Speaking of travel...
Posted 04-01-2007 at 07:24 AM by mycoupons
I should have been a travel agent.
The fact that I am not only nosy, but a control freak makes it the perfect profession for me.
I love planning trips. Playing the airfare game, hotel reservation game and car rental game is half the fun of the trip.
Of course, as usual, I am not an expert here. I just play one on this blog.
But over the years, I have learned some tricks to playing the games, and I am going to share them with you. I am such a giver.
I am lucky enough to live in an area that Southwest airlines service. I love Southwest. They are a no nonsense airline. Pay your money, find your seat and let's go. I have flown roundtrip to Philadelphia for less than a tank of gas. If you are lucky enough to live near an airport that Southwest services, always stop on their site for fares first.
Download their DING! Program too! It's a little icon that goes in your taskbar. Several times a day, the icon lights up and you hear an audible ding. It is then a race against the clock. They offer deeply discounted fares to select cities. But you must act fast. You must purchase the ticket before the offer expires, which is usually less than eight hours- some as few as an hour. But if you are ready to book your trip when the DING! arrives- you can snag some great deals. (I flew roundtrip to Philadelphia for $84 last winter!)
Southwest offers what some refer to as 'Cattle call' seating. Basically, they do not assign seats. It is open seating. Find a seat, and put your rear-end in it.
The entire passenger line is divided into three lines, A, B & C. Groups then board in order. Which group you are in depends on how much control you take over your trip.
Southwest allows you to check in and print your boarding pass twenty four hours prior to your flight. So if you are like me, you are sitting at your computer twenty four hours and two minutes before your flight, ready to pounce.
The earlier you check in, the better chances of having an A pass are. It's all very poetic in a way. Type A personalities (read: obsessive compulsive control freaks like yours truly) end up with A passes.
If you are a calm, come what may type, you will still be on the plane, but you will suffer the ridicule and disgusted glances from us over-achievers on the A line.
Yes, the entire plane reaches the destination at the same time, but there is something very liberating about being able to choose one's own seat. Being an A pass holder affords that luxury.
Having a C pass means you will be sitting in any empty seat you can find. All while the flight attendants are yelling at you to find a seat and sit down.
Now, as much as I like flying cheap, I like flying free even more. And I have done this on several occasions.
How? I am an opportunist. I make my own luck. I book tickets for the absolute busiest travel times I can.
Leaving Las Vegas? Sunday night, 7pm please. Going to Orlando? Friday afternoon, 2pm.
Why would I choose to fly at such busy times?
Because I KNOW airlines over-sell flights! And I know chances are good they are going to pay someone money to STAY one more night.
That someone is going to be me, if I can help it.
As soon as I hear the gate agent say 'Ladies & Gentleman,' I am up and RUNNING to the ticket desk.
Last year, I got bumped (boohoo) off a Sunday night flight leaving Vegas. I was given a voucher for a free roundtrip flight and a room at the lovely Hilton.
I left first thing Monday morning, after spending a grueling, horrible FREE night in Las Vegas, knowing that I had a free roundtrip ticket in my pocket for next time.
Unless you like playing the priceline.com game, (which I do NOT) you are almost always better booking a hotel with the hotel directly. Whether through their website or telephone. All of the big chains guarantee their pricing anyway, so why take a risk booking through someone else?
Yes, Expedia, Hotels.com and Travelocity are nice tools, but they are middle-men. This means they get a cut of your reservation. In the end, you will feel the cost.
These organizations also have very fine print regarding refunds or errors.
Do you really want to find yourself trying to check in to a hotel in London after a 15 hour trip to find out that you do not have a reservation?
As far as car rentals, again, shop around. Go through the company directly. Book the smallest car you can manage, and ask for a free upgrade when you arrive at the counter. An inconspicuously held twenty dollar bill has scored me an SUV for the price of a compact on THREE separate occasions.
Even car rental sales agents can be bought.
As for the optional insurance? If you have a credit card, I suggest you decline the coverage. Most major credit card companies cover any loss. Many insurance companies also cover you driving a rental car.
Many rental places will now offer you the option to pre-pay for gas before you drive off the lot. This allows you to bring back an empty tank and not incur crazy charges. This used to be a bad idea, but with the cost of fuel these days, it's an attractive option.
A few months ago, I rented a car and was offered to pre-purchase a full tank of gas at $2.40 a gallon. I grabbed that deal right up, considering gas was running about $2.75 a gallon.
Booking trips is exciting. All the while, you will be dreaming of the memories you will make and the times you will share.
That feeling of knowing you got a great deal and snagged the best bargains will quickly disappear once your baby vomits in your shoes while you are at the front of the A line.
Happy travels!
