The planning phase of a trip can be quite the process and may become stressful which defeats the purpose of a vacation! When purchasing airfare, there are so many sites to choose from it can be overwhelming! Studies show the best time to buy tickets are during the weekdays, especially on a Tuesday. And, we all know it can be frustrating when you find a great deal and return to the same site only hours later to find out that special rate is now nonexistent! Yes, unfortunately most airlines change their prices throughout the day so basically you have to become a stalker when looking for a good airfare deal. And who has the time be a stalker?! Not many people I would imagine. So my advice to you is to be very flexible in your travel dates and be able to do some research before you are ready to book.
Typically, a general internet search can be helpful in comparing different prices among the different carriers. Just be cautious when deciding and choosing between a higher cost carrier and a lower cost carrier. Higher cost carriers include: American, United, Delta, Jet Blue. Lower cost carriers include: Allegiant, Frontier, Spirit. Even thought the ticket for lower cost carriers may be cheaper there are usually additional fees added on later after your base ticket fare for extras such as baggage and seat selection. For instance, my own mother decided to fly Allegiant due to the low cost of the $100 roundtrip ticket. However, after she was forced to select an option for baggage (even though she had a carry on) and seat selection her ticket ended up being more expensive than if she had gone with a higher cost carrier! Lesson learned: just be careful that you know exactly what you are purchasing! In addition, unless you are 100% sure that you are going on a vacation make sure you read the cancellation policy. Even if you purchase trip flex insurance these usually do not work unless you have an extreme emergency like you are literally dying. My friend once came down with the flu and the airline would not refund her money even with a doctor’s note!
ID90 and Zed Fare are great options if you know someone who works in the airline industry. I have found that even though it may seem more expensive to book with the carrier directly, this is generally the best option. Travel sites like Expedia and Booking.com can be great if you are not concerned with cancelling or have flexible travel dates. Otherwise, you may want to steer clear! I had a passenger on one of my flights who was upset as our flight had been delayed and he missed his connection. Due to the fact he purchased the trip through Expedia he had to contact them directly for re-booking on another flight which was a total nightmare! So just be cautious when deciding the site you use to book that dream vacation!
Hope these tips help and good luck in booking that vacation!!!
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