How to Compare Prices for Airline Flights

How to Compare Prices for Airline Flights

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You've found a dream trail, or perhaps you just want to try some new terrain---but it's across the country and now you need to fly there. Choosing an airline is trickier than it used to be. Booking fees, baggage fees, seat selection fees and holiday surcharges can all be added to the ticket price and should be considered when you're deciding which airline to choose.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Step 1
Use online search tools. Many websites, such as Expedia.com, Priceline.com, Travelocity.com, Orbitz.com, Hotwire.com and Bing.com, can search and compare fares from multiple airlines.
Step 2
Look at different dates and flight times. Even if your travel dates are specific for a particular trail hike or race, you could save money if your departure times are flexible. Compare fares with online tools such as Hotwire.com's Flexible Date Search feature. Bing.com's Price Predictor tool catalogs trends in airfares, makes predictions and will advise you to buy or wait based on those trends.
Step 3
Use a travel agent to compare fares for you and get quotes from multiple places. Look into agents that specialize in travel for runners, such as RunningAwayOnline.com. Also look into group travel, such as the Running Adventures Travel Club.
Step 4
Take all fees and taxes into account. Expedia.com boasts a thorough chart of airline fees for both domestic and international airlines. This chart includes fees for baggage, unaccompanied minors, food, seat selection and pet travel.

Tips & Warnings

 
Watch out for fees imposed by some airlines for holiday travel.

Article Written By Heather Kinn

Heather Kinn writes for eHow, Associated Content and Trails.com. She holds Bachelor of Science degrees in special education and speech-language pathology from the University of South Florida and worked in both fields. She also has experience in IT and Web design. In addition to freelance writing, she does lay advocacy for special-needs children.

Write for Trails.com
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