Cheap International
Plane Tickets
by: Steve Gillman
The best place to buy cheap international
plane tickets is online. We've tried travel agencies and they can't
compete with the discount ticket websites. You can search google
("cheap airfare South America", for example), or go straight to one of
the well-known sites, like Expedia, Travelocity, Cheap Tickets,
Hotwire or Priceline.
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I just did a quick search for the
cheapest airfare from Tucson, Arizona, to Buenos Aires, Argentina,
using the five sites mentioned. They ranged from $1221 down to $873,
and there were fares as high as $3728. Hotwire happened to have the
cheapest, but they were the worst of the five when I searched for a
domestic flight earlier. You cannot say which service will find the
cheapest international plane tickets from week to week. My number one
money-saving tip is to always check several websites when shopping for
inexpensive flights.
My Accidental $1000 Discovery
Before going to Ecuador, I searched
several websites that deal in cheap international plane tickets. The
cheapest airfare from Traverse City, Michigan to Quito, was $1720. Out
of curiosity, I checked Miami to Quito, and it was only $400. Airfare
from Traverse City to Miami was $300. Book two separate flights and
save more than $1000! The discount sites aren't set up to check in
this way (yet), so you have to do this on your own.
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If your first flight is late and you
miss the second, you may not get a refund, but it is still cheaper
(every time I checked) to just book a flight to Miami and catch a
flight to Quito without a reservation, thus avoiding this problem.
This strategy is best for those in towns without international
airports. If you live in Miami, you already have cheap international
airfare.
Courier Flights
As an air courier, you can get really
cheap international plane tickets. Courier companies ship material in
the luggage space of an aircraft passenger because it can be quicker,
cheaper, and more reliable than sending the shipment unaccompanied,
since checked luggage bypasses many of the typical customs delays. The
courier company begins by purchasing airfare, and then they resell the
plane tickets to you. In exchange for your luggage space, they give
you a discount on the airfare.
An Example Of A Courier Flight
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I saved over $150 on my plane tickets
this way when I went to Ecuador the first time. I had to walk several
suitcases of car parts through customs, but there was a representative
of the courier company on either end, and I did get to look inside the
luggage, so I knew what I was carrying. I had to carry a plane
propeller on the return trip, but it wasn't too much trouble, and made
a good story.
Limitations To Courier Travel
You generally can only be an air
courier if you travel alone. Once in a while, a courier company will
have opportunities for flights on or near the same date. Otherwise,
your travel partner can pay full fare on the same flight. You also can
usually only bring carry-on luggage, since the point is for the
shipping company to use your checked luggage allowance.
Really Cheap Courier Flights
Sometimes air couriers fly
internationally for free, and almost always very cheap. It is a matter
of how badly the company needs you and how flexible you can be (can
you fly to Paris on Friday?). In general air courier opportunities are
becoming rarer, due to the recent heavier regulation of international
flights. There still are opportunities for cheap tickets, though. You
can find out more at The Air Courier Association Website (www.aircourier.org).
The ACA can also help you get really cheap plane tickets by way of
airline ticket wholesalers, discounters, last minute specials, and
stand-by travel.
More Tips On Cheap International Plane
Tickets
When searching for fares using the
discount websites, try several different departure and return dates if
you can. The difference of a day or two can save you a lot. There is
little logic to airfare pricing, so don't try too hard to figure it
out. Just be aware that if you leave on Friday instead of Wednesday
(or vice-versa), you may save $100.
Check the boxes that say "any time" for
departure and "2 or more connecting flights". Even if you aren't sure
that you want to leave at midnight, see what your options are-the
savings might change your mind. Whenever the search criteria allow you
choices, take the ones that are the least restrictive for the
airlines. Again, if the savings aren't enough, you can always book
first class, direct flights, or whatever you prefer.
Buying your plane tickets at least a
week in advance is usually cheaper. Also, there can be a dramatic
difference (but not always) if your trip is over thirty days. You may
want to cut it from 32 days to 30 to save hundreds of dollars on your
fare. Play with the dates on one of the websites mentioned. You never
know what you might discover.
Want To Go Really Cheap?
You can take a bus to a major city, if
you don't live in one, and then take an international flight from
there to save quite a bit of money. My wife and I recently went to
Ecuador for six weeks. The cheapest discount website plane tickets we
could find were $3400 for the two of us. By taking a bus to Miami
($352 round-trip for 2), then flying from there to Quito ($622
round-trip for 2), we saved over $2400 - even after the taxi fare from
the bus station to the airport. That's a lot of money to us, certainly
worth an extra day-and-a-half on a bus. (The whole six weeks cost less
than $2500.)
The bottom line is that if you spend a
few minutes or an hour to do some research, you might save hundreds of
dollars. Good luck and happy travels.
About The Author
Steve Gillman first hit the road on
his own when at sixteen, and traveled alone across the United
States and Mexico at 17. Now 40, he continues to travel and
backpack with his wife Ana, whom he met in Ecuador. Many of his
stories, plus tips and information on travel and lightweight
backpacking, can be found on his websites,
http://www.EverythingAboutTravel.com, and
http://www.TheUltralightBackpackingSite.com. |
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