently than the other airlines - it's their badge of honor. Here is my favorite highlight of the Rapid Rewards program.

Cheap Airfare and a Free “Companion Ticket”

Cheap airfare and rapid rewards not enough? Accumulate 100 credits within in a year at Southwest and you'll be awarded a “companion pass” that allows your companion to fly FREE for a whole year! The pass has no blackout dates, no seat restrictions, and you can change your companion as many as 3 times per year.



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American Airlines Announces New Perks


American Airlines has announced several new privileges for their PriorityAccess customers.

PriorityAccess customers that have achieved AAdvantage elite status, along with first class and business class travelers, AAirpass customers, and economy class travelers who have purchased full fare tickets will benefit some extra perks:

  • Dedicated check-in lines at every airport American Airlines serves
  • Separate PriorityAccess security lanes at the 10 largest airports it services, as well as select others based on TSA permission. The airports with confirmed PriorityAccess lanes are Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago O’hare, Miami, Los Angeles (LAX), New York JFK, New York La Guardia, St. Louis, San Francisco, Boston and San Juan.
  • Separate boarding lanes at the gates to bypass general boarding lines

The American Airlines website describes each perk as follows:

PriorityAAccess Check-In

PriorityAAccess customers will enjoy their own dedicated check-in area at the ticket counter with distinctive signage clearly identifying PriorityAAccess lines. In addition, “PriorityAAccess” will be printed on boarding passes, designating travelers as American’s top customers. American will offer PriorityAAccess check-in areas at all of the airports it serves worldwide.

PriorityAAccess Security Screening
Where permitted by airport policy and government security regulations, American will offer exclusive PriorityAAccess security screening lanes. Like the dedicated check-in lines, PriorityAAccess screening lanes will be clearly marked with special signage. Currently, American plans to offer PriorityAAccess screening lanes in its 10 largest airports, as well as in other airports where permitted by the TSA.

PriorityAAccess Boarding Lanes
To further enhance convenience for its top customers,American will offer dual boarding lanes at its gates – one for PriorityAAccess customers and one for general boarding. Customers with PriorityAccess privileges will be invited to board first or board at any time through their exclusive PriorityAAccess lane, which allows them to bypass lines after general boarding has begun.
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6 Tips for Getting the Best Airfare to Hawaii


Flying to Hawaii?

There are some general tips that apply to almost all flights, but there are some specific tips when it comes to flying to Hawaii - tips that will make your Hawaii airfare cheaper from the very beginning.

Know the Score: Honolulu 21 | Maui 30

Plan your Hawaii trip well in advance, and book your airfare to Hawaii as early as possible. In general, try to book your airfare to Honolulu at least 21 days in advance, and make it 30 days in advance if you're continuing to Maui.

Stay On Saturday

For the best prices, it's very important that you stay over a Saturday night. If your trip to Hawaii is for 5 days for example, plan it so that you will arrive Wednesday morning with a return to the mainland on Sunday afternoon in order to get the best airfare.

Rule Out Friday Nights and Monday Mornings

Don't buy airline tickets to Hawaii for Friday evening or Monday morning departures. These are obviously the most frequented times for the airlines and the airfare will be much higher.

No Mele Kalikimaka in Hawaii

Avoid holiday travel to Hawaii if at all possible because the airfare is outrageous. If you must travel to Hawaii for Christmas, I recommend booking your flight so you're in the air ON Christmas Day rather than Christmas Eve and flying home on New Years Eve rather than New Years Day.

November is Best

With Thanksgiving as the exception, airfare to Hawaii is usually cheapest between November 1st and December 15th.

Do the Bump

If you are willing to take a "bump" on an overbooked flight, you'll not only be delivered on the next available flight but you could be granted a free round trip to use later! If you're not in a big hurry and the airline announces your flight is overbooked, go quickly to the gate and make a deal.

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Finding the Cheapest Airfare is All About Timing


Finding the cheapest airfare is all about timing.

It is an unchallenged fact that flights are cheapest when they're booked at least 21 days in advance of the planned departure. While only a rule of thumb, airfare generally raises each and every day from 21 days out until the date of departure so the best deals are to be had with the three week advance purchase.

The daily fluctuation in airfare prices is influenced by all kinds of unknowns that are not generally known to the public. You can get lucky and find a bargain basement airfare at the last minute, but this is the exception not the norm.

