The Cheapest Days To Fly And 12 More Holiday Travel Tips

By Hilary Solan, Travelzoo

Complaints about stressful holiday travel are as old as St. Nick himself. Armed with these tips, you'll be able to pack some holiday cheer (plus unwrapped presents) while en route to grandma's.

1. Pick the right day to fly.

Busy airports, crazy-high fares, winter weather delays -- are you sure you want to do this? The busiest (and most expensive) travel days of the year are around the holidays. You'll save a lot of stress and a small stocking of cash by picking the right days to fly. We also have handy fare calendars to show you the cheapest day to fly on 1000 popular routes.

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2. Rise and shine.

Don't want to miss the carving of the turkey or the unwrapping of presents? Book the earliest flight you can. Sure, you've got to wake up early, but those first flights out are the least likely to be delayed, and airports are blessedly calm at those hours if you're flying with the entire family. Or, fly on the actual holiday. Airports are much less busy, and if you fly early, you're still there in time for the festivities.

3. A word about connecting flights...

When booking flights with a connection and have a choice of airport, choose the one farther south -- less of a chance of a weather delay. And keep in mind that airports will be busier over the holidays, so allow some extra time to connect.

4. Upgrade your flight.

Business travel is slow over the holidays, so those seats taken by business travelers tend to be empty. Look for business class seats on international flights -- you might be surprised to find that the upsell for the upgrade is only a couple hundred bucks.

5. It's a wrap on pre-wrapping presents.

Instead of packing a bunch of presents, consider buying your gifts online and have them shipped to your destination (to your name). Then just pack some gift bags and a sleeve of tissue paper and quickly wrap the presents when you get there.

6. Worried about traffic? Consider the train!

There's a lot less stress when you're not the one driving, and there's no one else on the road. Watch the wintry scenery go by with a warm drink or wine in hand while catching up with your loved ones en route.

7. Drive on the day of.

Some deal experts swear by this: drive on Christmas Day itself. You do need to make sure you've planned ahead and topped off your tank on the 24th, but if you ever want to feel like the freeways are all yours, spend a peaceful day on the road and timeshift your celebrations a little bit. It's completely painless ... but your fast food options might be a little more limited than usual.

8. Avoid getting hangry.

Pack snacks! Assuming that you're going to have time to grab something at a rest stop/pit-stop/café car is a surefire way to guarantee you won't. Grab some nuts, a piece of fruit and an empty water bottle before you head out the door to make sure you aren't hangry when you get to your final destination.

9. If worse comes to worse, think ahead.

Busy holiday travel can occasionally mean chaotic airport runs and oversold flights. If your plans are flexible, capitalize on oversold situations by offering to get on the next flight out -- you'll get a hefty travel voucher and can usually negotiate other perks such as priority lounge access or even a first-class seat on your new flight (based on availability).

10. Speaking of vacations...

For those looking to get away, consider a destination Thanksgiving out of the U.S. It's just a normal Thursday everywhere else -- so hop on an international flight and enjoy the holiday somewhere new.

11. Taking a week around Christmas to travel?

Go the week before instead of the week after the holiday. Deals are all over the place -- especially on vacation packages, cruises and hotels -- and you can enjoy the holiday spirit somewhere new.

12. New Year's Eve across the country...

Manhattan hotel prices skyrocket on New Year's Eve, but the Big Apple is not the only place to celebrate. Philadelphia, Las Vegas, Boston and Burlington, to name a few, host an array of festivities to bring in the new year, and low rates can be found at many of the hotels.

13. Cyber Monday sales.

Good things come to those that wait, and if you can hold out until Cyber Monday, you'll find that many hotel chains will be offering flash sales, including some holiday and last-minute stays. Subscribe to hotel newsletters so you can get the inside scoop, and keep an eye on Travelzoo for the latest and greatest offers.

This post was originally published on Travelzoo.

