Expensive flights make booking travel tricky, but insiders know travel hacks that let them pay less, avoid delays and (surprise) make the journey hassle-free.
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CNBC Select spoke with Scott Keyes, founder of flight deal subscription service Going, to learn how to save money on airfare, avoid canceled trips and fix problems when they arise.
If you need to reschedule a flight, for example, Keyes advises calling your airline's international office. Standing in line with other passengers can take an eternity, he warns, as can calling the airline's U.S. customer service line.
"The airlines have offices all around the world," Keyes added. "You can call any one of those offices and get through to an agent much quicker."
An essential rule for finding a low airfare price is knowing when to look for it. Keyes uses what he calls "the Goldilocks window," the time when cheap fares are most likely to pop up for domestic and international flights.
"For domestic flights, if you're talking peak season, it's about three to seven months in advance," he says. "For international flights — [it's] four to ten months."
If you're traveling during an off-peak season, look at airfares one to three months in advance for domestic flights and two to eight months ahead for international trips.
Finding the "Goldilocks window" in the real worldKeyes tells a story about a friend who was getting married in Las Vegas at the end of March. For months, he watched a particular fare from Portland to Vegas that was just frozen at $407. At the end of December, though, he saw the price quickly decrease. Finally, in mid-January — about two months before the wedding — the fare dropped to $79.
He booked the ticket and saved $328, or more than 80% of the originally advertised fare.
You can also use credit card tools to help you with price tracking: Capital One's travel portal shows you whether it's a good time to book using price prediction technology.
Plus, if the cost of the flight drops after you book it you're automatically refunded the difference. You must have a Capital One card, like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, to gain access to the portal.
CNBC Select Rating 5.0 Credit scoreGood to Excellent670–850
Regular APR19.99% - 29.24% variable
Annual fee$95
Welcome bonusEarn 75,000 miles
Terms apply. Read our Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card review.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has a reasonable annual fee and earns flexible travel rewards, which makes it a great travel card for beginners or heavy travelers.
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
None
At the same time, you don't want to wait too long before booking. According to Keyes, the fine print of your ticket includes an advance purchase requirement that states you must purchase your flight 21 days before departure to get the best fare.
"On Day 20, that flight is no longer available and the new cheapest fare is now $100 or even $200 more," he said.
To avoid losing out, set a reminder 21 days before your planned flight as an absolute deadline for buying a ticket.
If you're flying domestically, Keyes recommends checking one-way flights with different carriers before automatically booking roundtrip.
"There are times where one airline might have the cheapest outbound flight and a different airline might have the cheapest return flight," he explains.
Canceled or delayed flights can wreak havoc on your vacation. You can't always plan for them, but there are strategies to minimize the risks and the consequences.
Book non-stop flights: If your non-stop flight is late, you might just need to wait an hour or two. But if you have a connecting flight, the delay might cause you to miss it. "Then, you're reliant on being rebooked and it could be a day or two until the next available flight," Keyes said.
Pick early-morning flights: According to Keyes, early-morning flights have a higher completion rate due to better flying conditions. Plus, airplanes awaiting early flights are parked at the airport overnight, waiting and ready to go.
Avoid checking a bag: "If your connecting flight gets canceled and they need to accommodate you, it's just much simpler if they don't have to also try to find your bag in the belly of one plane and switch it to another plane," Keyes says.
First, try to get in touch with the airline: Depending on its policies, you might get your flight reimbursed. If that fails, check if your credit card offers trip delay or trip interruption insurance.
Some cards that offer these perks include the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Platinum Card® from American Express and Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees).
CNBC Select Rating 5.0You can add up to four authorized users to your account no fee and they can each receive their own Priority Pass airport lounge membership (enrollment required).
Credit scoreExcellent740–850
Regular APR19.99% - 29.24% variable APR
Annual fee$395
Welcome bonusEarn 75,000 bonus miles
Terms apply. Read our Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card review.