I recommend the Kayak Search Engine for airfare quotes. The best bet is to use "my dates are flexible" and let Kayak suggest different pricing models. It's pretty slick!

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Airfare Coupons and Codes



Just passing on some airfare coupons and codes that I have recently found on the web...

New York City: JFL and LaGuardia Coupons

Here's a coupon I just used from Expedia that ended up knocking $60 off of my best airfare quote from Kayak. The landing page for this deal is also boasting NYC hotels at $70 hotels and complete vacations at $300. This is a dandy if you're going to New York City any time soon:

Vacation Package Deals

I played around with this Expedia link and almost ended up booking a3 day vacation package to Los Angeles, California. I cancelled it right before placing the order because I figured my dad would have a meltdown.

It was a great deal though at almost $60 less than my previous best quote. Malena and I like to jump the Pacific for Disneyland every chance we get:


Hit the East Coast Beaches

This one didn't help me on airfare but I did price a gorgeous 4 star room (oceanfront of course) at Panama City Beach, Florida for only $41!




Last Minute Airfare

I haven't checked this Hotwire code yet because I usually use TravelZoo for last minute airfare. I have noticed that more and more travel websites are off-specializing in the last minute flights market.

Rental Car Deal

My dad uses this Hotwire coupon over and over again for his business trios to Los Angeles. He swears by it :-)


Hope these are useful!

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Can I Get a Decent Airfare on a Last Minute Flight?


Q. Can I get a decent airfare on a last minute flight?

A. Maybe.. It depends on a number of different variables, but the most significant factors in getting a last minute bargain usually comes down to two things - destination and date. It's because of this destination/date phenomena that travel industry insiders will always suggest that you book your flight early.

Have you noticed that there are certain times of the year when it's almost impossible to get an advance purchase flight - even if you're prepared to pay top dollar? Booking your flights as far in advance of your trip as possible is the safest way to guarantee cheap airline tickets to your destination. By securing your flight as early as possible, you're buying that coveted seat while there are still plenty available.

Naturally, airlines will offer the cheapest airfares during this stage.

Q. But What if I have to book my flight last minute?
 
A. It's tricky. Booking a flight at the last minute means there are probably very few seats left. When the supply of available seats is low, the airlines will usually charge a premium price for those that are still available. Your best bet is to watch the TravelZoo E-Mail List as they always seem to get the best last minute fares.

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Continental Airlines Offers Discount Flights to Hawaii



If you're considering a trip to Hawaii, it might be a good time to check out the airfare deals at Continental Airlines.

I just did some quick airfare quotes using Kayak and noticed that Continental Airlines is offering one way airfare to Honolulu for as low as $174+ from several departure cities on the west coast (Los Angeles, San Diego, Portland). Now that's a great deal and easily $100 under the competition!

Jeanne LeBlanc answers the burning question Why visit Hawaii? in her article by the same name:

It's not too far. It could be twice as far and it wouldn't be too far. It could be in space and it wouldn't be too far. It's worth the trip.

I couldn't agree more, and it's nice to do it when the price is just right!

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Airfare Now Recommends Buying the PACKAGE



Since I do so much air travel, I use about every trick in the book in my effort to get the cheapest airline flights. While there is not yet one stop shopping  for finding the cheapest airline flights, there are dozens of well tested strategies that can gain you a better price on your airfare.

There are so many variables to airline ticket pricing (planned airport of departure, your choice of airline, date and time of travel, current regional events, etc.), and there is not yet a single tool that can show you the whole picture.Kayak seems to be closest now because they have added the "my dates are flexible" and "view surrounding airports" features.

I will suggest, as you look at Kayak or other travel websites, that you think look into buying a package deal. Combining a hotel room purchase with your airline ticket will usually save you a lot of money.

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Is There a Best TIME to Book Airfare?

hawair

Q.Is there a best TIME to book my airfare?

A.Great question! But let me clarify it first.

Do You Mean Best Time to FLY?

I think you’re asking me if there is a best time to physically sit down at your computer and book the airfare deal so I’m going to spend most of this post on that subject. If I’m wrong however and you’re looking for the best airfare days to fly, let me address that quickly.

I recommend flying on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday (I always advise to avoid booking your flight over the weekend and stay clear of Mondays and Fridays if at all possible).

