What You Should Know about Airline Fares and Refunds

Dreaming of your next getaway but worried about the cost of flights breaking the bank? You're not alone. With airfare prices constantly fluctuating, finding affordable flights can feel like a daunting task. Here are five cost savings tips to help you out.

Book in Advance

Flight prices fluctuate in real time due to supply and demand, fuel costs and seasonal trends. Although booking on a Tuesday used to yield substantial savings, it now only offers an average of 1% savings.¹ However, there are still better times to book your flight. If you are traveling off-season, which is when a destination experiences lower tourist activity, domestically it is suggested to book one to three months in advance; if it’s during peak season, three to seven months ahead. International flights should be booked two to eight months in advance for the best off-season price and four to ten months out for in-season savings.  Expedia recommends booking on a Sunday for the best rate. Occasionally, last-minute deals can be found.

Be Flexible with Dates

If you can adjust your travel dates, you can often find cheaper flights. Mid-week flights tend to be less expensive than weekend ones. For instance, if you are traveling this summer, it’s cheaper in August than in June. August is the cheapest month of the year for traveling domestically while July is one of the most expensive months, especially around the Fourth of July holiday.

Flight Comparison Tools

The cost of a flight varies with demand and the number of available flights at any given moment. To combat this, use a website such as Google Flights, Kayak or Skyscanner that gather data from various airline and travel agencies and consolidate them into one place. This can save you as much as 30% on a flight.² Another way to compare flights, is to sign up for fare alerts on sites such as Hopper, Expedia, or Priceline. You will need to select a few parameters such as flight route, dates and airport.

Pro tip: Compare nearby airports. Sometimes a short drive can save you a significant amount on airfare. Also, take into consideration airport fees and parking costs.

Beware of Hidden Fees

When comparing rates, make sure you look at the final charge and not the just the cost of the actual flight. What might seem like a cheap rate may be more expensive by the time you finish booking the flight or at the end of the trip. Many airlines offer airfare rates at several tiers but often charge for seat selection at the lowest or discount tier. Hidden charges can be found in baggage fees along with other charges such as, wi-fi, meals and service charges. While you can choose not to use the Wi-Fi or eat a meal, most likely you will have some luggage. Avoid extra baggage fees by packing light and sticking to carry-on luggage.

Loyalty programs and Newsletters

Signing up for airline newsletters can help you stay informed on their offers such as sales, promo codes, and special discounts. You can also join loyalty programs or obtain a credit card that will give you points and miles to trade in for flights, flight upgrades, or hotel stays. Most of the programs are straightforward and the number of miles earned is based on the number of miles you fly. Airlines will occasionally run promotions where you can earn bonus miles for certain things like booking during a specific time. Credit cards that offer miles as a reward usually let you earn miles on everyday purchases.

New Department of Transportation Rules

Lastly, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has set up new rules for automatic refunds if your flight is delayed or cancelled. Under the new DOT rules, travelers receive an automatic refund if they opt out of rebooking and their flight is delayed for three or more hours domestically and six hours internationally.  It should be noted, the three hours is longer than what Delta, United, and JetBlue previously offered. This rule was created to establish an industry standard. Be aware that you cannot rebook the flight or accept an itinerary change and get a refund.

The airline is also required to give you a meal or cash voucher if your flight is delayed more than three hours or canceled, as well as complimentary hotel accommodations and free transport to and from the hotel and airport if the delay is overnight. Airlines are also required to give full refunds on ancillary paid services that don’t work properly such as the Wi-Fi or lounge access. If your bag is delayed for more than 12 hours on a domestic flight and 15 to 30 hours on an international flight your baggage fees must be refunded.

Another cost saving rule is fee-free family seating for children under 13.  Fee-free family seating is guaranteed and ensures that children under 13 can sit next to an accompanying adult without any additional charges as long as the child and parent were booked at the same time.

Airlines are also now required to provide live customer phone service or chat 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In conclusion, finding affordable flights doesn't have to be a stressful experience. With these tips in mind, you can significantly reduce your travel costs and be on your way to booking your next getaway without breaking the bank.

Sources:

¹https://www.expedia.com/newsroom/expedia-summer-outlook-released-reveals-how-to-save-265-on-summer-airfare/

²https://wowfare.com/blog/your-comprehensive-guide-to-effectively-utilizing-flight-comparison-tools-for-discovering-the-best-travel-deals/