We love us some online flight booking. And while we were pricing out a trip this weekend, we were once again reminded of how positively awesome Airfare Watchdog can be.
Thanks to George Hobica and his team, we managed to save close to $300 bucks on two tickets. And all we had to do was punch in a promo code we got from AW. But booking online can be a hassle. Luckily, we're here to tell you how to do it right:
Step 1: Use Kayak to get a massive list of all your flight options. Once you've got a baseline for fares, routes and connections, narrow down a few preferred flights. Jot down flight numbers--not departure times--as it's easy to get lost in the thicket of flights headed out of hubs. Once you have a couple flights picked out...
Step 2: Pull up FareCompare.com, where Rick Seaney and his team have historical prices and other info to help you determine a fair price to pay for your flight. If you're deciding between a couple flights...
Step 3: Check FlightStats for historical on-time data. Don't pick the route that's late 60 percent of the time. It might be worth $10 extra to pick the flight that almost always leaves on time.
Step 4: Now that you've found your flight, book it. We go to the individual airline's website for this; it almost always has the best deal. But before you hit that purchase button...
Step 5: Check Airfare Watchdog for special promo codes or other deals. As we mentioned above, it can literally save you hundreds of dollars. So cool.
Step 6: Don't stop just because you've punched in your credit card info and bought your tix. Pick those seats now. But don't do it blindly: SeatGuru is still the ultimate resource for making sure you don't end up near the galley, next to the engine, in a seat that won't recline or without a power port.
That's it! Now all you have to do is enjoy the fact that you got a better deal--and a better seat--than all the other chumps on your flight. Don't forget to check in online before heading to the airport, kids!
Related Stories:
· Travel Websites coverage [Jaunted]
· Airfare Sales coverage [Jaunted]
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