Hilary Solan is an editor at Travelzoo and based in Chicago. Travelzoo has 250 deal experts from around the world who rigorously research, evaluate and test thousands of deals to find those with true value.

Asian Airlines Promise Deep Discounts On October Bookings

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It’s the season for airline discounts. Depending on where you want to travel and how far ahead you are able to plan, you can score some serious savings this month. This is especially true if you are planning on traveling in India and Southeast Asia. Several major airlines, including always-cheap AirAsia, are lowering their fares to get fliers to buy tickets for 2016 dates. 

Yes, there are some noteworthy deals out there, and yes, there are catches to each and every one of them. The biggest catch: you will have to plan way ahead to score the lowest prices.

AirAsia’s weeklong promotion

AirAsia is kicking off a massive sales event. The low-cost carrier will be selling as many as three million tickets to 20 different countries over the coming week. Even by AirAsia standards, the prices are impressively low.  People in Malaysia can score the biggest discounts. Domestic one-way flights between some cities in the Southeast Asian nation will be less than RM100 (that’s under $25). Regional flights to Goa and South Korea are in the RM200-300 range for a one-way ticket (roughly $50-$70). Taxes are included in the fares.

Unless you are living in Malaysia, this might not seem like a great deal, but it could give travelers a chance to add a leg or two to their East Asian vacation while still staying within budget.

Unfortunately, taking advantage of these fares means planning ahead… way ahead. Tickets must be purchased this week (Oct. 19-25), but the travel dates are not until 2016: you’ll have to fly next year between March and the end of October.

Flying from India

Travelers who are planning to pass through Mumbai can add low-cost legs to their trip. They might not even have to fly on a budget airline to get the best deals. Singapore Airlines is offering $300 fares between Changi and Mumbai. Malaysian Airlines, meanwhile, has flights from Mumbai to Kuala Lumpur, Bali, Bangkok and other Southeast Asian destinations for one-way prices that start at less than $300.

Gender-based discounts

You might also be able to get a cheap upgrade to business class if you fly Air India between now and the end of the year. There is a huge catch though: you can’t be male. In an effort to fill its business class cabins while giving itself some positive PR at the same time, India’s national carrier is offering a 25 percent discount to female fliers who want to travel in business class Unfortunately for international fliers, this promotion is only offered on domestic flights.

With Diwali, Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year coming up, prices are bound to rise, so this may well be the last hurrah for deal-seekers who are looking for cheap travel options in East and South Asia.  

AIRLINES & AIRPORTS | JOSH LEW, www.travelpulse.com 

Travelore Tip: Creative Ways To Get Lower Airfare

There are still a number of fun, creative ways to find lower airfare, if you don’t mind where you’re going and you know where to look—and at what specific time.

Every Wednesday at 2 p.m. (ET),Alaska Airlines runs something called the Fast Dash Sale and tips off customers on the destination through Twitter.

American Airlines sends out its last-minute deals on Tuesdays for the upcoming weekend as well as the following weekend.

You’ll also find great deals on Tuesdays at Southwest Airlines, with its Click-N-Save emails.

If you’re headed to South America, Azul now sells a ten-day all you can fly in Brazil ticket for just $299. You just need to buy this ticket in conjunction with your original round-trip ticket from the U.S.

Some airlines offer something called blind bookings. These are mystery flights.

Just pick your dates, your interests, and even sometimes your sexual preference—andGermanwings picks your destination.

For more tips on how you can save on travel, check out:

• How You Can Save Money By Booking Online
• Getting Deals With Last-Minute Travel Apps
• What Your Dollar Buys on Booking Sites

Source:  PeterGreenberg.com

Travelore Tips: 10 Ways To Make Travel Rewards Programs Go The Distance

Navigating the land of travel rewards programs can often be a daunting task. Rules change, programs come and go and partnerships and alliances fade. Add in expiry dates on points, blackout dates, tax and fuel surcharges – and getting a “free” ticket is tougher than ever. Well the travel experts at Cheapflights.com, the online leader in finding and publishing travel deals, are here to help shed some light with a how-to on the Top 10 Ways to Make Travel Rewards Programs Go the Distance.

