Five strategies for finding cheap airfares in 2009

an old article but we can definitely take some pointers... read on:


ast year was rough for the airline industry. In response to the recession and jet fuel prices that nearly doubled between January and July, passengers saw dozens of airfare hikes, new fees for every imaginable service, not to mention major capacity cuts. For travellers, it was a year in which many pondered taking a staycation rather than face the cost and hassle of flying.

Is even more caution required in 2009? We don't think so, and neither do you: A recent Smarter Travel poll shows most readers -- 78 per cent --plan to fly as much or more than in 2008. More than half of readers say they plan to book travel, but are still holding out for the right deal. After consulting with some of my fellow industry observers, I can tell you that while finding good air deals will be a challenge this year, there are some real opportunities for savings if you use the following tactics.

1. LOOK FOR WINTER AND SPRING SALES

After experiencing a drop in demand for holiday travel, the airlines have been offering a bonanza of sales in January to win back customers.

Thus far, most of the major low-cost and legacy airlines have advertised good deals for travel as far out as June, even on international flights, a trend that is expected to continue. "It will be particularly good through winter and spring, with lower airfare prices than in 2008," says Mike Fridgen, the vice-president of marketing and product for Farecast.

You may be tempted to wait longer and see if prices drop further, but if you see a price you can live with now, you should book, because the deals may not last long.

2. FACTOR IN THE FEES

Before you book that super-cheap advertised fare, factor in the extra fees. Many airlines have added charges for first and second checked bags, greatly increased overweight baggage fees, and started charging for everything.

You could find a $200 ticket on Airline A is actually more expensive than a $220 ticket on Airline B when you realize Airline A will charge you $40 for two checked bags, while Airline B charges nothing.

3. SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS AND PRICE ALERTS

You can find great deals by signing up to receive airfare sale e-mails from the airlines and other providers. "These days, good deals are gobbled up quickly. By signing up for newsletters and alerts, consumers can make sure that they are the first to know about the latest and greatest travel deals," says Clem Bason, vice-president of merchandising for Hotwire.

Not only will you find out about general sales, you may also gain access to exclusive subscriber-only sales.

"Sign up for every airline's newsletters and frequent flyer programs, and reap the rewards of promo code fares," says George Hobica, founder of Smarter Travel's sister-site Airfarewatchdog.com.

Besides sale and promo code e-mails, you can also register for customized e-mails from sites that monitor prices on specific routes and alert you to pricing trends.

These sites may help you decide the best time to buy.

4. LOWER DEMAND DESTINATIONS

Several U. S. destinations that rely heavily on tourists as opposed to business travellers have taken big hits recently, and some travel providers have responded to the drop in demand by lowering prices.

"Travellers should absolutely look for destinations that may be hurting for visitors," says Orbitz travel insider Jeanenne Diefendorf. "Las Vegas, Hawaii and Orlando are three hot destinations that have had incredible deals over the last several months, and travellers should put these spots at the top of their list when researching affordable vacations."

While you can, in general, find good deals to hurting tourist destinations, be sure to do your homework to make sure you're actually getting the best price possible. Compare prices from different providers and different airports, be flexible with your travel dates and don't forget to factor in possible savings from hotel, car rental and package deals.

5. THINK BEYOND AIRFARE

It's great to find cheap airfares, but to achieve maximum savings you need to look at your vacation as a whole and see where else you can find discounts.

While airlines can cut flights to address dropping demand, hotels can't cut rooms, and so in many cases they are forced to offer much bigger price cuts.

With hotel occupancy rates down around the world, big discounts are showing up from all kinds of properties.

You should also look into packages combining the airfare and hotel components for potential savings.

"Booking air and hotel together is probably the best-kept secret in the travel industry, and one of the easiest ways to save money," says Expedia spokeswoman Amanda Hoffman.

"On average, travellers save more than $200 when booking air and hotel together."

More from here: http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/2010wintergames/Five+strategies+finding+cheap+airfares+2009/1239714/story.html

50% off system-wide seat sale

Cebu's new promo!!!



Thank you for our 50.6% Market Share! This sale is for all your support!


50% off system-wide seat sale


We posted over 50% market share in both domestic passenger and cargo markets for the first three months of 2010. Because of this, we are offering a 50% off seat sale for guests traveling to all our domestic and international destinations starting now until May 31, 2010. This is for travel from July 1 to September 30, 2010.

