Travel Thrifty (Part 1: Air Fare) by Amanda Jaucian Balneg

 Unemployment rates are shooting up and car companies are closing down but this doesn’t mean we cannot travel. We only have to be creative so we can keep the costs at a minimum while still maximizing the fun and adventure!

Airfare

• Buy your ticket from airline ticket auction sites.
• Expect the cheaper flights to be multi-stop.
• If you choose to book your flight with a travel agency, the rate may differ among its branches even if they’re within the same travel agency. So canvass. If you don’t plan to stay long in the US, purchase tickets valid for three months or less. They come cheaper.
• Don’t book unless you’re fixed on the date and sure about going. There are rebooking charges and non-refundable tickets such as those in Air Asia.
• Check with your credit card company if they have rewards points system and if the points can be redeemed through travel reward program such as Asia Miles.
• Register in the airline’s frequent flyer’s club. To ensure you receive mileage credit, quote your membership number when booking your ticket and when checking in at the airport. If you forget to do so, mail-in your boarding pass as soon as possible. Have a list of the airline’s mileage partners. You can earn mileage from dining, credit card, car rental, business and home services, shopping, hotels, and their partner airlines.
• Avoid peak season. Not only are tourist destinations less crowded, airline rates are also lower during off peak season.
• If you travel on a peak travel season such as summer and Christmas when flights are most likely to be overbooked, consider the possibility of getting bumped off. This may have a good side. There’s a chance you can get airline credit or free roundtrip ticket for your next flight if you volunteer to be bumped off. Check the airline policies beforehand and if you find them in your favor, book and skip the electronic check in. Check in personally and inquire from the counter if the flight is full. If so, ask to have your name listed on their “bump list”.

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Thanks for these practical tips, Amanda.  Just a word of caution to the budget travelers out there...when buying from airline ticket auction sites, make sure that the sites you visit are legitimate.  If you see an offer that's too good to be true, chances are it is.

To see Amanda's original post, click here:
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/209248/travel-thrifty