How to Compare Airline Fares
Comparing airline fares ensures you get the best rates when you fly. Fares can vary by hundreds of dollars between airlines. Depending on which agency you use or the means by which you book your flight, the same seat on the same plane may cost more. A direct flight may cost more or less than connecting flights that reach the same destination. Take the time to compare plane fares, and save as much as you can on flights.
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Instructions
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Look up flights through a flight finder Website. Check the flights available from your city of departure to your destination at an Internet site such as Travelocity or Cheap Tickets. Most of these Websites have a search page in which you type the cities and dates on which you want to you want to fly. Make a note of the airlines that serve those locations and the prices listed. Find out if the agencies add fees to ticket prices.
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Check nearby airports for possible savings. Each airline serves a limited number of locations. Airports in larger cities generally offer more carriers than smaller markets. An airline serving a nearby city may have better fares than any carrier in your town. Passengers flying from Denver to Tampa have more choices in carriers and fares than those who fly from Colorado Springs to Orlando.
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Check with the airlines directly. Visit the Websites of the airlines that listed flights with the agencies. Links to Delta, Continental and United Airlines are listed in the resources section. Compare the ticket prices offered by the airlines against the agencies.
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Check for booking fees. One airline charges 25 dollars extra per ticket reservation made by phone. Ask if such fees apply before booking flights over the phone.
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Check for baggage fees. Many airlines are still charging extra to put your luggage into the cargo hulls. Prices vary per number of bags and may add a lot to your flight cost.
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Determine the best fare. Compile the information on the prices of all flights considered possible for your trip. Add all applicable booking fees and baggage charges along with ground transportation to distant airports to see which flights are truly the most cost effective.
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Tips & Warnings
Book flights as early as possible. Air fares are based on availability. The price of tickets goes up as reservations are made for each plane.
Read the baggage policy for your chosen airline. While most carriers promise delivery of misdirected bags, some do not take responsibility for any damages encountered in flight.
