Five ways to save when buying air tickets

Once upon a time, a long time ago (in fact, not so long ago - just about 20 years ago), when buying a plane ticket, you didn’t have to think about anything: the price of the ticket included a certain baggage allowance , seat selection and even in-flight meals.

Фото: Depositphotos

However, now airlines force passengers to pay extra money for each option - and this is not only about “budget” carriers, like the Spirit, but also about traditional Delta and United. However, Thrillist journalists found that these fees, in most cases, can be avoided.

Bonus seats

Many airlines offer, for an additional fee, a choice of “premium” seats—in other words, seats where passengers can stretch their legs. We are talking about seats near emergency exits, at the beginning of the cabin, and sometimes just about seats near the aisle. The cost of such a seat can be up to $80 in addition to the price of the ticket itself. As a rule, airlines do not always manage to sell out award seats in advance. Therefore, on the day of the flight, it is worth arriving at the airport in advance - in order to personally communicate with the agents responsible for the check-in process. If you smile and politely ask the agent to find a good place for you, there is a high probability that your request will be fulfilled, and completely free of charge.

Another opportunity to sit on the premium seat at no extra charge is to register at the very last moment. Since the most expensive places, as a rule, remain unanalyzed, the airline will have no choice but to put you in such a place without charging for it. However, this strategy is quite risky: it is quite possible that in the end you will be seated somewhere on a chair in the middle of a row next to the toilet at the end of the cabin.

Baggage fees

As a rule, most airlines charge $ 25 for one seat in the baggage compartment. The most obvious way to avoid this burden is to buy a ticket for a Southwest Airlines flight, the only US carrier that allows you to carry two bags or suitcases for flights within the country for free. In addition, you can get a Citibank credit card and American Airlines Citi Platinum Select AAdvantage, or a United Explorer card - their owners can carry one suitcase for free on flights of both companies. Another option is to become a member of the airline bonus programs. All elite members of loyalty programs have the right to carry one free space in the baggage.

Direct Ticket Sales

Photo: depositphotos.com

Buying a ticket directly from the airline (unlike buying through intermediary sites like Kayak or Orbitz) can save you a lot of money if something goes wrong and the tickets need to be changed or canceled. As a rule, it is best to act according to the following scheme: first go to the aggregator site (the same Kayak), compare prices for different flights from different airlines, and then buy a ticket directly on the carriers' websites. Do not order tickets by phone: this option can significantly increase the price of the ticket.

Air ticket replacement fees

Airlines allow passengers to make changes to the tickets, even if they are not refundable. However, it can cost you about $ 175. How to avoid this burden? Firstly, it should be remembered that most carriers allow you to change tickets for free during 24 hours from the time of purchase. Secondly, if you have good reasons to believe that your plans may change at the very last moment, then it is better to purchase special insurance at the time of buying the ticket. In addition, you can always buy a ticket for a Southwest Airlines flight - the only American airline that will simply charge you the difference in price between the tickets that you change and will not force you to pay a fine.

Paper tickets

You might be surprised by this, but there are still passengers who are demanding that they give them old-fashioned paper tickets without fail - a sort of 1980's relic. Meanwhile, such nostalgia costs such people extra $ 25-50 dollars to the ticket price. Use e-tickets and save your money - what else can you say?

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