“Managing your miles can be a full-time job,” said Emily Fisher, Cheapflights.com travel expert. “Do it right, though, and it can be the key to unlocking a travel goal. Some see points as the path to a dream vacation while others are aiming for the perks of status or even an economical way to score a seat in First Class. There are many ways to win at the rewards game if you are patient and pay attention to the details. We'll give you some insights into playing the game as well as George Clooney's character in ‘Up in the Air.’”

To get you started, below are the first five tips on how to get the most out of travel rewards programs:

·         Know your range of options­ - Airlines were among the first to launch loyalty programs with frequent flyer programs that date back decades. However, nowadays hotel chains from Best Western to Marriott to Fairmont all reward regular guests (your airline may do so as well). And, of course, credit card companies do their very best to keep you spending with their cards. And a host of them, from American Express to Chase Sapphire to Capital One Venture, offer incentives geared toward travelers (and aspiring travelers). Even travel booking sites are getting in the game. Register with Orbitz or Expedia and you can start to accrue benefits and costs savings there as well. You can even rack up points with services like restaurant booking platform Open Table — snag some money for eating well on the road!

·         Double (or triple) dip where you can­ - With so many companies lining up to reward you, make sure you take full advantage. One flight should mean points accrued with the airline, the credit card company and possibly the booking site. Don’t forget to give your mileage account number along with your credit card to the rental car company, too. Tack on points for the hotel and dining out, and you have a good collection started — even from a short trip. And remember, you can often book hotel rooms with airline points and flights with hotel points, adding to the incentive to rack up points everywhere you can.

·         Don’t pay to get into the game - With the possible exception of an annual fee on a credit card, all of these rewards programs are free. (And shop around on the credit card front as many travel perk cards don’t carry an annual fee.) The only cost to you should be the time and effort to keep track of the different accounts and your points. To keep it simple (and to keep points consolidated), odds are you will find yourself picking a few rewards programs and sticking with them (which is of course why the companies offer them). However, if you have the patience, having a broad mix of programs you are accruing points across means you can get something out of almost any travel transaction.

·         Don’t let blackout dates get you - Expecting to cash in your earned points for a trip over Christmas break? Some airlines (and hotels) are going to let you down when you go to use miles because they blackout popular travel dates for those booking with points. Plan ahead and start building your points with a program that doesn't have blackout dates (e.g., jetBlue, Orbitz or Expedia). If you are committed to that path, you may even want to pay the annual fee and get the added points (and occasional companion ticket) that come from signing up for an associated credit card — as well as the points accrued using the card. If you want more flexibility, though, rack up points with a travel credit card and skip the blackout window blues. When you buy using credit card points, it looks like any other transaction to the airline, so the dates won’t be blocked. In all cases, if you are looking to travel over a major holiday or school vacation, book as early as you can so you can get the best deal, even if the currency is rewards points.

·         Book strategically - One of the reasons sites like Orbitz and Expedia are getting into the rewards program game is that some airlines and hotels offer more points (or only offer points) if you book directly on their sites. So you should think ahead when booking about where you want to accrue your points. Pay attention to partnerships, too. If your dream is to go to Asia, make sure you’re building points with airlines and hotels that are partners with the airlines and hotels that will take you where you want to go down the road. And read the fine print on your credit cards. You may find some offer more points than others on travel bookings.

The next five tips cover upgrades, status, concierge services, points sharing programs, and using your points to give back. You can read about these important aspects of travel loyalty programs and Cheapflights.com’s complete Top 10 Ways to Make Travel Rewards Programs Go the Distance at www.cheapflights.com/news/top-10-ways-to-make-travel-rewards-programs-go-the-distance.  

