How to Book a Flight on the Internet
By Chris Joseph
If you travel by air for your golf vacations, you may be used to booking your flight by telephone or by employing a travel agent to make the arrangements for you. Another option to consider is booking your flight online. Using the internet can allow you to get rates from a variety of sources, and you can also find deals that might not be available elsewhere. You do not need any special computer skills, just a basic knowledge of how to navigate among various Web sites.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Plan your trip well in advance if possible. The best airline fares, including when booking online, are typically available when you book at least 21 days ahead of time. Also try to book so that you can leave on the least expensive days to fly, such as Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday. Booking with a Saturday stay-over will also help you to save money.
Decide whether you want to conduct much of the search yourself or enlist the aid of an Internet search site. A search site will do most of the work for you, but you may not have as much control over the search process. On the other hand, performing the search site-by-site can be time-consuming and you may miss out on some good deals. If possible, try a combination of the two methods.
To conduct the search yourself, choose the airline or airlines you wish to fly and visit their corporate Web site. Each airline will have a reservations page where you can enter the information about when and where you want to fly. You can also do a site-by-site search of companies that search the Web for cheap fares. Recommended sites include www.Orbitz.com, www.Expedia.com, and www.CheapTickets.com.
Use a site that will do the comparison of deals from several sites to save time. One such site is www.Sidestep.com. You will be able to enter your search criteria such as travel dates, destination, and type of flight. You can then receive rates from up to five different travel sites which will allow you to choose the best deal.
Complete the booking process for your flight of choice. This will involve filling in the required information online and making payment. You will need a valid credit card to make the reservation. Internet reservation pages are typically secure, so you can provide your credit card information without fear. If your site offers payment through a service such as Paypal, you can make payment without having to give your credit card number.
Confirm your transaction by reviewing your itinerary (See a sample in the Resources). This will be sent to you by e-mail and will include the details of your trip, including flight information as well as hotel and car rental information if applicable. It will also list your confirmation number, which you will need if you have any questions or problems. You will also be sent an e-ticket via e-mail, which you will need to have with you when you check in at the airport.
Print out all documents, including your itinerary, ticket, and any receipts you may receive. Keep them in a safe place until it is time to travel, and be sure to remember to take your e-ticket and itinerary with you when the time comes.
Tips & Warnings
If you notice any discrepancies in your itinerary or ticket, be sure to contact the carrier or booking service immediately.
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.