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium credit card with a myriad of benefits and a lower annual fee than other high-end cards with similar features.
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
$0
On the American Express site
CNBC Select Rating 5.0On the American Express site
The Amex Platinum Card provides access to Amex Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs, Lufthansa Lounges, Escape Lounges and more. (Enrollment required)
Credit scoreGood to Excellent670–850
Regular APRSee Pay Over Time APR
Annual fee$695
Welcome bonusEarn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new card in your first six months of Card Membership
Seerates and fees, terms apply. Read our Amex Platinum Card review.
The Platinum Card® from American Express is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
N/A
None
On Chase’s site
CNBC Select Rating 5.0On Chase’s site
Points are worth 50% more when you redeem them for travel booked through Chase Travel℠.
Credit scoreExcellent740–850
Regular APR20.24% - 28.74% variable
Annual fee$550
Welcome bonusEarn 60,000 bonus points
See rates and fees. Terms apply. Member FDIC.
Read our Chase Sapphire Reserve® review.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a standout premium credit card with plenty of luxury perks and statement credits to justify its annual fee.
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater
Keyes identifies as a savvy user of travel credit cards and says he enjoys being able to score free travel and lodging through his card's rewards.
At the same time, he doesn't think a travel card is right for everyone.
"You need to have decent credit," he says. "You need to be able to handle credit responsibly, treating a credit card like a debit card, not spending money you don't have and paying off your balance every month."
Otherwise, the interest you rack up will outweigh any benefits you'll get from points or miles.
If you're new to the points game, Keyes suggests getting one card, earning the welcome bonus and then spending it on free travel. After that, you can decide if it's worth the time and effort to continue.
"If you do one card, open it up, put most of your spending on it, that's going to get you one free flight every year," he says. "And for a lot of people, that's plenty."
On Chase's site
CNBC Select Rating 5.0On Chase's site
Points are worth 25% more when you redeem them for travel booked through Chase TravelSM.
For more information, please visit Yaoguang Wire Mesh.
Credit scoreGood to Excellent670–850
Regular APR19.99% - 28.24% variable
Annual fee$95
Welcome bonusEarn 60,000 bonus points
See rates and fees. Terms apply. Member FDIC.
Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card review.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections and more.
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) is a solid travel credit card for anyone looking for a generous welcome bonus. Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
The card does charge a $95 annual fee, so make sure you're using it enough to justify the cost.
While many credit cards have extensive travel benefits, a travel insurance policy is going to offer more extensive protection, from the types of coverage offered to the dollar amount you can be reimbursed for.
CNBC Select's top picks for travel insurance offer benefits like Cancel for Any Reason insurance, lost or delayed baggage coverage and even pre-existing condition waivers, which allow you to get your money back if you have to cancel your trip due to a health issue.
One single-trip plan with optional add-ons for pet care, adventure sports and damage to vacation rentals
Up to 75% reimbursement of nonrefundable trip costs if purchased within 14 days of initial trip deposit.
Available if policy is purchased within 14 days of initial trip deposit.
Faye covers trip delays for up to $300 a day and $4,500 per trip standard, the most generous limits of the companies we've reviewed. It even has optional pet care coverage, offering up to $2,500 reimbursement for unexpected in-trip veterinary expenses and $250 for boarding if your return trip is delayed or canceled.
Single- and multi-trip/annual policies, as well as cruise insurance, travel medical insurance and plans for students, groups and international travelers visiting the U.S.
Add-on for Plus and Elite plans reimbursing 70% of trip costs if purchased within 14 days of booking (21 days with Plus plan). Not available in New York.
Available with any plan purchased within 14 days of initital deposit (21 days with Plus plan).
Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money right to your inbox. Sign up here.
For rates and fees of The Platinum® Card from American Express, click here.
*Eligibility and Benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit American Express's Benefits Guide for more details.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.Budget airlines like Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant are notorious for their low fares in exchange for high fees on baggage, seat selection, and … well, almost everything. But if you're flying one of these ultra-low-cost carriers, you might be paying a fee of $40 or more per ticket without even knowing it.