Or Do You Mean Best Time to BOOK..?

In my opinion the best day and best time to sit down at your computer and book the airfare is Wednesday evening after 10.00pm and before Thursday morning at 8:00am. This gives you a 10 hour period of time where you will see the best airfare prices because of the way most airlines adjust their flight pricing algorithms.

Generally speaking, airlines will raise their prices on a Friday and  leave them riding high for the entire weekend. If sales are slow, they will slightly lower airfares on Monday morning with the big adjustment occurring at the aforementioned time – 10:00pm on Wednesday night.

One final clarification point: If you’re planning to fly during the next month, I recommend that you book your flight just after the 7th of the month because most airlines make inventory adjustments around this time.


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Budget Airlines: The Pros and the Cons

JETBLUE TURNS FIVE; 
TAKES DELIVERY OF 71ST AIRBUS A320
New York, NY (February 11, 2005) – JetBlue Airways [NASDAQ: JBLU] today turned five.  The airline commenced service at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on February 11, 2000, with a ceremonial flight to Buffalo, NY, and back before taking its first commercial flight to Fort Lauderdale, FL, later that day.  Five years later, JetBlue is the largest airline at JFK and ranked as a “major” airline by the US Department of Transportation, having achieved annual revenues of more than a billion dollars.

To mark the occasion, David Neeleman, JetBlue’s Chairman and CEO, and Dave Barger, President and COO, hosted an event for JetBlue crewmembers and customers to greet the arrival of the airline’s 71st Airbus A320 aircraft, debuting the fleet’s seventh tail fin design, Mosaic.  Earlier in the day, the airline gave away 500 free tickets throughout New York City’s five boroughs to support the charity City Harvest.  Ticket seekers had to dress as their favorite JetBlue destination and bring canned goods for the charity.

Budget Airlines: The Pros and the Cons

As a traveler in this decade, you have a large number of airlines in which to choose from. 
While most air travelers are very familiar with the big carriers like United, American, and Delta, it wasn't until airfare skyrocketed that passengers started to really examine their other airfare options. Lets look at discount or budget airlines, and discuss the pros and cons to flying with them.

The Pros

With Budget Airlines, you usually get the best rates. Since budget airlines limit perks to travelers, they pass that savings on to the passenger in the form of cheaper airfare.

If your goal is to from “Point A” to “Point B” as cheaply as possible, then you will get exactly what you are looking for from a budget airline.

How much money can you save? It really depends on a number of factors including your airline choice, travel dates, and destination. On average, most travelers will save at least $100 on their airfare by flying on a budget airline.

Who are the major budget airlines? In the United States, you’re looking at Southwest, JetBlue, Spirit, Horizon, and Virgin American. With this many budget airlines to choose from, you have a very nice chance of saving money.

The Cons
The most obvious thing is that there are almost no “perks” to speak of (in-flight movies, free drinks and snacks ) on the discount airlines. While this sounds like a bummer, the simple solution is to bring your own snacks and source of entertainment.

Another slight bummer is that you usually don't get to choose your seat until you arrive at the airport. For many travelers this is no big deal, but it can be stressful if you are traveling as a family. Also, since budget airlines are geared toward cheap travel, many of them don’t have a first class or executive class section.
Be careful, because some of the budget airlines will load you down with fees. The exception is Southwest Airlines which is well-known for being a good budget airline with no surprises. Their website and commercials in fact proclaim this by saying "what you see is what you get." Not all airlines are like this however. as many of them have hidden fees and taxes which you don’t learn about until you arrive at the airport.

Summary
It’s easy to see that flying on the budget airlines has its pros and its cons. If you decide to give one of these airlines a try, make sure you compare prices to ensure that you are getting the best deal.

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Get Rapid REWARDS Airfare Now with Southwest Airlines

Airfare2

Get Rapid REWARDS Airfare Now with Southwest Airlines 

Did you know that Southwest Airlines offers you one of the best airfare rewards programs out there, requiring only 8 round trip credits for a free ticket?

Did you know that flying in Southwest Airlines “Business Select Class” offers you a double credit for each flight, so you’ll get a free standard ticket with only 4 round trips?

Southwest does things a little differently than the other airlines, so I thought I’d highlight some of the Southwest flavor in this article.