About Cheapflights.com, part of the Momondo Group
Momondo Group is an online travel media and technology company that is driven by the belief that an open world is a better world.  The group now serves travel search and inspiration to over 17.5 million visitors a month – plus 7 million travel newsletter subscribers – via its Cheapflights (www.cheapflights.com) and momondo (www.momondo.com) brands.

Skygate began the sourcing of complex air-travel data in 1992, while Cheapflights pioneered the online comparison of flight deals for users in 1996 and momondo launched meta-search in the Nordic countries in 2006.

The Group has offices in London, Copenhagen and Boston with a consumer base across more than 30 core international markets but users all over the world.

14 Tips For Finding Low Airfares, 2015 Edition

Photo: Phelan M. Ebenhack, AP)

Are airfares pinching your wallet a little too tight these days? Deals are out there, you just have to know how and where to find them. Here are our top tips for finding cheap airfares this year.

1. There's no 'magic' time to buy airfare

A lot of airfare experts think they're clairvoyant, so they know where airfares are headed or how far in advance you should start looking for a fare. The latest myth is to buy exactly 54 days in advance. Others say buy on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. or Wednesday at midnight or when the moon is full (just kidding). But airlines are unpredictable, and anyone who claims he or she knows that airfares will be lower or higher in the coming months or the coming days should trade in their crystal ball. No one can accurately predict where airfares are heading any more than we can predict the stock market. Think about it: If they really knew, they'd put every other airfare search operation out of business, and that hasn't happened. Don't believe me? Here's what an airline revenue manager has to say about this.

2. Search often and pounce when there's a deal

Fares fluctuate throughout the day, the number of seats offered at the lowest fares changes frequently, and someone might be holding the only seat at the lowest fare but not end up booking it—so it goes back into inventory, and then it will be yours. So if you don't like the fare at 10:00 a.m., check at 2:00 p.m. or the next day or the next week and pounce when the fare is affordable. It's easy to leave the browser page open and keep hitting "refresh."

3. Sign up for airfare alerts

This is perhaps the easiest way to track airfares. Many travel websites offer e-mailed airfare alerts that let you know when fares go down, and they all have something to offer. Do a browser search for "airfare alerts" and you'll see what's available. They all work a bit differently, so sign up for more than one.

One thing to note: These sites use essentially the same airfare data provided by the airlines' computer systems or ITA Software (which is now owned by Google), so they won't include discounted promo-code fares, and they don't include Southwest Airlines. (Airfarewatchdog, however, includes handpicked fares from Southwest in its Fare Alerts.)

4. Sign up for airline e-mail feeds and frequent-flier programs

Speaking of promo codes, the airlines want to develop a relationship with you, so they'll send you special deals, such as promo codes for 50% off or twofers, if you sign up for their e-mails. Read Airfarewatchdog's tips on signing up for alerts with domestic airlines and international airlines. We signed up for Virgin America's frequent-flier program, and because we haven't yet flown with the airline, we've received many promo-code offers to give it a try.

5. Use Twitter

E-mail is great, but some of the most amazing airfare deals last only a short time (even if they're valid for travel over a long period). Twitter is more immediate. Our advice? Follow @Airfarewatchdog's account, which tweets unusual airfare deals every day of the week and alerts followers to promo codes and other airfare deals.

6. Be a flexible flier

If you don't care when you go as long as the fare is low, try a flexible-date search. It's getting harder to search airfares based on flexible travel dates now that many sites (Orbitz, Hotwire, Travelocity and Expedia among them) have eliminated their flexible-date calendars. But Kayak still has a good one (you must register as a user to see it under "more search options"). Another good site is Adioso, and Google has two sites worth exploring, Google.com/flights/explore and Google.com/flights. See more about flexible-date travel searches.