Spirit tacks on a “Passenger Usage Charge” of up to $23 per segment. Allegiant levies a $22 “Carrier Usage Charge.” More recently, Minnesota's Sun Country joined the ranks by charging a $22 (or more) “Passenger Interface Charge.” But they're all the same thing: A fee for booking flights online.
Yes, really: In the 21st century, budget airlines are charging passengers more for the convenience of booking their flights online – whether you book directly with the airline or through a third-party site like Expedia – or by . These additional booking fees are shockingly common though still little-known, even among fairly frequent flyers.
Budget airlines are counting on it escaping travelers' attention … and they're hoping you don't realize there's a fairly easy way to save that $40 per ticket or more in fees by booking your flights at the airport instead – and not just for a flight that day, but for a trip weeks or months in advance. For a family of four, that's more than $150 in savings.
Here's how – and why this loophole exists in the first place.
No major U.S. carriers like American, Delta, United, or even Southwest levy a similar charge for doing so. But in the world of budget airlines – which make their real money charging passengers for extras like seat assignment, bags, and even water onboard – this fee is widespread.
From the big budget carriers like Spirit and Frontier to newcomers like Breeze, every low-cost carrier calls it something different. But they're all essentially identical: A fee for booking online or by . And given many of these airlines sell flights for $40 each way or less, that fee can eat up a majority of what passengers are actually paying for their flights.
I know what you're thinking: Can you only benefit from this money-saving method by purchasing a ticket for a flight you'll board that day? Not at all: You can book a ticket in person at the airport for weeks, even months in advance and still save that $20-plus each way.
Take, for example, this one-way Spirit ticket from Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) to Las Vegas (LAS) for under $39. The fare itself is less than $1, while various government taxes add a few bucks more. But the airline's “Passenger Usage Charge” of nearly $23 each way comprises nearly 60% of the ticket cost!
Why don't these carriers just raise their actual fares? Airlines are on the hook to pay a 7.5% federal excise tax on their fares … but not for these separate fees.
The same is true for extras like seats, bags, and more. Charging these fees separately rather than simply building them into the actual airfare means low-cost carriers can drastically reduce how much of their revenue they need to fork over to the federal government. That's a big part of the reason why all these add-ons are such a core part of budget airlines' business models.
But there's a hitch. To consider it a fee instead of airfare, airlines have to make it optional – it's up to you whether you bring a bag, right? There's just one way to avoid these online booking fees: The airport workaround.
Buying your tickets with low-cost carriers in person at the airport means you can bypass these fees altogether. Is it worth a trip to the airport to save $40 or more on a ticket? That depends on how many tickets you're buying … and what it takes for you to get to the airport.
But first, let's look at the U.S. airlines that tack on this pesky fee.
Scan the list, and you'll see that almost every budget airline in the country – big and small, new and old – tacks on an additional booking fee.
Exactly what it's called and how much it costs varies from airline to airline. The fees have increased over time, too: What used to be a surcharge of just $13 or so each way just a few years ago has increased to at least $20 or more on most budget carriers. In some cases, it adds $50 or more each way to the cost of your ticket.
No matter what airline you book, you'll be paying these fees on budget carriers whether you:
Some airlines tack on a flat fee no matter what flights you're booking, while the online booking penalty varies for others.
Allegiant levies what it calls an Electronic Carrier Usage Charge on every ticket. It's a flat $22 per passenger, per segment fee.
That means it adds $44 on each and every Allegiant roundtrip ticket when you book online or by . Head to the airport instead, and you could book this $80 roundtrip fare from Baltimore (BWI) to Sarasota (SRQ) for just $36 total.
Breeze is another relatively new low-cost carrier, operating flights between smaller cities up and down the East Coast and Deep South. And its online booking fee is among the worst.
