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| I had an empty row in Main Cabin Select on Virgin America. Free upgrade due to Alaska MVP status. A few passengers attempted to sit there but were asked for $150. |
I travel a lot and unlike the old days, flying is generally cheaper than the train or Greyhound.
While flying can be expensive, it all depends on how much you value your time.
1. Be loyal to one airline -
If you're a frequent traveler, try to only fly on one airline and its codeshare partners. In the long run, it could benefit you with elite status, upgrades to first class, free checked bags, priority boarding AND free flights. But if you're just an occasional traveler or once a year, then the airline choice is not important. But on that note, there are two distinct types of airlines. Discount and legacy airlines. Discount airlines like Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant offer rock bottom fares but charge for everything else like choosing seats, printing tickets, checked AND carry on bags and more. However, even the legacy airlines like Alaska, American Airlines, Delta and United also charge for some of the aforementioned things but usually have better on time performance. Most of the legacy carriers have introduced base tickets to compete with the discount airlines so be very careful when checking out so you can understand any possible fees you may encounter.
Southwest falls in the middle but ultimately comes down to how far in advance you can book. While there's no fees for the first two checked bags, the lowest fares are released 6 months out and only go up. If you travel last minute like me, Southwest will not work out most of the time but it's certainly worth a look.
2. Don't check fares too much unless you're ready to buy -
Fares go up and down all the time and there's worse feeling than finding the fare you saw yesterday is now $200 more today. But when you're ready, use an aggregator like ITA Matrix to find the lowest fares and also have a looksie at southwest as they do not publish fares on 3rd party sites.
3. Book two one-way tickets -
Sometimes you can save money by flying on different airlines for each leg. Also, should a problem arise and you need to change a date, both legs won't be affected. Almost all fares carry large fees to change tickets (any change, date, name, time of flight) and in many cases, it's cheaper to buy a new ticket. I have had to abandon many tickets but ultimately it was cheaper to just buy a new ticket.
4. Be flexible on dates and airports -
While this may not be practical for everyone, it can save a lot of money. Departing on a nearby date can save a few dollars to hundreds of dollars. Departing from a nearby airport can also save money. If you won't be driving, you could depart and return from different airports for maximum savings potential. Of course, there's risk involved with traveling to nearby airports as you still have to get to those airports. Using a site like ITA Matrix by Google can allow you to search nearby airports up to thousands of miles which can be useful for international travel but could also allow you to visit other cities you have never been to.
Just remember direct flights generally cost more than connecting flights but that can always change. Airlines lower certain fares on certain routes to balance out the flights so when there's an empty flight, that fare might go down and if there's a near full flight, the fare goes up.
This is also important for international travel. Most direct flights operate once a day which means that there are limited seats to begin with. If a connecting flight is offered, it will be routed on emptier flights. You may add several hours of travel time but you might add several bills to your wallet.
5. Sleep at the airport -
Again, not for everyone but sometimes the cheapest flights depart early in the morning or late at night and or arrive at odd hours. I don't drive and rely on public transportation so this works out for me as it saves a night in a hotel. Most airports are open 24 hours (ticketing and baggage area) and as long as you have proof of your ticket, you shouldn't be bothered. Just keep your valuables secured.
6. Volunteer to give up your seat -
Pack carry on only. This may not work for everyone but this allows you to be more flexible and nimble in the event your flight is oversold. You can get vouchers for future travel and occasionally cash for giving up your seat and taking a later flight. Passengers with no connections and no checked luggage are chosen first as it's faster and easier for the airline to bump you.
7. Check the calendar -
If you're finding the fares not to your liking, there may be a reason. Check to see if there's a major convention in town, major sporting event or maybe it's spring break. Know the times of the year when people travel. 3 day weekends, holidays, spring break, winter break and summer. Try to avoid these times but if you must travel, book at least 3 months ahead. Fares just go up during the high demand periods. Just remember you're not the only one trying to go somewhere!
8. Book directly through the airline -
While I do use ITA Matrix to locate my desired fare as it's very effective, I ALWAYS book through the airline directly. Why? Because there's less chance for errors, lost itinaries and fraud. When you go searching all willy nilly for 'cheap airfare' and you find something that looks too good to be true, IT IS. If you're a frequent flier member, you'll always want to book directly to ensure you're getting your benefits and earning miles.
9. Be nice -
While this really isn't a tip to save money, it's just good manners and can go a long ways when your flight is delayed or cancelled. Agents are much more willing to help you when you're polite and understanding. Yes, they know it sucks to have the carpet pulled out from under you and you have a big meeting in Sausalito tomorrow but sometimes it's just out of their control and they will get you to your destination as soon as possible. Ask if there's any other routes you could take, fee based seats such as preferred seating, premium economy or first class. It might be easier to pay a small fee than wait. Lastly, you could always throw in 'is rule 240 applicable?' Rule 240 is an unofficial program that is still used by most airlines. Simply put, it states that if your original flight is delayed and or cancelled and there's another airline with non-stop service that can get you there sooner than your airline AND there are open seats, your airline could put you on that flight. There are a few more rules of course but if your delay is more the 3 hours, start tossing around rule 240. Weather related delays and cancellations are not covered. Also, there has to be another airline serving the exact same route.
Thanks for slugging through my ramblings and hopefully you found something that you could use. With airlines merging and going bankrupt, it's becoming more of a sellers market, IE the airlines have you by the neck because there's few or no other choices. It's a bummer because competition is good for the consumer.
Safe travels!
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