How to Find the Cheapest Airfare

How to Find the Cheapest Airfare: 4 Fast Tips for Finding the Cheapest Airfare

Thanksgiving is only two months away and many of us are starting to make holiday travel plans. Here are four fast tips for finding the cheapest airfare during the holiday season.

1. Book your flight at least 21 days in advance (30 days in advance for international flights). Airlines allot a very limited number of low fare seats over the holidays, and booking early increases your chance at one of those coveted lower airfares.
2. Consider neighboring airports. If you live in the San Francisco area for example, consider flying out of the Oakland airport; if you live in the New York City area, look at the Newark Airport as an alternative. Smaller, nearby airports often offer the cheapest airline flights.
3. Fly on the days others don’t want to fly on. Instead of flying the day prior to Thanksgiving for example, fly on Thanksgiving Day. The airport will be less hectic on Thanksgiving Day and you’ll save money. You can also pick up the cheaper airfare by returning on a weekday rather than a weekend (Return on Monday rather than Sunday).
4. Comparison shop. Look at consolidator sites like Kayak that show multiple airlines rather than the individual airline websites. These consolidator sites often offer the best airfare - sometimes 10% - 20% less than booking with the airline directly.

What methods do you use to find the cheapest airfare?

Airport Parking Charges? Frugal Flyers Say "No More"!

Airport parking prices vary across the country, but they average $12 per day. Even on a short trip the airport parking charges rack up quickly and on longer trips, the airport parking charges are almost unbearable.

The frugal flyer takes public transit to the airport, alleviating the need for expensive airport parking. Although it may take a little longer on both ends of your trip, you can avoid the outrageous airport parking charges and enjoy that extra cash on your trip instead.

Imagine the difference: $36 in parking for a three-day trip versus $3 in two-way bus fares. Wouldn’t you rather have an extra $32 for your trip?

Frugal Flying - 5 Snacks to Take On Your Airplane!

If you're "snacky" like me, especially if you're "snacky" out of boredom, then you really should bring some snacks with you. The airplane pretzel ration is getting smaller and smaller, and you may be feeling a little... er... unsatisfied with the quantity of snackage provided by your airliner. I'm not suggesting that you tote snacks as if you're off for a day at the beach, but you should bring a couple small bags of chips, a granola bar, or some fruit fom home. It won’t save a ton of money, but every pinched penny counts in the effort to save money.

I really can't remember the last time I had a full meal on an airplane, and I fly pretty frequently. Personally, I'm tired of the child size serving of pretzels, peanuts, or snack mix nowadays and I usually refuse them. The flight attendants look at me like I'm peculiar, but instead of their high sodium, bad tasting 'snack', I usually bring my own healthy and good-tasting snacks. Here are my favorites:

1. Homemade trail mix tastes yummy, and it's much better nutritionally than airplane trail mix. I usually mix a variety of nuts and seeds together with a handful of dried fruit (craisins or dried cherries are great choices) and then add a handful of chocolate chips for good measure. There's no reason why you can't enjoy a chocolate sweet or two with all those other healthy foods mixed in!

2. I always carry fresh fruit in my carry-on bag - usually oranges, tangerines, or grapefruit peeled and sectioned off in a baggie. Sometimes I'll slice an apple or pear, and I've even been known to bring a couple of plums. On return flights, I'll pick up a fresh fruit salad in the airport. The natural fluids in the fruit help me stay hydrated, and the cool flavor plus healthy vitamins keeps me perky.

3. Peanut butter is one of my favorite high protein foods to pack, and peanut butter sandwiches pack really well. I almost always have a small jar of peanut butter in my luggage for a quick snack with crackers in the hotel room as well, and small jars are the perfect size for "apple dunking"!

4. Though not my favorite, I sometimes throw a few energy bars in my carry on luggage too. You can survive being stranded on a runway for hours with a few of these babies on hand. I'll bring a variety of flavors so I don't get bored with just one taste. I suggest that you avoid anything chocolate for the most part (if the plane gets hot and sticky, the chocolate melts and makes a big mess).

5. And finally, I always purchase a bottle of plain water in the airport after I go through security. I know that water is not a snack food, but it's essential with meals so I'm going to include it. Yes, you can ask for water on the plane, but they'll give you a little plastic cup. I like to bring a water bottle so I can sip on it the entire trip!

Happy Flying!

8 Easy Tips to Breeze Through Airport Security

Getting ready for a flight and concerned about enhanced airport security? Here are 8 airport security tips that you can print and take with you:

1) Check for any updates on prohibited items by visiting the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) website at http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/index.shtm

2) Keep your valid ID and your boarding pass in your hand as you go through the airport metal detector. People tend to send them through the x-ray and that slows down the process considerably.

3) When it comes to liquids/gels, the rule is that you can take on no more than 3 oz. per unit. Liquids and gels over 3 oz. are definitely "no-go's" - even if they are unopened. BTW, water is a liquid (passengers often try to argue otherwise), and any gel-like foods are considered a gel. So eat, drink, and lather up before aproaching the security area.

4) Remember that you can still purchase food and drink once inside the security checkpoint. If you don't want to spend $3 or so for a bottle of water, you can always bring an empty water bottle and fill it up at one of the many water fountains.

5) Pay attention to the "3-1-1 Rule for Carry-Ons": 3 ounce bottle or less (by volume); 1 quart-sized, clear, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger; place bag in screening bin. The one-quart bag per person rule limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring on board. If in doubt, you should just put your liquids in checked luggage.

6) Take it all off! Before you even reach the x-ray, speed up the process by removing your jacket/sweater, footwear, belt (don't wear one unless it is holding your pants up), coins, and cell phones. Also, unpack your laptops and place them in a seperate bin for the x-ray machine.

7) As for jewelry, remove only the big things (like your watch). Necklaces and wedding rings shouldn't trigger the alarm, and you don't want to risk forgetting them in a rush.

8) Keep your cash and valuables on you. If an agent happens to search your bag, watch them!

These guidelines apply in all U.S. airports, and they are all posted before you get to the x-ray device. In addition, TSA screeners will usually call out verbal reminders.

Have fun!