Breeze lists a “Technology Development Charge” on its website, but doesn't list how much that fee is. In practice, it ranges from under $20 to $40 or more per person, each way. Some passengers have noticed fees as large as $54 each way!
On this $69 one-way flight from Akron (CAK) to Fort Myers (RSW), for example, the airline is tacking on a $33 charge for booking online. That's almost half the cost of the ticket!
But Breeze also makes it harder to avoid this fee by booking flights at the airport than any other airline. The airline says it will only sell tickets in-person during a two-hour window once a week: on Tuesdays, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET, as of publication.
Want to book several Breeze tickets? The airline says that, “in fairness to all guests,” you'll have to go to the back of the line in order to book a second trip.
Frontier levies what it calls a “CIC”, or “Carrier Interface Charge.” As of publication, Frontier says it charges “up to $23” per passenger, per segment.
That's what you'll almost always see when booking online with Frontier on all but the cheapest tickets. So while there's a $23 charge on this roughly $39 one-way fare from Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) to Denver (DEN) …
… it's just $4 when that same route drops below $19 each way.
Spirit is the airline most Americans think of when the words “low-cost carrier” come up. So of course, Spirit charges this fee, too.
With Spirit, it's called a “Passenger Usage Charge.” Exactly how much that costs you when booking online varies: It ranges from just $3.99 up to $22.99 per segment, as of publication. The cheaper your total fare, the lower you can (generally) expect these fees to add.
See our Spirit Airlines Baggage Fees guide to learn how to save even more when flying Spirit.
Sun Country quietly joined the ranks of airlines tacking on these sneaky fees back a few years ago. It took customers a while to notice.
As of publication, Sun Country adds a “passenger interface charge” of at least $22 per segment, per passenger – an extra $44 or more on every roundtrip ticket.
And that's not a flat, $22 each way fee – it could be even more. Sun Country's terms clearly state they charge “from $22 per passenger, per segment,” leaving the door open to an even steeper surcharge. That said, it reliably seems to be $22 each way (or $44 roundtrip) no matter where you fly … unless you make a connection, in which case it doubles.
Back when it first started tacking this fee onto your tickets, Sun Country never clearly displayed how much it was adding in these extra fees and government taxes – it merely said the final price “includes all applicable air taxes, fees, and carrier-imposed charges.”
So when we broke the news about this sneaky charge, we said that lack of explicit disclosure during the checkout process made it among the worst on this list: Sun Country customers were likely completely unaware they were paying it when booking online. Case in point, it escaped travelers' notice for more than a year!
Fortunately, that has changed. You can now click to see the breakdown of what's getting added to your ticket price before checking out with Sun Country.
Read more: Sun Country Now Adds a Sneaky Fee of $44 (or More) … But You Can Avoid It
Want to save an extra $44 or more on your next Sun Country flight? Your best bet is to make your way to the airline's check-in desks in Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP), which are typically staffed throughout the day. The airline will sell you a ticket in person at the “Expedite Service” counter – and you can even add in bags and seat assignment (for an extra fee – just as you would when booking online) while you purchase on the spot.
Saving $20 or more on your (already cheap) budget airline ticket sounds awesome, right? Well, here's the catch: You have to go to the airport to avoid this fee.
For some, this will be easy and well worth the trouble – especially if you're booking flights for the whole family, live close to the airport, or can simply buy more tickets while you're already at the airport for a flight. For others, it would add too much in gas and parking or Uber fees for it to make sense.
Just keep in mind: You're buying your ticket in advance and then returning home – not buying tickets the day of your flight.
Here's how to prepare for your budget airline ticket booking at the airport:
With your fares picked out and a plan in place, head to the airport for your fee-free budget airline ticket.
Is this little-known trick worth the savings? That depends on how much it saves you per ticket, how many tickets you need to buy, and what it costs you (in money and time) to get to the airport to avoid paying these pesky fees.
In the end, only you can decide. But this is a potentially easy way to make your cheap flights even cheaper.
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