Until we meet again,
Cici
Cici@MyCoupons.com
The fact that I am not only nosy, but a control freak makes it the perfect profession for me.
I love planning trips. Playing the airfare game, hotel reservation game and car rental game is half the fun of the trip.
Of course, as usual, I am not an expert here. I just play one on this blog.
But over the years, I have learned some tricks to playing the games, and I am going to share them with you. I am such a giver.
I am lucky enough to live in an area that Southwest airlines service. I love Southwest. They are a no nonsense airline. Pay your money, find your seat and let's go. I have flown roundtrip to Philadelphia for less than a tank of gas. If you are lucky enough to live near an airport that Southwest services, always stop on their site for fares first.
Download their DING! Program too! It's a little icon that goes in your taskbar. Several times a day, the icon lights up and you hear an audible ding. It is then a race against the clock. They offer deeply discounted fares to select cities. But you must act fast. You must purchase the ticket before the offer expires, which is usually less than eight hours- some as few as an hour. But if you are ready to book your trip when the DING! arrives- you can snag some great deals. (I flew roundtrip to Philadelphia for $84 last winter!)
Southwest offers what some refer to as 'Cattle call' seating. Basically, they do not assign seats. It is open seating. Find a seat, and put your rear-end in it.
The entire passenger line is divided into three lines, A, B & C. Groups then board in order. Which group you are in depends on how much control you take over your trip.
Southwest allows you to check in and print your boarding pass twenty four hours prior to your flight. So if you are like me, you are sitting at your computer twenty four hours and two minutes before your flight, ready to pounce.
The earlier you check in, the better chances of having an A pass are. It's all very poetic in a way. Type A personalities (read: obsessive compulsive control freaks like yours truly) end up with A passes.
If you are a calm, come what may type, you will still be on the plane, but you will suffer the ridicule and disgusted glances from us over-achievers on the A line.
Yes, the entire plane reaches the destination at the same time, but there is something very liberating about being able to choose one's own seat. Being an A pass holder affords that luxury.
Having a C pass means you will be sitting in any empty seat you can find. All while the flight attendants are yelling at you to find a seat and sit down.
Now, as much as I like flying cheap, I like flying free even more. And I have done this on several occasions.
How? I am an opportunist. I make my own luck. I book tickets for the absolute busiest travel times I can.
Leaving Las Vegas? Sunday night, 7pm please. Going to Orlando? Friday afternoon, 2pm.
Why would I choose to fly at such busy times?
Because I KNOW airlines over-sell flights! And I know chances are good they are going to pay someone money to STAY one more night.
That someone is going to be me, if I can help it.
As soon as I hear the gate agent say 'Ladies & Gentleman,' I am up and RUNNING to the ticket desk.
Last year, I got bumped (boohoo) off a Sunday night flight leaving Vegas. I was given a voucher for a free roundtrip flight and a room at the lovely Hilton.
I left first thing Monday morning, after spending a grueling, horrible FREE night in Las Vegas, knowing that I had a free roundtrip ticket in my pocket for next time.
Unless you like playing the priceline.com game, (which I do NOT) you are almost always better booking a hotel with the hotel directly. Whether through their website or telephone. All of the big chains guarantee their pricing anyway, so why take a risk booking through someone else?
Yes, Expedia, Hotels.com and Travelocity are nice tools, but they are middle-men. This means they get a cut of your reservation. In the end, you will feel the cost.
These organizations also have very fine print regarding refunds or errors.
Do you really want to find yourself trying to check in to a hotel in London after a 15 hour trip to find out that you do not have a reservation?
As far as car rentals, again, shop around. Go through the company directly. Book the smallest car you can manage, and ask for a free upgrade when you arrive at the counter. An inconspicuously held twenty dollar bill has scored me an SUV for the price of a compact on THREE separate occasions.
Even car rental sales agents can be bought.
As for the optional insurance? If you have a credit card, I suggest you decline the coverage. Most major credit card companies cover any loss. Many insurance companies also cover you driving a rental car.
Many rental places will now offer you the option to pre-pay for gas before you drive off the lot. This allows you to bring back an empty tank and not incur crazy charges. This used to be a bad idea, but with the cost of fuel these days, it's an attractive option.
A few months ago, I rented a car and was offered to pre-purchase a full tank of gas at $2.40 a gallon. I grabbed that deal right up, considering gas was running about $2.75 a gallon.
Booking trips is exciting. All the while, you will be dreaming of the memories you will make and the times you will share.
That feeling of knowing you got a great deal and snagged the best bargains will quickly disappear once your baby vomits in your shoes while you are at the front of the A line.
Happy travels!
Until we meet again,
Cici
Cici@MyCoupons.com
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