Companion Ticket

A Rapid Rewards Member who accumulates 100 credits within in a year (literally within any 12 consecutive months) gets a handy dandy “Companion Pass” which entitles your designated traveling Companion to fly with you for free for one year on Southwest.  The Companion Pass works whenever your companion checks in and travels on the same flight with you – even if you’re traveling in a Rapid Rewards Award. The Companion Pass has no blackout dates or seat restrictions whatsoever – works like a magic charm 24/7.

If you’re wondering what happens if your “companion” changes over the year, they even have a policy for that. You can change your companion up to three times during its effective period.

Fewer Restrictions

Southwest Airlines has fewer restrictions on reward travel than many of its’ competitors. Reward travel tickets are treated just about the same as regularly purchased tickets with the exception that reward ticket travel does not earn trip credits. Rewards are valid for a very long time too, and they can be used as little as one hour before departure time.



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Save on Airfare Secrets Promotional Video



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6 Tips for Finding the Best International Airfare

airplane-beachThe Trip of a Lifetime

Planning an extended family vacation with excursions to lots of countries? It sounds amazing, but the total cost of your airfare can be impossibly high without some real planning. If your travel plans include stopovers in different countries, you’ll need to know the ropes.
Lets get busy!

Book Your Flight Weeks in Advance

The key to finding the best deal on international airfare is to plan your flight as far in advance as you possibly can. Discounts can be enormous if you book your flight 30 days or more ahead of your planned departure. An added bonus, lodging and attraction tickets are often cheaper when purchased in advance too.

Check the Airlines Directly

Many of the cheapest international flights are found directly on the airline’s website. Airlines often offer non published fares on their international destinations, so it really pays to check them out. Search Kayak first, but always compare their best price with the airline website price before making your purchase.

Patronize the Small Airlines

Smaller airlines have less overhead and their airfare rates are often much cheaper. EasyJet for example offers some terrific deals on international flights. Since they refuse to pay a commission to travel agents, their airfare rates are almost always a little lower than the larger carriers. You might not get a meal or a movie, but you’ll almost always enjoy a cheaper flight.

Get the Package

Did you know that package deals for international flights are loaded with value? 
Package plans that include airfare, accommodations, and attraction tickets offer spectacular discounts, and the all-inclusive packages (packages that also include meals and activities) are solid gold. Destination specialists like Airfare Planet and Qantas Vacations can help you save a lot of money if you’re willing to buy the package.

Stopovers are Good

Many times, the cheapest international flights go to passengers who book flights with multiple layovers. Though not as convenient as direct flights, they offer the best rates while giving you an opportunity to see more sites. If nothing else, multiple layovers offer a great way to experience more of the local flavors found near the airport.

Travel Light

Since most airlines are now charging for checked baggage, it’s wise to remember the savings of packing light. Take only what you need and consider purchasing other items locally when you arrive at your international destination.

Summary

Following the above tips should help you find a cheaper international flight. Enjoy your vacation! Remember that you'll need to have your passport in order. Visit "Where to Get a Passport" if you need assistance in this regard.

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Finding Discount Airfare: One Way, 3 Times a Day…

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The Most Frequently Offered Advice on Discount Airfare

Everyone knows that the most frequently advised way to find low-cost airfare is to book your flights well in advance.  The magic number is 30, and it’s routinely advised that travelers purchase their airline tickets about 30 days in advance in order to get the lowest airfare. 

Is There a Better Way?

In order to take advantage of the very subtle airfare price wars that are going on between the airlines nowadays however, there is an even better advised method than the long taught magic number 30 rule.

Search Discount Airfare Websites 3 Times Per Day

Search for discount airfare three times per day for two full days before booking your flight. Just like taking a pill, three times a day is the prescription for great airfare deals - early in the morning, mid-afternoon, and very late at night.

This simple breakfast, late lunch, and midnight snack approach to finding the cheapest airfare is now more important than ever as many of the large travel websites discount their airfare during random low search times.
When planning your vacation, the most expensive thing is often the airfare.  When you plan ahead and follow the three times a day tip however, you can really save a lot of money. 

But Which Websites Should I Search?

I always suggest Kayak first because I like their layout and search options, and because they search all of the airlines including Southwest. There’s a Kayak travel searcher on my right sidebar which is really all you need.

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