How to Compare Costs of an Airplane Ticket
By Chris Joseph
If you are preparing for that long-awaited golf vacation, one of your biggest concerns may be the booking of your airplane tickets. With the variety of pricing options and packages available, it can be difficult to make an accurate fare comparison. Fortunately, there are methods available that can make the process easier, even if you want to do the work yourself. Taking the time to compare can save you money, which can make your time on the links even more enjoyable.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderate
Visit the websites of at least three airlines (see the Resources section). By obtaining the quotes from websites as opposed to by phone, you may gain access to special fares that are only available online. Be sure that you use the same search criteria for each of the websites.
Obtain a variety of quotes from sites that offer fares that are only available online. Sites such as Orbitz, Travelocity and CheapTickets (see Resources) buy tickets in bulk and have arrangements with certain carriers, so they can usually sell tickets at reduced prices, or even allow you to name your own price by bidding on flights.
Make use of a website that will perform multiple searches for you and allow you to compare the results. Sites such as www.Farechase.com and www.Sidestep.com will give you the results after searching a variety of sites. Another site, www.BestFares.com, is available with an online subscription.
Search specific websites if you need to leave at the last minute. Orbitz provides access to sites such as www.LastMinuteTravel.com and www.Suite59.com that specialize in putting airline, hotel and rental car packages together at a moment's notice and will save you the time of doing the comparisons yourself. You will only need to know your city of departure to get started.
Contact a travel agent to aid in your search. Travel agents can search for a suitable golf travel package for you and compare fares from several airlines in the process. Although they charge a fee or commission for their services, they can save you the stress of having to do all the work yourself.
Tips & Warnings
If you book your flight well in advance, continue to monitor the fares right up until your departure. You may be able to locate an even cheaper fare that the airline will honor, or they may give you a credit for the difference that can be applied to a future flight.
About The Author
Chris Joseph is a freelance writer residing in Pennsylvania. He has written hundreds of articles for newspapers and the Internet on a variety of topics, including several on golf for GolfLink.com. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from York College of Pennsylvania.
