Tips from a budget traveler

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September 30, 8:40 PM

by Susan Finch, New York Budget Travel Examiner

 

 

Travel doesn't have to break the bank.

For me, travel is a way of life, a philosophy, and getting the most out of my budget is a part of that lifestyle. If you think you can only get a good deal by knowing the ins and outs of the travel industry, well... you're right. But even the greenest of travelers can take a few minutes to school themselves on finding the best discounts, and learn ways to combat unforeseen travel mishaps.

Did you know that airline carriers are required to release new airfares to a clearinghouse called the Airline Tariff Publishing Company at certain hours? On weekdays, the best times to look for new and discounted fares are just after 2 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and midnight. Travel agents know that tickets that were reserved but never paid usually reappear just after midnight, so the selection peaks during the late night hours. But for weekends, don't kill yourself logging in every few hours, they're only updated once a day, around 5pm.

If you know your travel plans are set in stone, always check-in as early as possible. Most airlines allow up to a 24 hour advance check-in online. If the flight is overbooked and no one will volunteer to take a later flight, the last people who checked-in are bumped first. My in-laws found this out the hard way after our wedding.

Did you know the brilliant people at kayak.com devised a way to spend less time on the phone and more time traveling? Try Gethuman.com to find a list of loopholes in customer service to reach real live humans. For Orbitz, hit the # key four times to bypass all the automated phone garbage.

Your passport could expire early, despite what the date actually says. How? Many countries require your passport to be valid up to 6 months after you enter their country, so it really doesn't matter what your passport's expiration date actually says. Check online or with the country's consulate you're traveling to. It's always a safe bet to keep passport current to bypass any potential problems or new rules that could go into effect after you've entered another country. Don't forget to keep a copy of your passport, driver's license, and any other important documents in a trusted friend or relative's hands while you're away, as well as with you at all times. To make your life easier, scan a copy and email it to yourself to be accessed anywhere in the world for easy emergency access.

If you're a cruise fanatic with a taste for luxury, skip the port of calls that are the least appealing to you and stay on-board. Most ships offer significantly discounted spa packages while at a port. Also keep in mind that you can book a category-guarantee reservation on most cruises. This means you'll get the lowest possible cost in the best cabin available in your category. However, you will only be assigned your cabin when all other rooms have been assigned, so you may risk not getting exactly what you want. But for a great deal in a specific category, you can't beat this system.

Always double check the airline code shares before purchasing a ticket. Delta and Alitalia are code share partners and are free to set their own prices for tickets. You could end up saving several hundred dollars booking with Alitalia to the same destination Delta is offering on their site. Just about every airline has some kind of code share partner, so when booking on a site like Orbitz or Expedia, always check the fine print to see who the airline is actually operating with, then go to that operating partner for a cheaper fare.

If you're going to rent a car, check your own car insurance first. Many times, your own personal insurance will cover you against damages on a rental. If you're not aware of this, you'll get suckered into paying for unnecessary add-ons and nearly double the cost of your car. Also check Priceline and other booking engines for cheap rentals, where unbooked inventory is dumped at a fraction of the cost. (I once rented a small Geo in LA for $8 a day through Orbitz). Always book the least expensive car, no matter what. Almost always, economy cars are booked first anyway, meaning the car rental company will run out and be forced to give you a free upgrade to a fancier version.

As a pilot's daughter, I grew up flying stand-by, which was good and bad. You pay almost nothing for your flight, but you usually have to go on the first flight out to get a seat (6am), have to get to the airport earlier than other passengers, flights are frequently full, spend hours waiting for an open flight, and we often had to split up and take separate flights.

But when I grew up and stopped getting Dad's travel perks, I still used stand-by status to get the most out of my travel. How? Simply show up at a gate for an earlier flight. The flight has to be with the same airline you purchased a ticket with and be going to the same airport as your original ticket. Just ask if they have available seats on the flight. Some airlines will charge $25 on up for this courtesy, others will just give it to you free. Keep in mind you may not get a seat until after they close the door to the Jetway, but just keep waiting until the agent has said the flight is officially closed. But if your flights are too close together, don't risk missing your original flight.

Double your frequent flyer miles. If you have friends and relatives who don't travel much and don't care about frequent flyer miles, ask them to use yours when they purchase tickets. You won't have any trouble getting people to oblige if you buy them a bottle of wine or send a nice thank-you card for their trouble. And when you redeem your miles for a flight with the airlines, talk to a live person if you can't find what you want online. You may pay a fee, but the airlines can tell you the best routes, connections, and what's available on a flight with their code share partners. It's worth the money for your 'free' flight.

It doesn't hurt to complain. Don't be a jerk to hotel concierge, but don't be afraid to make some noise, either. If your non-smoking room smells like smoke, complain about it and mention what a special occasion this trip was suppose to be. If you're next to a noisy ice maker or have loud guest next door, complain. You're likely to get a free upgrade if it's available (it costs them nothing to make you feel better by moving you to an otherwise empty room). If something goes wrong in your trip, make notes.

I once wrote a detailed complaint letter to Marriott (including that the staff had promised me hot water numerous times and my coffee maker bath) and was given a 100% refund the same day. Just make sure and email your complaints to the headquarters of the hotel you stayed at first, which can be found on their main website. They'll deal with the local hotel themselves and you're more likely to get a positive response. I've also gotten $25 - $150 in airline vouchers for an honest and detailed complaint.

Remember that group travel can result in discounted rates for everything from hotel rooms to admission tickets.  You can also split the cost of a cabin or condo and share food cost, babysitting duties for the kids, and have built in entertainment with friends and family.  Of course, some of us might find the savings of traveling with extended family proves a greater headache than splurging on a solo trip.

Check out FareCompare.com for Yup or Q-up fares, which are first class seats that are seldom much more expensive than a walk-up coach fare. Until now, few were ever advertised to the public, but somehow farecompare has the skinny and you can take advantage of it. Don't forget to check first-class when you book. Most assume it's thousands of dollars, but often there's deals that are actually -less- than coach. Airtarn frequently has decent deals in business class on all their flights.

To avoid long waits at the airport, log onto waittime.tsa.dhs.gov first. It will give you the wait time of every security checkpoint in every US airport. You might find the T-gate security at the Atlanta airport is nonexistent compared to its main gates. Simply get on the airport tram and speed over to your correct gate and save time. Always print out your boarding pass from home or use the self check-in kiosks at the airport to cut down on your wait.

Email me your budget travel questions and challenges at travelexaminer@yahoo.com.  I'll post them here and help you get on the open road.

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