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Home > Smart Spending > Archives > 2008 > October > 20 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USThe Plane Truth: Cheap Airfares At Your Fingertips
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When the price of a barrel of oil busted through the $100 barrier and continued to ascend like a 747 taking off at Hartsfield-Jackson, I figured airlines would jack up their lowest fares accordingly. Indeed, bargain hunters like me noticed a bump, but not as much as expected.
Now, the law of gravity is kicking in, and the landing has been anything but rough. Fares offered by AirTran, for example, have dipped as far as $138, plus tax and fees, to my beaten-path cities in Florida, $158 to D.C. and $168 to New York. Those enticing numbers are remindful of a bygone era when gas was south of $2 per gallon.
Last month, I spotted a round-trip seat on Delta to LaGuardia for $204, counting extras, and snatched it up. Such a deal, eh?
Shoulda waited. A few weeks later, the same flights on selected days were available for $189 total on Delta and AirTran. (For comparison’s sake: Driving my Audi to The Big Apple and back would burn about $215 in gas, at $3 a gallon.)
Have you purchased a red-tag plane ticket lately that you’d like to brag about?
Finding some values is easy. Sign up with your most-traveled-on airlines and receive email alerts on sales. For me, as you may have surmised, it’s Delta and AirTran.
What other airlines send fare-related emails to subscribers? How do you evaluate them?
The best local source that I mine for rock-bottom deals on all flights tn and out of Hartsfield-Jackson is Clark Howard. I also tap in to several sites that are not Atlanta-specific, among them Expedia and Last Minute Travel.
Do you have a favorite Web site for checking out fares?
It’s usually a given that the most alluring fares apply to travel on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, sometimes Thursdays. Last I checked with AirTran, though, it extended to some Mondays. So, if you are not locked in on travel dates, hit the flexible-days tab when cruising online for fares. On Delta, you can look at a seven-day window, five on AirTran. More [travel tips]:(http://airfare.michaelbluejay.com/.)
For budget-conscious air travelers, what comes down probably will go back up. So, to cope with the ever-changing fares, heed the advice of the flight attendant: Fasten your seat belt.
To find ways to help make you way through a bumpy economy check out Your Money.
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Comments
By Mike
October 20, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this
In a week and a half I’m taking a day trip to Fort Lauderdale for $35 round trip!
I’m using Spirit Air - sign up for their $9 fare club to get their rock bottom fares.
By Brad
October 20, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this
129 each way on Delta non-stop to San Fran back in Sept, right from their website. Tues and Wed got me those deals, though. A tad higher on other days, but still a helluva deal for a 5-hour flight! Flying to Rochester NY for $90 each way on Delta non-stop in Dec. Can’t beat it with a stick, esp if you tally fuel and time to drive. It’s a no-brainer as long as you find the deals.
By KAY
October 20, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this
There are never any discounted fares for JACKSON, MS, I felt that Delta is trying to rip Mississippians off with these high $$$ fares.
By TAMMIE
October 20, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this
Kay you absoutely correct, can you imagine paying $1200.00 for a 45 minutes fly to Jackson, MS. A MAJOR RIP OFF, Delta you should be ashame of yourself.
By KAY
October 20, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this
NO COMPETITION, NO DISCOUNTS FOR MISSISSIPPIANS FLYING FROM ATLANTA TO JACKSON, MS. I THOUGHT YOU WOULD USE MORE FUEL FLYING FROM ATLANTA TO NEW YORK, BUT I GUESS A FLIGHT FOR 3 HOURS VS. 45 MINUTES WOULD COST LESS FOR DELTA WHEN IT COMES TO MISSISSIPPIANS.
By Jessica
October 23, 2008 8:32 PM | Link to this
I track airfare prices on Yapta.com - which tracks fares both before and after you buy your ticket. If the price of your ticket drops after you buy, you can get a travel credit for the difference in price. (It’s part of the “guaranteed airfare” policy that’s offered by most major airlines.) Airlines such as JetBlue, United and Alaska Airlines don’t charge any fees to “re-book” your ticket at the lower price & they’ll give you a voucher for the full difference.