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Cheap International Airfare
Always looking for the cheapest way to do things, I searched
several websites that claimed to have cheap international
airfare. The cheapest from Traverse City, Michigan to Quito,
Ecuador, was $1720. Out of curiosity, I checked Miami to Quito,
and it was only $404. Airfare from Traverse City to Miami was
$299. Book two separate flights and I could save more than
$1000! The discount sites aren't set up to check in this way, so
you have to do this on your own.
Of course, if your first flight is late and you miss the second,
you may not get a refund, so plan some time between flights. In
any case, it's 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 for
those in towns without international airports. If you live in
Miami, you already have cheap international airfare.
Buy Cheap Aifare Online
We've found that travel agencies just can't compete with the
discount ticket websites. You can search Google ("cheap airfare
Europe", for example), or go straight to one of the well-known
sites, like Expedia, Travelocity, Cheap Tickets, Hotwire or
Priceline.
Doing a quick search for the cheapest airfare from Tucson,
Arizona, to Buenos Aires, Argentina, using the five sites
mentioned, here's what I just found: They ranged from $1221 down
to $873 for the lowest fares, with fares as high as $3728.
Hotwire happened to be 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
airfare from week to week. My number one money-saving tip is to
always check several websites when shopping for inexpensive
flights.
Courier Flights
Courier companies ship things using the luggage space of an
aircraft passenger. It can be quicker, cheaper, and more
reliable than sending the shipment unaccompanied, since checked
luggage bypasses many of the typical customs delays. The company
purchases tickets, and then they resells them to you. In
exchange for your luggage space, they give you a discount on the
airfare.
I saved $160 on my plane tickets this way when I went to Ecuador
the first time. I had several suitcases full of car parts, but
there was a representative of the courier company on either end,
and I looked inside the luggage, so I knew what I was carrying.
I carried a plane propeller on the return trip, which wasn't
much trouble, and made a good story.
It's easiest to be an air courier if you travel alone.
Ocassionally, a courier company will have opportunities for
flights on or near the same date. If not,
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your travel partner
can pay full fare on the same flight. You also are usually
allowed carry-on luggage, since the point is for the shipping
company to use your checked luggage allowance.
Once in a while, air couriers fly internationally for free, and
almost always very cheap. It's a matter of how badly the company
needs you and how flexible you are (can you fly to London on
Friday?). Air courier opportunities are becoming rarer, due to
the recent heavier regulation of international flights, but
there still are opportunities. 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 For Cheap International Airfare
When searching 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's 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. When search criteria allow you choices, first
take the ones that are the least restrictive for the airlines.
If the savings aren't enough, you can always book first class,
direct flights, or whatever you prefer.
Buying your plane tickets two weeks in advance is usually
cheaper. 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. You never know what you might discover.
When my wife and I went to Ecuador for six weeks, the cheapest
discount plane tickets we could find were $3400. Instead, we
took a bus to Miami ($352 round-trip for 2), then flew from
there to Quito ($622 round-trip for 2). We saved $2400. I'm not
recommending this, but for us, it was worth a couple days on a
bus. (The whole six weeks cost $2400.)
Spend a few minutes or an hour to do some research, if you want
really cheap international airfare.
About the author:
Steve Gillman hit the road at sixteen, and traveled the U.S. and
Mexico alone at 17. Now 40, he travels with his wife Ana, whom
he met in Ecuador. For more on cheap airfare,
plus travel stories, tips and information, visit:
http://www.EverythingAboutTravel.com
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