Seven Tips for finding Cheaper AirfaresCan you remember the days when airlines actually printed airfares on their schedules? That was back before the internet enabled online booking and 48-hour sales. And back when an airfare always included the basics – like your luggage, food, drink and entertainment. With all the options available today, and airfares sometimes doubling in a matter of days, here are some tips to maximise your chances of getting a bargain. 1.. Sign up with travel websites and airlines for alerts. It'll save you time when hot deals arrive in your inbox – but be picky, you don't want to be bombarded. 2.. Use Twitter to learn about sales. Air New Zealand and Jetstar often tweet their sale fares before anything is advertised, and the beauty of Twitter is that it's instant. 3.. Join frequent flyer programmes. Some airlines offer special deals when you subscribe, and many have no joining fee. Then you'll also get regular newsletters advertising sale fares (not to mention an increased chance of an upgrade if you do fly). 4.. Try to keep annual leave up your sleeve. If you're one of those people that never have any leave owing, it's unlikely you'll be able to take advantage of those incredibly-cheap flights. Air New Zealand was advertising return flights to Vancouver at the end of this month for under $1000 – but your dates need to be flexible, and you'd have had to take leave at short notice. So maybe we should add 'be nice to your boss' to this one. 5.. Browse airfare comparison websites. Websites like expedia.co.nz, jetabroad.co.nz and skyscanner.net are really handy for finding out all the flight options and prices on your preferred travel date and route. Generally they show the lowest available airfare, but you'll still want to check with the airline website before booking. 6.. Be prepared to travel on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Obviously weekend travel is more sought after, but the good thing is, mid-week flights are usually cheaper to sweeten the deal. Again, this usually only works if you have some leave accrued. 7.. Factor in the fees. Before you go ahead with your booking, compare the exact final price you will be charged – and make sure you're comparing in the same currency. Check that the airfare includes baggage, if you want to check it in. And watch out for those sneaky airlines that automatically add on a price for travel insurance – you can cancel it, but some people may miss it in the booking process November 9, 2011, 4:12 pm Yahoo! New Zealand
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