• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Travelers Face Capacity Cuts and Higher Airline Fees Over the Holidays

Posted on: Monday, 5 October 2009, 09:20 CDT

BOSTON, Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- SmarterTravel®, a comprehensive travel advice resource for the budget-conscious traveler, today advised travelers to start planning their trips as more fees and airline capacity cuts will make holiday travel even harder this year. Recently, several major airlines added a surprise $10 holiday travel surcharge, making it even more difficult for consumers to save money on travel this season.

"Due to capacity cuts, it is not only about finding a deal this season, it's about getting a seat," said Anne Banas, executive editor of SmarterTravel. "My advice is if you see a deal -

book it now; don't wait for prices to drop further because they likely won't and your seat will be gone."

So how do you make sure you're not overpaying for holiday airfare? Here are eight ways to save on holiday travel this year:

• Factor In Those Fees: Now more than ever, it's important to add baggage fees and other ancillary charges into the price of your ticket. Check the SmarterTravel ultimate guide to airline fees when you're comparing fares.
• Compare, Compare, Compare: Don't just check prices when you're ready to book. Start early so you can get a sense of whether fares are on the way up or down. Remember to check the airlines' own sites in addition to online travel sellers.
• Act Fast: Airlines are running sales with little advance notice and short purchase windows, so you may have to make some quick decisions to take advantage of sale rates.
• If the Price Drops - Call: On many airlines, if the price of your flight drops after you book, you can get the difference refunded.
• Look for Alternate Days: Check out the flexible fare searches offered by many airlines and online travel sellers. Save by flying a day earlier or later.
• Book Outside of Peak Periods for Holiday Travel: For Thanksgiving, that means flying before Thanksgiving week and returning on or after the Monday following the holiday. For Christmas, consider leaving between December 16 and 18 and returning between January 4 and 6.
• Expand Your Search: Be sure to compare prices from all the airports near your home to all the airports in the region you'll be visiting; you can often find better deals outside your major airport.
• Sign Up for Newsletters: If you tend to fly on certain airlines, it may be worth it to sign up for email newsletter alerts so that you'll be the first to know when new sales are launched.
  

About SmarterTravel

SmarterTravel provides independent advice and analysis that helps travelers find the best deals and get the most value from their trips. SmarterTravel has an unbiased team of travel experts who analyze travel trends and offer money-saving strategies and travel tips. For more information and travel advice, visit http://www.smartertravel.com.

SmarterTravel is a division of Smarter Travel Media LLC.

Smarter Travel Media operates http://www.bookingbuddy.com, http://www.smartertravel.com, http://www.airfarewatchdog.com, http://www.frequentflier.com, http://www.seatguru.com, and sites in the U.K.

SmarterTravel is a trademark of Smarter Travel Media LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other logos or product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners. © 2009 Smarter Travel Media LLC. All rights reserved.

SOURCE SmarterTravel

Source: PR Newswire

More News in this Category