Archive for March, 2009
Scoring Great Deals on Cheap Airline Tickets
There are people in the universe who have a knack for finding great deals when it comes to purchasing cheap airline tickets. But how do they do it? The vast the greater part of us just pay whatever the airlines or travel sites charge, but if you’re tired of wasting money on air fare here are some tips to avoid you save money on your next trip.
Most people get their tickets through a travel agent or online travel website. While these can be a sympathetic place to find good deals the hidden secret of the airline industry is to contact the airlines themselves. They don’t always advertise their pass flights but if you call them and ask they will tell you where and how you can save money. You can also take advantage of booking your flight early enough if you know your travel plans well in move. If your travel plans are open then flying standby can be another way to get cheap airline tickets, but this won’t work if you are tied to a waterproof schedule.
One place many people don’t think to look are online auction sites. These can be a good apartment to find low cost plane tickets with one word of warning. Make sure these tickets are transferable otherwise you will have bought tickets that you cannot use. Also validation the minimum price of the tickets being offered against what they would actually cost if you were to purchase them directly from the airline or at an online hang around site. If the cost difference in negligible then it may be better to pass on the auction price because many airlines will charge a take fee that wipes out any savings you might have thought you would get.
The many travel related web sites on the internet today are another good part of the country to find cheap air fare deals. Some of the bigger sites are able to directly negotiate with the airlines and purchase blocks of seats at a large discount. They can then pass these saving onto their customers, but you normally have to act fast when these types of deals become available because savvy travelers escalate accept on them fast.
One thing to remember is to compare prices from various sources. What may seem like a good understanding large may not be once you compare it to other avenues. Also stay on the lookout for hidden fees that will raise the price to the point where it makes just now as much sense to buy the ticket directly from the airline anyway.
Cheap airline tickets can be found with a little research, pertinacious, and patience. Those who are good at finding good deals know where to look and what questions to ask. By using some of the suggestions here you can learn the ins and outs of frugal money the next time you travel.
8 Ways to Green Your Winter Travel
by Trey Granger
This story is part of Earth911’s “Green Eight” series, where we showcase eight ways to green your life in various areas.
Regardless of economic conditions, travel during November and December increases, often up to 23 percent during the Christmas and New Year’s breaks. Whether you’re visiting friends and family by plane, train or automobile, here’s eight ways to travel green this holiday season:
1. Ride the Rails . . . and Bus Routes
Wondering what’s the greenest form of travel? Actually, traveling by bus or train consumes the least amount of carbon per passenger. In the winter, travel by other means is subject to road closures and weather delays. Plus, trains and buses will usually drop you downtown for easier access to the city you’re visiting.
2. Enjoy Paperless Travel
No matter how you decide to travel, there is potential for lots of paper use. You’ve got tickets and boarding passes, baggage claim receipts and even directions to your lodging. But in this technological age, is all this paper necessary?
- Wait to print boarding passes at the airport, where less paper is used (and refuse the “ticket jacket” if offered).
- Enter important addresses into a portable GPS unit to take on your travel, so you won’t need to print directions.
- Ask if travel receipts can be emailed to you instead of printed (except luggage, of course).
3. Prepare Your Car
If you’re one of the 91 percent of people who opt for the holiday road trip, pre-trip car maintenance can optimize your gas mileage. This includes checking your motor oil and tire pressure, as well as removing unnecessary baggage that will weigh down your car. A 15-minute car preparation can help prevent a two-hour car breakdown in cold weather and more money spent on gas.
4. Reduce Airplane Waste
Think about how much waste you go through on an average flight. There’s peanut and food wrappers, aluminum soda and beer cans, disposable headphones, newspapers and magazines and the aforementioned paper travel documents. Other than the headphones and wrappers, it can all be recycled, and chances are your airport has recycling bins.
Keep this in mind before the flight attendant comes around asking for your trash. You can also bring your own headphones and packed lunch, or tuck your newspaper into the seat in front of you for the next passenger to read.
5. Monitor the Thermostat
News flash: winter weather is cold! Since you’re not footing the energy bill on vacation, it’s tempting to turn up the heat at a hotel or a friend’s house (which your buddy probably won’t appreciate). But over a year, two degrees of temperature increase equals 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. Consider a reasonable room temperature and request an extra blanket for your bed if you need it.
6. Recycle in Your Hotel
You would think that spending $3.00 for a soda at the hotel mini-bar would entitle you to a recycling bin for the can or bottle. Since this is unlikely, bring along a separate bag for recyclables (paper, metal, plastic) that you’re bound to use in the hotel room. Then use Earth911 to find nearby recycling locations on-the-go, or ask the hotel to recycle them for you when you check out.
7. Refill Travel Containers
Security measures and space requirements may have you traveling with compact containers for shampoo, toothpaste and other toiletries. Instead of continually buying new travel sizes at the store, refill the same compacts from a larger container prior to travel. For most liquids this can be accomplished with a funnel, and you’ll also save money by buying larger sizes.
8. Shop and Ship Online
You’re likely exchanging gifts at your holiday destination, so travel raises the important issue of how the gifts will arrive. Packing them in the car will reduce your gas mileage, and packing them in your checked luggage reduces space for clothes. Plus, if you use an extra bag, that will probably cost extra with your airline. If you decide to shop at your destination, you’ll likely face last-minute lines, higher prices and limited availability.
Shopping online lets you avoid much of this hassle, and believe it or not retailers have adapted some pretty good green shipping ideas. Plus, if your flight gets grounded because of snow, little Timmy will still get to open that bicycle on Christmas morning.
