Mar 28, 2008 6:47 am US/Central
Tricks To Scoring Travel Deals
(WCCO)
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Most travel Web sites list only advertised fares, meaning prices that are widely known across the industry.
AP
Most of the major airlines raised roundtrip ticket prices by $50 within the past month. So finding a deal on airfare is tougher than ever, even on Web sites like Orbitz or Expedia.
For example, Minnetonka mother Beth Richards loves to travel. She considers herself a cost cutting consumer, but after an exhaustive search the cheapest tickets she could find to fly three family members to San Diego cost $900.
After she tried tips from WCCO-TV's Terri Gruca she saved $228.
"We will be able to pay for our hotel with the savings," said Richards.
The first travel trick: Uncovering unadvertised deals.
Most travel Web sites list only advertised fares, meaning prices that are widely known across the industry.
"It's the unadvertised deals that are the really cool ones," said George Hobica who launched airfarewatchdog.com last year.
Hobica was tired of finding the same deals on all travel sites. So he hired people to hunt for hidden deals and posts them on his site each day. You can also sign up for e-mail alerts. The site will send you the latest deals for your specific city.
Unadvertised deals don't last long, which brings us to trick number two: Start searching early Saturday.
It turns out sales typically pop up Saturday mornings. That's because if an airline is having trouble filling seats, sometimes it'll drop prices late Friday night knowing competitors won't match them over the weekend.
Other good times to check for changes: Weekdays at 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m., and weekends at 4 p.m.
The next trick: Search outside the city. This is especially true if you're flying internationally.
"We're finding you'll get the best deals if you connect," said Hobica.
This means start your search in bigger cities like New York or Chicago and book your own connecting flight. Bigger cities offer more choices and cheaper fares. Just make sure you give yourself enough time to make your connection.
The next trick: The rule of sevens. Airfare tends to be cheapest 7, 14 or 21 days before your trip.
Airlines often evaluate how many seats they have left to fill at these points. Call it supply and demand. If 21 days out seats aren't selling, you may see an airline drop its price.
If you're like Richards this may be too tough.
"I like to have things set up so that I know that I'm going to be there," she said.
Don't worry, there is even a trick for planners, and that's trick five: Keep checking.
Once you've booked your flight don't stop searching.
Here's why it pays: Gruca's husband booked tickets for their 10th anniversary getaway then kept checking. The tickets dropped $150 a piece. They got new tickets for less money and $200 in travel vouchers for a future trip.
Keep in mind most airlines charge between $50 and $100 to reissue tickets and you've got to buy your tickets directly from the airline.
If you don't want to do the work yourself check out Yapta.com. This site tracks fares for you. You punch in the info and it'll send you an e-mail alert if the fare drops. Then all you have to do is call your airline and pocket the savings.
You can't track Northwest Airlines fares yet, but that will change in May.
The last trick is the difference between being treating like a king and feeling cramped. It's how to score better seats for cheap.
If you really want to fly first class without paying first class prices you'll want to click on first class with restrictions or first class non-refundable.
"There are big price differences like half the cost of regular first class or business class," said Hobica.
Just remember there can be tougher cancellation policies with these tickets.
Following these tricks saved Richards.
"It's wonderful," she said. And they could save you, too.
If you're flying with kids try plugging in different numbers of tickets. You might be able to score two seats cheap. Two others may cost a bit more but at least you'll get a deal for half your family.
To find a lot more great travel saving tips and Web sites at Terri's blog.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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