Book Flights

[SummerStar]

I've never booked my own flight before and I'll be traveling to Georgia from Wisconsin the second to last week of March, and I'm wondering how to find the cheapest flight. I don't even know what the 'regular' cost for a flight is. My friend told me prices may be a little inflated because I'm traveling in 'Spring Break Season.' I poked around a bit, and found one for $295...is this outrageous or a good deal? Any help is appreciated.

 

[fire_breeze]

I've never booked my own flight before and I'll be traveling to Georgia from Wisconsin the second to last week of March, and I'm wondering how to find the cheapest flight. I don't even know what the 'regular' cost for a flight is. My friend told me prices may be a little inflated because I'm traveling in 'Spring Break Season.' I poked around a bit, and found one for $295...is this outrageous or a good deal? Any help is appreciated.

Oh, this I can so help with!


I travel a lot, and book flights for not only myself but for my family and friends. I have found some pretty incredible deals and take great pleasure in getting the best. What I suggest is that you do a comparison between at least 3 websites... and then go onto the airline's website to see if there isn't a better deal. I've booked with Expedia, directly from the website of the airline, Travelzoo, Kayak and Travelocity among others.

If you are travelling during Spring break, it might be inflated a bit, but you aren't going to a destination place, so it might not matter.

Another trick is to try Tuesday nights early Wednesday morning (around midnight). A lot of seat sales are posted at this time. Travelling for the weekend or on a Monday also tends to be more expensive, so you may want to try a more flexible schedule.

Also, see how far you're willing to travel to another airport. It's often that a more minor airport, the costs can be ridiculously lower because you go with a minor airline. Or, try a major airport that is a home hub (for example, Atlanta is the hub for Delta, so at times, it's cheaper to fly Delta from that city). Try no frills airlines as well, but you have to check the reputation.

Is the 300$ return and with taxes included?

If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate in asking. My PM box is always open.


ETA: Some airline websites will match the price, and will match it and often give you a discount (10% is the norm). It can never hurt to ask.

Interesting what comes to mind when you're brushing your teeth.

 

[bailadora]

<snip> . Or, try a major airport that is a home hub (for example, Atlanta is the hub for Delta, so at times, it's cheaper to fly Delta from that city). Try no frills airlines as well, but you have to check the reputation.

A word of caution: Delta has a horrible reputation for consistently being late, so if you decide to travel with them, make sure you factor delays into your time schedule.

 

[SweetErika]

Check out Kayak.com. It's a comparison site, so you can usually see what the airline, expedia, travelocity, etc., have. We use it for hotels all the time, though I'm also always sure to check out the hotel/airline/car website itself because they often have special deals.

Be careful buying through third party sites because they often have extra fees and less flexible terms, or you might have less/no recourse if you have a problem that's not your fault. As with anything, make sure you read the fine print before booking.

 

[Daolas]

Its also sometimes cheaper to fly from smaller cities. You will fly to the nearest hub and then out to Atlanta. It can be a pain, but it may be cheaper.

What part of the Peach State are you headed too?

 

[fire_breeze]

A word of caution: Delta has a horrible reputation for consistently being late, so if you decide to travel with them, make sure you factor delays into your time schedule.

*laugh* Delta was just an example; I swore I'd never fly with them, but that's beside the point, one of the reasons is because I almost missed my connecting flight due to them being so late.

However, Bailadora's nugget of advice is spot on - always factor in delays, especially if you're flying in and out of an airport that is extremely busy.

TripAdvisor, eezer, TravelTruth, reviewcentre.com, flightstats.com and skytrax are all great websites for traveller's reviews, and includes time and comfort.

 

[SummerStar]

Thanks for all the handy tips!

$300 was round trip, yes, but I'm not sure if that included taxes or not. Also, I was wondering, should I start looking and try to book very soon? I've heard some commercials advertising last minute deals, I'm afraid of getting screwed if I wait TOO last minute though.

 

[bailadora]

*laugh* Delta was just an example; I swore I'd never fly with them, but that's beside the point, one of the reasons is because I almost missed my connecting flight due to them being so late.

My husband DID miss his connecting flight for that very reason just two weeks ago. And he was flying for a job interview. *Pissed off* doesn't even begin to describe his reaction.

 

[SweetErika]

Google 'airfare calendar' if your dates are somewhat flexible.

Generally, you want to book at least 21 days out for the best deal. Sure, you could get a really good last minute deal, but the fare could also inflate exponentially. This site has a predictor, which would be good to check out.

I also forgot to tell you to factor in luggage fees. Most airlines have them for checked bags now, and you can only bring 2 carry ons, with a few exceptions. Some airlines, like Southwest, have no checked baggage fees.

 

[culloden]

Google 'airfare calendar' if your dates are somewhat flexible.

Generally, you want to book at least 21 days out for the best deal. Sure, you could get a really good last minute deal, but the fare could also inflate exponentially. This site has a predictor, which would be good to check out.

I also forgot to tell you to factor in luggage fees. Most airlines have them for checked bags now, and you can only bring 2 carry ons, with a few exceptions. Some airlines, like Southwest, have no checked baggage fees.

I fly pretty regularly, and Southwest is one airline from which I've had consistently good service. When you factor in baggage fees, they're often competitive. Coupla caveats though - seating is first come first serve on SW. I usually pay the $10 to hop the head of the line. And I don't think they show up on sites like Kayak and Expedia - you have to book through their website. And they don't fly to most major airports, but rather the secondary airport for a particular city. For example, in Chicago, SW flies into Midway instead of O'Hare. That can be an advantage though, as smaller airports are usually easier to deal with.

I've also had pretty good luck with American, although the checked bag fees add up. I only fly Delta/Northwest when it happens to be a lot cheaper.

And $300 round trip sounds about normal.

 

[subwannabe]

I used to fly a whole lot not too long ago and was pretty good at finding the best fares. The world of airfares is extremely complicated. I think the easiest answer right now is that due to the unrest in the Middle East raising oil prices (and airline fuel costs) your best bet is to buy right away, immediately. Any second you wait is an increased price, and I do mean any second. I remember finding a decent fair once and decided to look around for a better price. Couldn't find one and when I went back online a few minutes later the price was $50 more expensive after just about 15 minutes! Just be careful of your stopovers. Sometimes the cheapest fairs have you flying way out of your way, changing in several cities, turning a two hour flight into 9 hours!

 

[Panama Hat]

I really like Hipmunk.com.

Good search, and direct (airline website) price when you choose.