Cheap International Plane Tickets
by: Steve Gillman
The best place to buy cheap international plane tickets is online.
We've tried travel agencies and they can't compete with the discount
ticket websites. You can search google ("cheap airfare South America",
for example), or go straight to one of the well-known sites, like TripFox,
Expedia, Cheap Tickets, Hotwire or Priceline.
I just did a quick search for the cheapest airfare from Tucson, Arizona,
to Buenos Aires, Argentina, using the five sites mentioned. They ranged
from $1221 down to $873, and there were fares as high as $3728. Hotwire
happened to have the cheapest, but they were the worst of the five when
I searched for a domestic flight earlier. You cannot say which service
will find the cheapest international plane tickets from week to week.
My number one money-saving tip is to always check several websites when
shopping for inexpensive flights.
My Accidental $1000 Discovery
Before going to Ecuador, I searched several websites that deal in cheap
international plane tickets. The cheapest airfare from Traverse City,
Michigan to Quito, was $1720. Out of curiosity, I checked Miami to Quito,
and it was only $400. Airfare from Traverse City to Miami was $300.
Book two separate flights and save more than $1000! The discount sites
aren't set up to check in this way (yet), so you have to do this on
your own.
If your first flight is late and you miss the second, you may not get
a refund, but it is still cheaper (every time I checked) to just book
a flight to Miami and catch a flight to Quito without a reservation,
thus avoiding this problem. This strategy is best for those in towns
without international airports. If you live in Miami, you already have
cheap international airfare.
Courier Flights
As an air courier, you can get really cheap international plane tickets.
Courier companies ship material in the luggage space of an aircraft
passenger because it can be quicker, cheaper, and more reliable than
sending the shipment unaccompanied, since checked luggage bypasses many
of the typical customs delays. The courier company begins by purchasing
airfare, and then they resell the plane tickets to you. In exchange
for your luggage space, they give you a discount on the airfare.
An Example Of A Courier Flight
I saved over $150 on my plane tickets this way when I went to Ecuador
the first time. I had to walk several suitcases of car parts through
customs, but there was a representative of the courier company on either
end, and I did get to look inside the luggage, so I knew what I was
carrying. I had to carry a plane propeller on the return trip, but it
wasn't too much trouble, and made a good story.
Limitations To Courier Travel
You generally can only be an air courier if you travel alone. Once
in a while, a courier company will have opportunities for flights on
or near the same date. Otherwise, your travel partner can pay full fare
on the same flight. You also can usually only bring carry-on luggage,
since the point is for the shipping company to use your checked luggage
allowance.
Really Cheap Courier Flights
Sometimes air couriers fly internationally for free, and almost always
very cheap. It is a matter of how badly the company needs you and how
flexible you can be (can you fly to Paris on Friday?). In general air
courier opportunities are becoming rarer, due to the recent heavier
regulation of international flights. There still are opportunities for
cheap tickets, though. You can find out more at The Air Courier Association
Website (www.aircourier.org). The ACA can also help you get really cheap
plane tickets by way of airline ticket wholesalers, discounters, last
minute specials, and stand-by travel.
More Tips On Cheap International Plane Tickets
When searching for fares using the discount websites, try several different
departure and return dates if you can. The difference of a day or two
can save you a lot. There is little logic to airfare pricing, so don't
try too hard to figure it out. Just be aware that if you leave on Friday
instead of Wednesday (or vice-versa), you may save $100.
Check the boxes that say "any time" for departure and "2
or more connecting flights". Even if you aren't sure that you want
to leave at midnight, see what your options are-the savings might change
your mind. Whenever the search criteria allow you choices, take the
ones that are the least restrictive for the airlines. Again, if the
savings aren't enough, you can always book first class, direct flights,
or whatever you prefer.
Buying your plane tickets at least a week in advance is usually cheaper.
Also, there can be a dramatic difference (but not always) if your trip
is over thirty days. You may want to cut it from 32 days to 30 to save
hundreds of dollars on your fare. Play with the dates on one of the
websites mentioned. You never know what you might discover.
Want To Go Really Cheap?
You can take a bus to a major city, if you don't live in one, and then
take an international flight from there to save quite a bit of money.
My wife and I recently went to Ecuador for six weeks. The cheapest discount
website plane tickets we could find were $3400 for the two of us. By
taking a bus to Miami ($352 round-trip for 2), then flying from there
to Quito ($622 round-trip for 2), we saved over $2400 - even after the
taxi fare from the bus station to the airport. That's a lot of money
to us, certainly worth an extra day-and-a-half on a bus. (The whole
six weeks cost less than $2500.)
The bottom line is that if you spend a few minutes or an hour to do
some research, you might save hundreds of dollars. Good luck and happy
travels.
About The Author - Steve Gillman first hit the road
on his own when at sixteen, and traveled alone across the United States
and Mexico at 17. Now 40, he continues to travel and backpack with his
wife Ana, whom he met in Ecuador. Many of his stories, plus tips and
information on travel and lightweight backpacking, can be found on his
websites, http://www.EverythingAboutTravel.com,
and http://www.TheUltralightBackpackingSite.com.
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