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NEWS FLIGHTS
PUBLICATIONS ORDERS SERVICES CORPORATE
Tickets & Booking
- Airline prices change as often as planes take off, so plug into a good on-line service that shows up-to-date flight options and prices.
- When booking, ask specifically for the lowest fare and be as flexible as possible about date and time of travel. By flying a few hours late or earlier or on a different day, you may be able to cut your fare in half.
- Frequent flier plans can get you great deals, but they can also be frequent pains. Make sure you understand the rules by which they operate.
- Ask about airport taxes and any other surcharges for your destination to avoid unpleasant surprises.
- Keep an eye out for discounts fares even after you have booked. Unless your reservation is fully nonrefundable or involves heavy penalties for charges, you may want to take advantage of last minute offerings.
- Don't be shy about asking for special rates or upgrades. Large groups get the best rates by negotiating in advance.
- Any particular requirements, such as special meals and diets, should be made known to the airline at the time of the booking, and in any case at least 24 hours before departure time.
- Ask about special features and services such as nonsmoking flights, phones and faxes on the aircraft, business lounges, business services and secretarial help.
- Call airlines, airports and hotels in advance to check on handicap access and assistance, especially at smaller airlines and older airports or hotels.
- Choose your agent carefully to be sure he or she acts in your best interest and not based on which travel supplier pays the biggest commission. A referral from a reliable source is always a good idea.
- Do not leave it all up to the agent. Keep your eyes open for special deals and call your travel agent to ask about them.
- Consult travel agents and keep an eye on newspaper ads for bargain fares. Discount ticket agents sell tickets at much less than the official rates, but be careful, make sure they are reputable.
- Unoccupied seats are sold by airlines at a large discount to discount ticket agents, which in turn offer bargain fares.
- Check the conditions attached to bargain tickets, there may be heavy penalties for cancellation.
- Declining certain insurance options may make sense if the coverage is duplicated by your own auto policy or credit cards, but get your insurance agent's advice.
- Return cars with full gas tank to avoid high refueling markups.
- Return the car on time. Whopping hourly fees can be assessed if you are even an hour late. However, returning a weekly rental early may result in being charged at a higher daily rate. So it makes sense to ask about return policies.
- Inquire about taxes, mileage fees, other city drop-off fees, and any other surcharges that could dramatically boost your cost.
- Call the hotel directly rather than its toll-free 800 number so you can ask questions from the people on the scene and make the best deal.
- Always ask hotels about "corporate rates"; they are usually 20% off in the USA.
- Typically, city hotels are busy on weekdays, not weekends, for resorts and inns its the reverse. And seasonal places are eager for off-season business. All this means discounts of up to 50%, if the timing is right.
- If rooms are empty on the day of your arrival, the front desk is usually authorized to slash rates, provide upgrades or both, but you must ask.
- Check what is included in room rates for resorts and spas; often such items as meals, sports facilities and spa treatments are extra.
- To avoid unpleasant surprises at check-out, find out about local taxes, phone and fax charges, and any other fees before checking-in.
- Ask about special features and services such as business, concierge floors, nonsmoking rooms, secretarial help, babysitting.
- If your room is not satisfactory, feel free to ask for another. If there is a problem with the room that needs correcting, point it out and ask for confirmation that it can be corrected promptly.
We hope these tips have been useful. Contact us if you have any suggestions at:
feedback@airguideonline.com
AIRguide 0801 / ISSN 1544-3760
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