holiday travel

holiday travel

Tips for saving

NEW YORK — Flying over the holidays is going to cost more this year. And the longer you wait to book, the pricier it’s likely to get. But fliers can save money by manipulating travel websites, planning itineraries that are less convenient and taking advantage of airfare refund policies. A simple but valuable strategy: If you find a good fare, jump on it. Here are some tips to help you save.

BE FLEXIBLE

Adding a couple of days to your trip before or after peak travel days can lower fares significantly. So can flying on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day or early on the morning of New Year’s Day. Most travel websites have search options that make it easy to find the cheapest days to travel.

CONNECTING FLIGHTS

Flying nonstop is ideal, but that convenience isn’t free. Booking an itinerary that includes one stop could save you $100 round-trip. Just make sure to leave plenty of time to connect.

FLY, THEN DRIVE

Some airlines have a virtual monopoly at certain airports, allowing them to charge more. Most search sites can check fares at airports 50, 75 or even 100 miles from your destination. The savings are potentially big enough to make the car rental and extra travel time worth your while.

CONSIDER THE 24-HOUR RULE

Most big airlines allow passengers to cancel and rebook tickets purchased through their websites within 24 hours without penalty. After you book, check the next morning and see whether the price fell.

SEARCH MULTIPLE SITES

The cheapest flight doesn’t always show up on every website. Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity are the biggest online ticket-sellers. Sometimes better deals can be found elsewhere. Some airlines, like Southwest, aren’t included on many of these sites. Most airport websites list the airlines serving them. Look there to make sure you aren’t missing a carrier.

Source: Associated Press