7. Search airline sites as well as online travel agencies

Many airlines have "private" sales, reserving their very best fares for their own sites. These are different from promo-code sales. International airlines such as Aer Lingus, Iberia and Qantas regularly offer lower fares (i.e., $100 to $400 less) on their own websites compared to what you'd find on Kayak or Orbitz. And yet, you shouldn't ignore online travel agencies such as Expedia and Travelocity, because these sites will tell you if it's cheaper to fly out on one airline and back on another (United won't tell you that it's cheaper to fly out on United and back on American).

8. Use Priceline for last-minute trips

If you don't have a seven-, 14- or 21-day advance-purchase window to buy your fare, your best bet is the "name your own price" feature on Priceline. True, you won't know the exact flight times or airline you're flying until you pay for your trip, but you can save 50% or more.

9. Use consolidators but beware of restrictions

Consolidators specializing in premium cabins will have some great deals, and the airlines themselves will be heavily discounting their premium cabins, so check the specials on their websites. Sites like Vayama, Airfare.com and Asia.com also sometimes sell consolidator fares, but read this to understand how these fares work and what the extra restrictions might be.

10. Consider extra fees before you buy

If Southwest has a fare of $198 round-trip and United has one for $148 but you're checking three bags, then flying Southwest actually makes the most sense. Southwest charges nothing for the first two checked bags, whereas United would charge you an additional $165 each way for three. Use SmarterTravel's updated baggage-fees chartfor more information.

11. Combine two fares rather than buying one

If you're flying to a destination in Europe, you might save money by purchasing one fare from the U.S. to, say, Dublin, and another from Dublin onward on Ryanair (just beware of Ryanair's onerous fees). The same holds true for some destinations in Asia (fly into Singapore and, from there, catch a low-cost carrier such as AirAsia) and some smaller Caribbean destinations via San Juan or the Bahamas. Even domestically, two fares are often less than one; in a recent search, Dallas to Honolulu was selling for $350 round-trip with tax, but Houston to Honolulu was $800. As you're no doubt aware, you can fly from Houston to Dallas for a lot less than $450! Just be sure to give yourself plenty of time between connecting flights in case one flight is delayed.

12. Buy with airlines that refund the difference if a fare drops

Let's say you've found the lowest non-refundable fare, and the day after you purchase it, the price of the same itinerary goes down. If you ask for it, you can get a refund for the difference. But some airlines will charge you a costly "administrative" fee of $200 or more, wiping out any savings. Others will give you the entire fare difference in the form of a travel voucher without extracting a fee. All airlines used to do this but no longer. The only ones left are Southwest, Alaska and, for Mosaic frequent fliers only as of Aug. 14 last year, JetBlue.

13. Search to and from alternate airports

Look at Tokyo Haneda as well as Narita; look at Gatwick as well as Heathrow. Consider flying from Little Rock if Memphis is too pricey, and Orlando Sanford on Allegiant rather than Orlando International. Frontier flies from Trenton, N.J., as an alternate to Newark, and so on. Or travel a bit more, by train or bus, to a cheaper airport. Recently, peak July fares from Newark to London Heathrow on non-stop flights were priced at $1,800 round-trip. But Virgin/Delta had non-stops from Philadelphia for $985 round-trip for July travel. NJ Transit fares from Newark to Philly? $22.50 round-trip plus $7 each way to the Philadelphia airport from Philadelphia 30th Street Station.

14. Consider package deals

Especially for last-minute travel, an airfare plus hotel package can save money. Recently JetBlue had an all-inclusive package to the Bahamas for last-minute travel from New York for just a bit more than the last-minute airfare alone. That's because air/hotel packages use different airfare "buckets" than last-minute fares do. Other packages might just save $50 per person, but it's still a savings. Just be sure to compare the hotel and airfare separately with the package price.

Contributed by George Hobica, the founder of Airfarewatchdog.com. Airfarewatchdog features the best airfares on thousands of routes verified by a team of expert fare analysts.

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