Four Tips for Finding Great Airfare

It’s bound to happen: even if you are lucky enough to live near an embarkation port, chances are at some point you’re going to have to fly to your next cruise.  These days, that can be a daunting challenge at best.  With oil prices through the roof, airlines are being forced to come up with creative ways to make money – and that’s not always good for your wallet.

Airfares are up and comfort is down - but it doesn't always have to be that way. Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders

While international airfares remain high, competition in the domestic North American market is downright fierce as legacy carriers like American Airlines go head to head with the likes of Spirit and Allegiant.

But while base fares slowly climb, the amount of extra charges for everything from luggage to snacks to headphones to even just printing your boarding pass can add up faster than you might think, particularly on the so-called “discount” carriers.

For travellers, it means putting more time and energy into researching your airfare in order to find the real deals.  The price that pops up on the booking engine or airline site is now rarely the price you pay in the end.

While flying certainly isn’t inexpensive, there are some things you can do to ensure your flights are that much more enjoyable.

Research, Research, Research

These days, online sites provide an incredible wealth of information about everything, including airlines and their aircraft.  Some of our favourites?  Seatguru.com is an excellent resource for checking seat maps out.  Unlike the airline, they’ll tell you which seats might have a video-on-demand box underneath them (and thus less storage space), which rows are missing a window, and why you might actually want to sit all the way at the back by the bathrooms – or not.  Curious to see what a particular airline’s fleet looks like?  Airliners.net offers more incredible aircraft photos than you can shake a stick at, including hundreds of cabin views.

Know Your Luggage

How many pieces of luggage do you plan to bring with you?  If you don’t know, it pays to determine this early on, as baggage fees vary wildly from airline to airline.  If you’re flying internationally, don’t just assume you can still take two pieces at no charge – those days are quickly disappearing.  More things to keep in mind: if you fly on, say, British Airways from New York to London, your first flight will have baggage charges in US Dollars.  On the return flight from London, you’re charged in British Pounds Sterling (£) – and that can be an expensive prospect for a family of four.

Check out this amazing chart on baggage fees charged by US airlines prepared by USA Today.  Surprised?  We sure were.

Creature Comforts Matter

Sure, you found a great airfare on Airline X – but did you know they offer no in-seat entertainment?  Or that the seat pitch is an inhumane 28 inches and operated by an aircraft that has been in service since Nixon was in office?  Probably not.  So do a little homework.  Visit the airline’s website, and find their Entertainment or Fleet sections.  They’ll usually tell you what aircraft they operate in their fleets, and what entertainment options are onboard.  At the top of the comfort pack: seatback video-on-demand is a great way to pass the time.  LiveTV offered by airlines like WestJet and JetBlue is decent, but signals and programming can vary wildly.

Most importantly, know your seat pitch.  This is the distance between your seat and the one in front of you.  31 inches is usually standard, and 32 and 33 inches feel incredibly roomy.  Anything less, and you’re likely to feel every minute you’re on that airplane – and that’s no fun.

Our personal domestic favourite: Air Canada’s Embraer E190 jets offer 34 inches of seat pitch in economy class – so roomy you can stretch your legs.  Plus, video-on-demand at every seat, and a very civilised 2×2 seat layout.

On the domestic flipside, low-fare leader Spirit Airlines may get you on for mere dollars, but seats that don’t recline, no entertainment or complimentary food or beverages and a tight 28-inch seat pitch on some Airbus 320 models means you’re likely to regret that great “deal.”  Did we mention they charge you for your seat selection, luggage and carry-on items, too?

Flexibility Can Save You Money

Sometimes, flying a non-standard, connecting, or obscure routing can save you plenty of money – a rule of thumb that applies to generally pricey transatlantic flights.  The more flexible you are with your travel arrangements, layover cities, and even the airline itself can save you big bucks in the end.

So before you book your next flight, remember: the cheapest option may not always the best value.