Flying Cheap

You’ve heard it before, if you need to fly and you want a lower fare, you need to book ahead – usually way ahead. That’s not always the case. There are some ways to find cheap plane tickets without having to book way in advance. After all, sometimes you just don’t have the luxury of knowing you need to go somewhere weeks in advance, or maybe you’re planning a last minute surprise. You don’t have to pay a premium price to travel at the last minute. Travel experts suggest a few things to lower the cost of last minute trips. First, instead of the destination to which you’re really headed, check prices for another nearby airport. For example, if you’re planning on flying to New York, check prices for flights into Newark, New Jersey. Headed to DC? – Check out Baltimore. The day of the week as well as the time of day you fly can make a difference. Many airlines offer last-minute drastically reduced weekend fares. Travel experts say the best time to shop for these are after Wednesday of each week. For example, a quick check of U.S. Airways shows an upcoming roundtrip flight from Charlotte, NC to Atlanta for just $88. There are restrictions. The ticket is an instant purchase and it is non-refundable, so if you change your mind at the last minute, you’re out of luck. You also can’t return anytime you feel like it. You leave on Saturday and you can return no later than three days from the time you left. Oh, one other thing. These bargain tickets sell out quickly. So shop early. You can also sometimes save money depending on the time of day you fly. For example, day flights from the U.S. to London are usually less expensive. You can also try websites like priceline.com. This is a reverse-auction website where you decide how much you’re willing to pay. You choose the dates, but not the time, then the site searches for an airline willing to accept your bid. If your bid’s accepted, then your credit card is billed and you’re set to go. However, you’re only allowed one bid per route. So that’s a gamble you might not want to take if you’re

in the market for a cheap, last minute fare. Another option is hotwire.com, an airline, hotel and rental car partnership that discounts oversupply directly to consumers. It does include a lot of daily airline seats. The catch here is you won’t know the airline or the flight times until after you make the purchase, and you can’t get a refund or make changes. Your best bet for that last minute trip is probably still going directly to an airline’s website and looking for any sales they’re offering, or the last-minute e-deals they’re offering. The biggest thing to remember is your ticket is non-refundable, so you need to check out all the restrictions carefully before you make your purchase.