Based on Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) data, CEB flew 1.97 million guests during the first quarter, out of 3.89 million domestic air travelers. CAB data also showed that CEB cargo transported 20.49 million kilos, out of 38.50 million kilos in air cargo early this year.

This gives CEB 50.6% market share when it comes to domestic passengers, and 53.2% market share for cargo.

The sale includes seats to and from Osaka, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Ho Chi Minh, Kota Kinabalu, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Taipei, among other CEB international destinations.

Also up for grabs are seats to prime tourist destinations such as Boracay (Caticlan), Puerto Princesa (Palawan), Busuanga (Coron), Cebu, Bohol (Tagbilaran), Siargao, Dumaguete and Laoag. Inter-island flights for those visiting family and friends are also available, including Cebu-Clark, Cebu-Bacolod, Cebu-Iloilo, Davao-Zamboanga and Davao-Cagayan de Oro.

We would like to celebrate with our passengers, given the things we have achieved so far this year, and offer even lower fares than usual. So hurry, grab your 50% off seats at www.cebupacificair.com now!

Delta Increases Service to St. Lucia, Promos with Low Fares

For Filipinos in the US, Delta has a promo to the Caribbean.  Read on:


Delta Airlines, in cooperation with the St. Lucia Tourist Board, will up flights from seven to 10 per week between Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta, Ga., to Saint Lucia's Hewanorra International Airport (UVF).

Delta is offering a special $488 round-trip fare between Atlanta and the island for travel until July 31, 2010. Tickets must be reserved by May 31.

The expanded schedule is as follows:

DL421 departs ATL at 9:40AM and arrives UVF at 2:22PM

DL426 departs UVF at 3:22PM and arrives ATL at 8:10PM

From June 12 to August 15, 2010:

DL491 departs ATL at 8:35AM and arrives UVF at 1:17P on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays

DL548 departs UVF at 2:07PM and arrives ATL at 6:54PM on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays

more from here: http://gocaribbean.about.com/b/2010/05/26/delta-increases-service-to-st-lucia-promos-with-low-fares.htm

CEB offers best buy with P999 seat sale to the Visayas!

Another Cebu Pacific promo... Read on:


Low fare offer includes Boracay, Cebu and Bohol


We're giving even more opportunities for budget travellers to fly with a P999 seat sale from Manila to the Visayas and vice versa starting now until May 28, 2010. This is for travel from July 1 to September 30, 2010. This seat sale offers the best value for guests who are planning to travel this July to September!
Fly from Manila to Bacolod, Boracay (Caticlan), Calbayog, Catarman, Cebu, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Kalibo, Roxas, Tacloban or Tagbilaran and vice versa for only P999 on 'Go Lite' seats.

From Cebu, you can avail of year-round low fares to other key Visayas destinations. CEB flies direct from Cebu to Bacolod, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Tacloban and Boracay (Caticlan). We have the most extensive hub from Cebu with a total of 19 direct flights to Luzon (Puerto Princesa, Clark and Legazpi), Visayas and Mindanao.

We accept web bookings up to four (4) hours before your scheduled time of departure. Hurry, fly to the Visayas and get your seats at www.cebupacificair.com!

How to Travel on a Budget

Here's a good tip on how to save on your travel expenses.  Read on:


Memorial Day weekend is just around the corner and, chances are, many of you have already made travel plans. The question is, will your travels take you over budget?
Travel costs, if you don’t plan them out carefully, can quickly pile up. I’ve gotten into the habit of traveling only  if my company pays for it — or if I have a friend at my destination so that I don’t have to pay for lodging. I also obsessively build up frequent flier miles and use them when I can.
But there are many more ways to travel on a budget. Because taking vacations is essential for your mental well-being, I want to help you figure out how to do it without getting yourself into debt. And being in debt, I know from experience, is certainly not good for your mental well-being.

