AARP - Segunda Juventud - Finding Airfare Bargains Online

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Finding Airfare Bargains Online

By Ana Figueroa
February/March 2005

the dangers of online translations

untangling the world wide web
Expedia. Orbitz. Travelocity. If you’re not using these and other websites to research and purchase airline tickets, you’re missing out on some of the best travel bargains available today. Some 64 million people used the Internet for travel and destination purposes in 2004. At least 45 million used the Internet to book travel, and 40 percent of that number booked all their travel online, says Cathy Keefe, spokesperson for the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA).

So, what are you waiting for? Buying tickets online lets you research different travel options in the comfort of your own home. It also saves money on travel agent fees. And while you won’t end up with a paper ticket, you will receive an electronic ticket or “e-ticket,” which makes airport check-in a lot easier.

Here’s what you need to know to get started. First of all, realize that there are dozens of online sites scrambling for your travel dollars. Some of them are online travel agencies, such as Expedia, Orbitz, and Travelocity; some are supplier sites, run by the airlines themselves; some are discount sites offering specially negotiated rates for members who have paid a yearly fee; and some are hybrids, offering a little of everything.

All the websites sort through hundreds of different fares and airlines in order to find the best rates on the date you want to travel. Many sites charge booking fees ranging from $5 to $10 per ticket. And most tickets that you purchase online are not refundable, so be careful when typing in your information. If you make a mistake, call the airline promptly. They may be willing to reissue the e-ticket.

When buying airline tickets online, remember that no one site will consistently have the best fares. Always search a number of sites before making an online purchase. Once you’ve found a good fare on a particular airline, go to that airline’s website directly. They may offer an even better deal, including bonus frequent flyer miles.

AARP has teamed up with Travelocity to offer a one-stop resource for online booking called AARP Passport. At press time, this service offers airline specials and discounts on package trips to all users, but over the coming months, special offers for AARP members will be added. Although currently available only in English, this service is intended to be offered in Spanish in early 2006.

Travelocity, Expedia, and Orbitz are the top three online travel agencies, handling millions of transactions each year. Each purports to be the most user-friendly travel site on the Web, so try out all three to see which one you prefer. Another site, Cheaptickets.com, has worked hard to simplify the booking process. “You don’t need to register to use our site, or remember a password. It’s a simple, three-step process, which can be a big advantage for seniors,” says Kathie Gonzalez, spokesperson for Cheaptickets.

Can You Be Flexible?
The discount travel site Bestfares.com has a feature called “Quickfare® Finder,” which provides fares for alternate departure and arrival airports, and can frequently yield big savings. For example, someone traveling from Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles will also receive fare quotes for a Baltimore–to–Long Beach flight. Another Bestfares.com feature, “City Low Fare Search,” is fun to use if you’d like to get away but aren’t quite sure where to go. Simply enter your departure city and the site will tell you the least expensive fares to any destination. “This feature is great for seniors who have the flexibility of traveling on short notice,” says Best Fares President Tom Parsons. Bestfares.com also offers special members-only rates on airfares.

A site called Travelzoo.com is another good option if you simply want to know about hot airfare bargains. The site compiles information on sales and specials offered by more than 300 travel companies. Keep checking back, as sale information changes constantly.

Some websites, such as Priceline.com and Hotwire.com, are known as “opaque” travel sites. That’s because you can’t see what you’re buying until after you’ve made the purchase. Buyers agree to fly any time on a certain day, on any major airline, and also agree as to the number of stops. The site then selects a ticket for them, typically at a bargain price. (You find out all the details as soon as you pay.) If you can’t handle the uncertainty, Priceline.com also offers a traditional purchase format.

Search in Spanish
If you’re looking for a site that lets you find your bargains in Spanish, try TravelNow.com. You’ll also find Spanish-language travel services on Univision.com.

Another site, TicketBarato.com, offers a Spanish interface but provides help, instructions, and search results only in English.

A few airlines deserve commendation for their efforts to make their sites easier to use for Spanish speakers. On the Southwest site, visit the Spanish homepage to make reservations and find out information in Spanish. JetBlue's site also has information in Spanish, but reservations and general information are available only in English.

After you’ve visited some online travel sites, take the advice of Best Fares’ Parsons. “Don’t make the mistake of booking too soon,” he says. “If you know you have a wedding to attend in six months, you should start researching fares as soon as possible. But that doesn’t mean you should necessarily buy as soon as possible. There is plenty of time for fares to come down.”

And, here’s one last tip before you buy. Check out SeatGuru.com (available only in English) and SeatExpert.com (available in Spanish by using AltaVista Babel Fish, read The Dangers of Online Translations), websites that can help you figure out the best places to sit on the plane. Just because you’re booking an economy airfare, doesn’t mean you can’t have a comfortable flight!

These links are provided for informational purposes only. AARP does not endorse, and has no control over, or responsibility for, the linked sites or the content, advertisements, materials, products, or services available on or throughout these sites.

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