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