Airfare
Airfares are all over the map these days.
Because of the recession, airlines have been cutting back on flights in response to the drop in demand. But operating fewer flights means the airlines can charge more for the seats that are available.
There are plenty of websites that will help you find airfares at a discount. Some of my favorites are Travelocity, Expedia, Orbitz, Kayak, Sidestep, and Priceline. There are also websites such as Bing that try to predict what direction airfares will take. Check these websites often until you find a good deal. (Also, Google travel promotion or discount codes. Travelocity, for instance, sometimes has codes that you can use to get discounts.)
But don’t ignore the airline websites. Sometimes they have flights for even cheaper than you can get on the discount sites. That’s because they know many travelers are bypassing them for the Expedias of the world, and they are trying to win customers back. The airlines, too, occasionally offer promotion codes or last-minute deals to their frequent fliers. And don’t be afraid to bargain with them, either. A lot of airlines offer low-fare guarantees now. My friend Elham once found an American Airlines flight on Expedia for less than it cost on the airline’s website. She copied and pasted screenshots of Expedia’s page with the flight and price information and sent it to American’s low-fare guarantee department. She got a $100 promo code that she could then apply to her next purchase.
Keep in mind, though, that most airlines are now charging baggage fees. Only Southwest still lets you check in bags for free (JetBlue let’s you check in the first one for free). Spirit Airlines recently announced it would charge for carry-on bags. The lesson here is: If you want to save money, travel light.



more from here http://www.mint.com/blog/saving/travel-on-a-budget-05242010/

'The Points Guy' Shares His Secrets for Maximum Frequent Flyer Miles

This is an interesting interview by Eric Rosen with Brian Kelly a.k.a The Points Guy.  Read on and learn on how he's able to be the master of the airlines' loyalty programs:

A few weeks ago, we dished over at HotelChatter about our friend Brian Kelly, who successfully made a transition from lowly desk jockey to jetsetting superhero with the Ryan Bingham-esque moniker, The Points Guy. He dished on the best hotel reward points programs, told us which ones to avoid, and shared his favorite tricks for getting suite upgrades.

This week, we queried him on airline loyalty programs to discover his picks of the moment, where he sees the industry trending in general, and what you, the average traveler, can do to fly business class while everyone else is getting stuck in coach. Here’s what he had to say.
Jaunted: The news out of the airline business seems to be getting worse every day. What does that mean for points loyalty programs?

The Points Guy: Airlines have decreased capacity by taking planes out of service and downgrading aircraft size in order to fly fuller planes, meaning it’s only going to get harder to find those awards seats. Airlines will also be focusing on high-yield business fliers as the economic recovery gets underway. Delta, American and United are already running bonus promotions for full-cost business and first-class fares. So unless you’re racking up those business miles, elite status will be harder to come by.

Jaunted: What are your favorite points programs and why?

TPG: Each program is so different!

· American's AAdvantage is wonderful because I've found that they have the most awards seat availability. It might not be a direct flight, but you can always find a seat if you’re flexible, especially in first and business. Their ace in the hole is the one-way awards. Not everyone’s trip is roundtrip, so for half the price, you can get where you need to go.

· Before the merger with United was announced, I was in love with Continental’s OnePass Program. Since joining Star Alliance, their redemption opportunities increased, and they had a 1:1 direct transfer for American Express Membership rewards, so topping up your account to achieve an award was instantaneous. Continental has also been heavy on the promotions, like their offer of 25,000 miles per checking account per year with Chase (max two accounts: one personal, one business per year). I earned 50,000 OnePass miles for opening checking accounts, which don’t even affect credit. However, now that it will be merging with United, the combined frequent flyer program will be worse thanks to more people trying to redeem miles on fewer flights. The Amex relationship will probably end, and United’s practice of blocking partner awards will continue. The only silver lining will be one-way awards which you can’t do on Continental, but you can with United. I’d like them to combine the best aspects of both programs, but if the Delta-Northwest merger is any model of things to come, we’re all going to be sorely disappointed.

· US Airways, while one of the most customer-unfriendly airlines, actually has a great frequent flyer program. They often run promotions where members can buy miles and receive a 100% bonus—meaning you get double the miles you buy. US Air sometimes runs a “Share Miles 100% Promo,” which means someone can “share” 25,000 miles with a friend for a fee, and then the friend would receive 50,000 miles. US Air is also very lax with routing of award tickets, so you can go to Europe via the Pacific and return over the Atlantic while on most other airlines, these round-the-world routings are generally prohibited.

