| And if you didn't find it, did you try all | | | | flight to Madeira when we doubted our |
| your options? | | | | competence as travel experts! |
| | | | |
| Let's look at the ways that you can get cheap | | | | Travel Agents discounts and internet advice; |
| airfares. | | | | "how to guides" |
| | | | |
| Low Cost Airlines | | | | In some countries special cheap airfare rates |
| | | | are available to people in the trade. There |
| The first and most obvious solution. Check | | | | are ways of getting a travel agent's card |
| all the usual suspects (Flybe, Ryanair, BMI, | | | | which are available at low cost on the |
| easyJet, and so on) which will mostly be | | | | internet as "how to" guides. Such schemes are |
| offering cheap flights related to European | | | | worth a look, especially in the US. Similar |
| and European holiday destinations. Travel to | | | | offers are often found relating to specific |
| and from the United States with a low cost | | | | destinations, such as Disneyworld. The |
| airline is more difficult. They arrange | | | | challenge is to find them in the first place. |
| things differently there, but still take a | | | | |
| look on the internet - there are one or two | | | | Air Travel Consolidators |
| advertisers in this area. | | | | |
| | | | This is the posh word for "bucket shops" a |
| Airline Pricing. | | | | semi derisory term that seems to have lost |
| | | | its currency. |
| We first came across this on a cross channel | | | | |
| ferry (the English Channel that is). We were | | | | All are people who provide the service of |
| told by our ferry company that they had | | | | getting cheap airfare rates, but they have |
| adopted "airline pricing", which means that | | | | different ways of doing it. Sometimes they |
| the later you book, the more you pay. This is | | | | simply provide advice and help with your |
| done by allocating all the seats to several | | | | booking. Sometimes they have bought seats |
| different price bands. The lowest priced | | | | which they are confident of reselling.In this |
| places are offered first, and then the next | | | | case by their purchasing power, or by |
| lowest and so on. So its usually best to book | | | | accepting reduced margins for themselves they |
| early, especially on the low cost airlines. | | | | can get you a bargain flight. Sometimes |
| If you're booking late then fly at a time | | | | (especially true of destination specialists |
| that's inconvenient for most people. | | | | who have an interest in a particular places |
| | | | or countries) they cross sell hotel |
| Travel Agents. | | | | accommodation, tickets to attractions and |
| | | | events, and so on. Even if you can't find one |
| Just because you can operate the Internet | | | | of these air travel consolidators, maybe your |
| efficiently, it doesn't make you an expert on | | | | travel agent already has! |
| cheap airfare rates. By all means look around | | | | |
| first but then check with an independent | | | | Good luck with your search - remember to use |
| travel agent or expert. They often have cheap | | | | the real world as well as the internet. |
| seats on charter flights which have been | | | | |
| mostly (but not completely) filled by the | | | | Bon voyage! Bon prix! |
| charter's main customer. We got 50% off on a | | | | |