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If late winter vacations are calling your name, don’t let the thought of it being too late or too expensive to fly discourage you. information.
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Winter is an ideal time to book flights, even on relatively short notice, as airlines try to fill seats.
“The winter months, after the holidays, of course, are the best time to find travel deals. The company is trying to sweeten the deal by offering the best prices of the year,” said Nick Mueller, director of operations for HawaiianIslands.com. “The downside to these great deals is the possibility of weather delays and cancellations, which is usually why most people don’t travel in the winter. Book a trip if you want the chance to get in.”
You just need to know who offers the best prices and how to find them, so let’s get started.
Deals
Various airlines offer great deals when booking flights for this winter trip. “Recently, I was able to get a client a great deal with Spirit Airlines, and also found some very good offers at Southwest, JetBlue and Delta,” said Travel Scoop editor. says Stuart Lewis.
Another travel expert said Delta isn’t the only big airline offering benefits.
“Currently, airlines such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are offering cheap domestic flights,” said Balaram Thapa, director and travel advisor for Nepal Hiking Team. “In addition, Air Canada, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have some great offers on international flights.”
Hospitality industry expert Molly Egan also says she’s seen some good deals. “Southwest is trying to make up for the recent meltdown by offering her a one-way ticket at a bargain price starting at $59,” she said, referring to Southwest’s huge numbers around Christmas. I mentioned flight cancellation.
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How much is it?
So what sort of deals are travel professionals looking at?
That’s $197 on Alaska Airlines from Los Angeles to Honolulu. Competing airlines matched these prices on the travel dates sampled, giving consumers a wide range of flight options and a wide range of airline options.
Or this — $342 on Spirit Airlines from Phoenix to St. Thomas Virgin Islands. That’s about $250 cheaper than traveling on American Airlines and half the fares on United Airlines for the same sampled travel dates.
And if you want to go to Europe? A flight from New York to Stockholm is under $450 for a late February departure, about $300 cheaper than traveling in late May.
The key to finding great deals
Whether you’re planning a future trip or just love to travel spontaneously, you need to connect with knowledgeable people. This means subscribing to various newsletters and mailing lists.
You can start by signing up with the airlines you fly most often, receive alerts on system-wide sales, and follow various airlines and travel sites on social media. But go beyond that too.
The people behind various travel websites keep an eye out for the best deals and send alerts when they come across an offer too good to pass up. formerly known as Going sends alerts notifying subscribers of surprising deals. Among the best deals shared in 2022 the company reported was a round-trip flight from Atlanta to Columbia starting at $188. From his eight cities in the US to Iceland, starting at $100. $62 from coast to coast about 20 cities to Charleston, South Carolina.
Other sites that offer similar low fare tips include Airfarewatchdog, The Flight Deal, and Europe-based Holiday Pirates.
If you find a great fare, don’t delay. As soon as the deal appears, it can disappear if other travelers snap the flight.
If you don’t receive a transaction alert, check Skyscanner and Google Flights. They do the work of comparing fares on various airlines, including many budget airlines.
Beware of extras
If you find a good fare, see if it’s too good.
Low-cost airline Avelo Air flies from cold Binghamton, New York to warm, sunny Orlando, Florida, and opts for a $69 one-way flight. That sounds like an amazing price, but by the time the fees are added up, you’ll be paying over $138 for a round-trip ticket.
This is because Avelo charges seat fees. A cramped middle seat at the back of the plane starts at $11 for him, and a top-of-the-line seat goes up to $59 each way. And carry-on baggage? This route costs $40 each way. Even with the uncomfortable middle seat option, it’s about $100 more than the $138 charge if you carry the bag both ways.
We have great deals. Be prepared to act fast…and pack lightly.
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