Jaunted: What are common mistakes people make when redeeming their points?

TPG: People generally undervalue their points. They get frustrated and end up shortchanging themselves for easier, yet less valuable redemptions, like merchandise they don’t need, gift cards, or “Flexible” awards that cost twice the points. The simple tips I give people are:

· Don’t always believe what you see online. Airlines don’t make it easy to see true award inventory using online search engines on their sites, so pick up the phone and call your airline. But don’t expect them to do all the work for you. Arm yourself with knowledge—know what other alliance airlines fly to your destination and be prepared to give flight numbers.

· Don’t always believe what you hear on the phone. If an agent sounds exasperated with your request, hang up and call again. Helpful agents are hard to get, but you’d be surprised at what they can find.

· Be flexible with dates and routing. Are flights to your destination sold out? Get creative and fly to a nearby city and then take a regional jet or train to your destination. The more flexible you are the better chance of being able to use your points.

Jaunted: What are some of the tricks you use to find fares that the average consumer doesn’t know about?

TPG: For low fares on certain routes, set a Travelocity Farewatcher Plus alert. You can also follow both Airfare Watchdog and FareCompare on Twitter. Most important, once you find a really low fare, don’t be afraid to book. Many airlines offer 24 hour cancellation or hold policies, so you should act quickly. Many fare sales go quickly, so if the price is right, go for it.

Jaunted: What is the best awards deal you've ever gotten?

TPG: Delta was running a new city promotion to Zurich, so I got a ticket for $232 and earned 15,000 bonus miles, plus 10,000 for buying the ticket with an Amex, plus a 5,000 per flight loyalty bonus Delta was running, plus my Medallion program bonus. {Drum roll please!} I ended up with 45,928 miles from a $232 fare.

Jaunted: Any last tips?

TPG: Harnessing true point potential allows you to enjoy a nicer lifestyle and more destinations. Not only can I travel more, but I can experience each destination more. In this economy, everyone’s discretionary spending is limited, but the desire to travel has not subsided. If people are savvy, they can use their points to live out their travel dreams!

And that is where The Points Guy comes in. Brian will consult with clients on their loyalty program points, and even book their itineraries for a $50 charge. If he can get you from coach to business—or even first—that’s six times the value of the reward you would have gotten yourself. And as we mentioned, you can even pay for Brian’s services using Amex Rewards Points rather than cash. Now that’s putting your points to good use.


see more from here: http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/5/24/144848/583/travel/'The+Points+Guy'+Shares+His+Secrets+for+Maximum+Frequent+Flyer+Miles

CEB slashes 50% off Japan and Korea flights!

I got this email from Cebu Pacific:

For as low as P1,499 seats to international flights out of Clark


CEB, the only low-cost carrier to fly to the major North Asian countries offers seat sale fare for as low as P1,999 from now until May 23, 2010 for travel August 1 to October 30, 2010.

P1,999 'Go Lite' seats are up for grabs for flights from Manila to Incheon, Cebu to Incheon and Pusan. Those going from Manila to Osaka can avail of P2,999 seats.  These fares are 50% less than the lowest possible year-round fares for Japan and Korea.

For those traveling out of Clark, P1,499 'Go Lite' seats are also offered on flights going to Bangkok, Macau, Hong Kong and Singapore. Clark-Cebu flights are also on sale with a 'Go Lite' seat sale of P499. Travel period is from July 1 to September 30, 2010.

Take this opportunity to explore our neighboring countries especially since there are a lot of activities in store for the budget traveler during the summer and fall seasons in Japan and Korea.

CEB now accepts web bookings up to four (4) hours before your scheduled time of departure. Hurry, grab your seats at www.cebupacificair.com!

Passengers to pay for fuel surcharge on Aero flights

Just read this article about Aero's decision to make passengers pay for the fuel surcharge.  Read on for more details


Aero Contractors, one of the oldest carriers in the country on domestic and regional air transport business, on Tuesday announced the introduction of a fuel surcharge of N500, and cash handling charge of N300 on every ticket purchased with effect from May 19, and June 1, respectively.

According to the airline, the fuel surcharge is aimed at cushioning the effect of the increase in the price of aviation fuel in Nigeria, which is one of the highest in the world.

