Travel with Julie

How Far Would You Go to Save on Airfare?

This was a question recently posed in a survey conducted by Travelzoo.com.  Believe it or not, 41 percent of those surveyed said they would give up restroom privileges when flying if that meant they could save 50 percent on the ticket price.  That might be a good option for a short domestic flight, but what if the flight was international and 9 hours or more?  If people currently have no problem with leaving food, used tissue or dirty diapers in the seat pockets, I shudder to think about what they might do with no restroom privileges!

More than 28 percent said they would stand instead of sit on a flight if it would reduce their fare by half.  If you have ever sat in the back of the plane near the restrooms when a line forms in the aisle, then you have probably experienced the person who invariably leans into your seat space, crowding you in the already cramped quarters.  Then there is the person who leans over your shoulder to read your book, newspaper, or computer documents.  It gets even more intolerable when the person standing next to your seat is holding food or drink while the plane is experiencing turbulence, and splashes you with their rations.  I'd have to strongly consider heavy medication to endure such suffering!

I am all for finding ways to save money on airfare, but I vote for keeping our seats and restroom privileges.  

Finding the Perfect Flight

In a recent study, the Travel Industry Association found that 66 percent of travelers research their airline options online. I do, and, I rarely rely solely on one airline website for my flight options. However, it can be time-consuming and sometimes confusing to research online with so many travel websites available . Here is a list of some of my favorites:

Mile Maven
milemaven.com
A simple but comprehensive database with links to limited-time offers for bonus miles. Updated everyday, Mile Maven covers hundreds of carriers and millions of different routes. It is easy to search by airline, frequent-flier program, or city. I like it because I use frequent-flier miles to travel internationally -- and it requires a lot of them! This site helps me find ways to earn even more of those precious awards miles!

Vayama
vayama.com
A new and fun way to search and book international travel. Vayama offers an interactive map tool to access a wider selection of airlines, routes and fares. I use this site because it gives me more flight choices and allows me to easily shop and compare for the lowest prices and best schedules.

Kayak
kayak.com
A travel search engine that combs through thousands of travel sites from all over the world. Kayak provides the information in an easy-to-use display. In addition to flights, you can search for hotels, cruises, and rental cars. I frequently use this site and like it because it allows me to find the perfect flight and with one click connect directly to the source to make the purchase.

Yapta
yapta.com
This website keeps tabs on fare fluctuations before and after you book a flight. Yapta allows you to "tag" the trips you like while shopping online, then they track prices on those trips and alert you when prices drop. They continue to track the prices even after you buy a ticket. Guaranteed Airfare Rules entitle you to rebook if a lower fare is available -- you may get the difference as a credit for future travel, and in some cases, a refund. I find this site helpful when the price tag is paramount.

Finding easy-to-use and reliable web sources to make my airline reservations less stressful, for me, is like finding hidden treasure. I would love to hear about any sites you use and have found to be particularly helpful.

Happy Traveling!

Frequent-Flier Miles: Deal or No Deal?

Alas, the days of free travel are nearly gone. Airlines are getting stingier when it comes to earning and redeeming miles. For example, eight years ago I redeemed 90,000 miles for two business-class seats on a 1-stop flight to Rome. Last year, it cost me 180,000 miles plus $250 in "award fees" for the same business-class seats. If that wasn't enough to cause my head to spin, the only award seats available during my time of travel required me to make 3 stops in my flight before reaching my destination!

We began seeing major awards program changes after 9-11. Airline companies struggled, some flailed financially, others went into bankruptcy, and a few disappeared completely. So when the airlines began decreasing awards benefits, the general public regrettably understood.

Today, the pendulum seems to have swung. Airlines are reporting flights at 80% or more capacity with robust profitability. Yet, the awards programs' rebound hasn't materialized. Instead, we find an increase in awards cost per flight, a decrease in awards seats, a decrease in awards incentives, and more award fees.

So, what is a savvy traveler to do? Consider the following when you wish to redeem miles:

Plan well in advance: Airlines release award seats as much as 10 months prior to a flight. This means the early bird gets the worm! Additionally, the longer you wait, the more you may pay in award fees. For example, when redeeming American AAdvantage miles for award tickets 7 to 20 days in advance, you will be charged an "award fee" of $50; two hours to six days in advance will cost you $100.

Be flexible: Allow for flexible departure dates and times. Mid-week flights are sometimes less popular than weekend flights. It may be easier to find available award seats with a Tuesday departure in lieu of a Friday departure.

Call a ticket agent: Airline ticket agents are able to access partner airlines and alternate routes, giving you more options for getting to your destination.

Book your flights before your hotels: While booking my 2006 Italy trip, the airline could not accommodate a return flight out of Rome, but was able to get me on a flight out of Bologna. Since I had not made any lodging reservations, I simply rearranged my itinerary so that departing out of Bologna was viable.

Know your miles: Many airlines have changed their programs and require account activity within a certain time period to keep miles active, otherwise, they expire. Keeping your account active may be as simple as charging your next Starbuck's latte on your awards-earning credit card.

All in all, a little planning and a few fees are a minor inconvenience when airplane seats are so expensive. I will no doubt be sitting comfortably in my 90,000-award miles-$125-Italy-bound seat this year knowing that the person sitting across the aisle may very well have paid the full price of $8,000 for his! That's a DEAL!

Happy Traveling!