Travel Advice: Planning For Summer Travel

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• Expert Advice For Saving On Summer Air Fares

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  It might not feel like it quite yet, but summer is just around the corner. For a lot of families, couples and solo travelers, that means it’s a great time to start planning to hop on a plane and enjoy a vacation.

  Rick Seaney, the CEO and co-founder of FareCompare.com, said that the good news about airline ticket pricing right now is that current fares are only about 2 percent higher than they were at this time last year, so a traveler will pay roughly the same as they did last year for a comparable flight.

  The bad news? Seaney said, “Last year was the highest we’ve seen in 10 years!”

  That doesn’t, however, mean there are no good ways to reduce the cost to have a great vacation. One thing Seaney said to keep in mind is that the airlines’ new business models call for selling all of the middle seats on a flight. That can be a way to get a discounted fare. As he pointed out, “People just don’t like sitting in those middle seats.”

  Seaney recently wrote a useful article for FareCompare.com, “6 Ways to Save on Summer Vacation Flights.”

  Here are the main points:

  1. Shop for U.S. airline tickets on Tuesday at 3 p.m. Eastern time

  • This is when to find the most airfare sales, and price matching on competitive routes

  2. If you shop too early, you could pay too much

  • Shop for domestic fares about three months before departure
  • Shop for international fares about five months before departure

  3. If you shop too late, you could pay too much

  • Purchase domestic tickets at least three weeks before departure
  • Purchase international tickets at least six weeks before departure

  4. Be flexible

  • Fly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays – historically the cheapest days to fly

  5. Don’t get picky

  • Non-stops can be pricier than longer, connecting flights
  • Smaller airports are usually more expensive than big-city hubs
  • Always compare prices for routes and nearby airports to find the best deals

  6. Don’t check a bag

  • Avoid expensive fees on most airlines by using a carry-on bag
  • Carry-on bags can’t get lost
  • Exit the airport quickly because there’s no waiting at the baggage carousel