“The N300 cash handling fee will be charged at all Aero’s sales desks on all transactions similar to the regular Commission On Turnover [COT] at the banks,” the airline stated.

Airline operators and industry analysts on several occasions have called on the government to intervene in the price of aviation fuel, popularly called Jet-A1, sold in the country, as they argued that the price of the commodity is on the high side compared to what is obtainable in other parts of the world.

Fuel costs defy logic

Aero, however, disclosed that passengers can avoid these charges by booking and paying for their tickets online at the company’s web site, using their debit cards or book-on-hold online and pay within 24 hours at any of the airline’s designated banks.

“Aviation fuel is one of the highest cost components of airline operations all over the world, sometimes accounting for up to 40 per cent of cost of operation,” said Robert Prophet, head of commercials for Aero. “Fuel cost in Nigeria has defied logic and we had to take this measure to cushion the cost of our operations.”

Mr. Prophet assured that the airline will appraise the surcharge should there be any changes in world fuel price.

“However, fuel costs are being closely monitored, we promise to review the surcharge immediately the cost of fuel goes down or when the Federal government is able to assist airline operators on this matter,” he said. “The extra charge of N300 can be avoided when customers pay online or use the book-on-hold facility at Aero’s website.”


more from here http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5569158-146/passengers_to_pay_for_fuel_surcharge.csp

AirAsia Free Seats 2010 Increased to 1 Million

Here's a great article regarding Air Asia's current promo.  The promo is from May 18 to 23 and travel period is from January 3 to May 8, 2011.  Read on and hurry to get your promo seats!!!


In this so called WAR of competition, AirAsia this is again playing a gamble to increase its business and create future demand of its Airlines services. People have been eagerly waiting for this promotion by Air Asia.

Asia's largest budget airline group hopes to offset the free fares, estimated to cost at least 2 billion baht, with earnings from optional services such as in-flight food and beverages and priority boarding.

The booking period for the Free Seat promo is from 18th – 23rd May 2010 for the travel period from 3rd January – 8th May 2011. Promotional seats are limited and available on first-come, first-served basis and made exclusively online via www.airasia.com and mobile.airasia.com

The Free Seats promo offers all-in fare from as low as RM6*. Guests will only have to pay the airport tax from Kuala Lumpur to destinations such as Johor Bahru, Alor Setar, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Langkawi, Penang and others.

These 1 million seats, which cover 130 routes across 20 countries, will be available on a first-come, first-served basis

More Details of Air Asia free seats offer of 2010 can be also be searched on the web using these keywords i.e. air asia promotion, air asia specials, air asia thailand, airasia, airasiaplus, airasia malaysia, air asia promo 2010, airasia promotion, air asia online booking.

more from here http://hotnationalnews.blogspot.com/2010/05/airasia-free-seats-2010-increased-to-1.html

Australia's best airline is still Virgin Blue

I got this news scanning through my email files.  This talks about Virgin Blue being number one in Australia.

 (eTravel Blackboard) - Virgin Blue has managed to maintain its status as Australia’s best domestic carrier while Tiger has been voted the worst in the latest CHOICE survey.


Over 11,000 CHOICE members voted in the consumer group’s domestic airline satisfaction survey for domestic flights they’d taken in the past 12 months.

For the second year running Virgin Blue topped the rankings with high scores for service, entertainment and comfort.

Regional carrier Rex came second, with respondents giving kudos to the carrier’s old-fashioned more personalised service. Third place was taken by Qantas, which scored well for pricing but had disappointing service standards.

Budget carriers Jetstar and Tiger made the bottom of the list respectively, with consumers pointing to low service standards and flight delays and Jetstar’s cramped seating.

Tiger was also criticised for its slow check-in processes and hidden extra costs such as charging $30 to those travelling with bulky sports equipment, even if it is within the weight allowance.

The budget carriers also had the most expensive credit and debit card surcharges.

However, Tiger bit back this morning, saying people needed to be “realistic” when considering the results.

“Tiger Airways is very different to the other airlines” said a Tiger spokeswoman.

“We sell our customers a seat as cheap as we can and allow our customers to choose what extras they want to pay for.”

The no-frills carrier even took a stab at Virgin Blue, pointing out that Tiger had a lower cancellation rate than CHOICE’s top ranking carrier.