- Passengers who can book their ticket either long in advance or at the last minute, or who fly midweek or at less-trafficked hours may pay a fraction of the full fare. If your schedule is flexible, say so, and ask if you can secure a cheaper fare by changing your flight plans.
- Search the Internet for cheap fares.
- Keep an eye on local newspapers for promotional specials or fare wars, when airlines lower prices on their most popular routes. You rarely see fare wars offered for peak travel times, but if you can travel in the off-months, you may snag a bargain.
- Join frequent-flier clubs. Frequent-flier membership doesn't cost a cent, but it does entitle you to better seats, faster response to phone inquiries, and prompter service if your luggage is stolen or your flight is canceled or delayed, or if you want to change your seat. And you don't have to fly to earn points; frequent-flier credit cards can earn you thousands of miles for doing your everyday shopping. With more than 70 mileage awards programs are on the market, consumers have never had more options. Investigate the program details of your favorite airlines before you sink points into any one. Consider which airlines have hubs in the airport nearest you, and, of those carriers, which have the most advantageous alliances, given your most common routes. To play the frequent-flier game to your best advantage, consult Randy Petersen's Inside Flyer (www.insideflyer.com). Petersen and friends review all the programs in detail and post regular updates on changes in policies and trends.
Tips for Flying for Less
Useful Toll-Free Numbers & Websites for Airlines
Air Canada
tel. 888/247-2262
www.aircanada.com
AirTran Airways
tel. 800/247-8726
www.airtran.com
Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air
tel. 800/252-7522
www.alaskaair.com
American Airlines
tel. 800/433-7300
www.aa.com
America West Airlines
tel. 800/235-9292
www.americawest.com
ATA Airlines
tel. 800/I-FLY-ATA (435-9282)
www.ata.com
British Airways
tel. 800/247-9297
tel. 0870/850-9850 in Britain
www.british-airways.com
Cape Air and Nantucket Airlines
tel. 800/352-0714
www.flycapeair.com
Continental Airlines
tel. 800/525-0280
www.continental.com
Delta Air Lines
tel. 800/221-1212
www.delta.com
Frontier Airlines
tel. 800/432-1359
www.frontierairlines.com
JetBlue Airways
tel. 800/538-2583
www.jetblue.com
Midwest Airlines
tel. 800/452-2022
www.midwestairlines.com
North American Airlines
tel. 800/371-6297
www.northamericanair.com
Northwest Airlines
tel. 800/225-2525
www.nwa.com
Qantas
tel. 800/227-4500
tel. 13 13 13 in Australia
www.qantas.com
Ryanair
tel. 353/249-7700
tel. 0818 30 30 30 in Ireland
tel. 0871 246 0000 in the U.K.
www.ryanair.com
Southwest Airlines
tel. 800/435-9792
www.southwest.com
Spirit Airlines
tel. 800/772-7117
www.spiritair.com
United Airlines
tel. 800/241-6522
www.united.com
US Airways
tel. 800/428-4322
www.usairways.com
Virgin Atlantic Airways
tel. 800/862-8621
tel. 0870 380 2007 in the U.K.
www.virgin-atlantic.com
