The keys to saving on airline tickets, as well as accommodations, are planning ahead and flexibility. Timing is crucial. Shifting your travel dates by as little as a week or two can yield big savings.
Book early for peak-season and major holiday travel
There is really no way around it. With more travelers competing for the same seats, availability as well as cost is a key consideration in peak season. Air travel over the end-of-year holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years), for example, can be pricey because deals are scarce. Book months ahead to get the best airfares around peak dates and to ensure that you get a seat.
Avoid traveling in the high season
Flying to popular destinations in peak season is expensive, as are lodgings and related travel expenses. If you want to avoid paying top-dollar for your airfare and lodgings…
Rethink when - and where - you want to travel
If you're willing to shift your travel dates or consider a different destination, you can net substantial airfare and hotel bargains. So get creative: Postpone a family visit till a few weeks before or after the end-of-year holidays. Consider a family celebration in the shoulder season of your favorite destination. Shift time off from summer to fall and consider an international destination for your next vacation.
Off-season and shoulder-season deals
Off-season travel to the Caribbean, for example, can be as enjoyable as a trip during the peak season. The weather and beaches are welcoming but with fewer visitors, attractions are less crowded and you're likely to get better service at restaurants and other venues.
If you're a skier, you won't care that the summer rates in popular ski areas are bargain priced. But you can find winter airfare and ski-package deals in the periods right before and after the peak season at top spots when travel vendors offer discounts to boost business.
Shoulder season -- the period between the low and high season -- offers savings opportunities as well. Mexico is delightful in late spring when the cold-weather-weary crowds have left and airfares are more affordable. And Europe in the early fall is especially attractive with shoulder season airfare savings as well as fewer tourists and comfortable weather.
Find airfare savings all year round
To avoid missing out on airfare and other travel savings, sign up for your free Travel Deals Alert e-Newsletter and let the best airfare deals find you year round.
