cfluigi asked:


I want to purchase a plane ticket to los Angeles, and I want to know the best time to buy them and at the lowest cost.

Ophelia

Peter Gitundu asked:


Domestic airlines are those that provide service between different cities in the same country. They are a great option for business travelers who are always on the move, people who don’t like driving for long distances, and just for people who simply want to get somewhere faster.

Some of these airlines also ply international routes in addition to domestic routes. Some of these include Delta Airlines, American Airlines and Continental Airlines. You will find that they have partnerships with other international airlines. For example, an international carrier might have flights between Madrid and New York. But for those flying Madrid to Denver, the carriers’ partner for example Continental airlines will fly from New York to Denver.

The kind of aircraft that the domestic airlines use varies from destination to destination. For example, thy might use the larger Boeing 747 for international flights or coast to coast flights, while from city to city, they use the more compact airbus planes. The kind of service provided on board depends on the length of the flight and on the airline. Some of them will charge for drinks and snacks while others will provide them for no added cost.

Domestic lights usually have about five people seated per row, and this allows for ease of service. One of the advantages of domestic flights is that they generally have fewer passengers, and thus better service is provided to the passengers and boarding and disembarking times are reduced. This is great for the airlines, because they have a faster turn around time, in case they are turning around with passengers.

It’s very easy to find a domestic flight. Most domestic airlines offer service many times a week between multiple cities.



Kirogi

Peter Gitundu asked:


Some people are fortunate enough to get free airline tickets to use for travel. It’s not easy to get these free tickets. They are mostly given out during promotions. For example an airline has revamped its fleet and wants to attract fliers, they will give out tickets. These tickets may be valid only between certain destinations, so they may be restricting in that sense.

Sometimes a ticket can be given as a way of apologizing for a cancellation on a previous flight. Sometimes the travel agent may be acting as an airline agent and might be given some tickets give out as a means of advertising and attracting potential customers. For example if an airline is introducing a new route, or a new fleet of aircraft.

Sometimes someone could get free airline tickets by winning a raffle or something of the sort. The problem with these free tickets is that they have many drawbacks and limitations when it comes to utilizing them. For example, they might only be valid for a certain number of months, they could be non transferable or might be one way and you have to organize your way back. They could also be to a destination that you have no interest in.

Anything that’s free is always very attractive, and unless you are flexible and don’t mind the restrictions that come with the tickets, you are good to go. And again, as with anything that is this attractive, make sure you always read the fine print. Ask any questions you might have for the person who is giving you this free airline tickets.



Virgil

Peter Gitundu asked:


Upon making a decision that you want to take a holiday, more often than not, the next question asked is where we want to go. Do we want to leave the country for an international vacation or do we want to keep it domestic? Once we decide on where we are going, and agree that we are going to fly there, the next step is to decide on a date of travel and then see if it’s possible.

To make Airline reservations, you need to have made up your mind on those few things mentioned, like where do you want to go? How much money do you have to spend? How long do you want to be away? How many people are there in your party? When all these questions are answered confidently, then you are ready to make your airline reservations. You can now start looking for an airline that will work for you, and your plans.

If going for a short holiday you may want to make airline reservations on a direct flight. This will ensure that you spend maximum time at your destination, and not in airports waiting for connecting flights.  Make sure that you have set time aside to leave later, for example an extra vacation day. This is in case your flight reservations are cancelled or modified by the airline. Always make sure that you find out what the airline policies are on missed or cancelled flight before you make any reservations or payments.

Always make sure that the day before your trip you are ready to go and have double checked your reservations. This will ensure that you get to the airport well before your flight time, and you can check in and even request seat changes or upgrades.



Philippe

Matthew Paolini asked:


There’s predominantly bad news for travelers intending to fly on business or on vacation this summer, according to a recent article appearing in U.S. News & World Report. Not only has the number of delayed flights risen, but so, too, have the number of passengers impacted per plane. For some, the news was worse than for others. Evaluating major airports using a combination of the percentage of flights delayed and the average load of departing aircraft, the U.S. News article branded Detroit’s Wayne County Airport as the nations “most miserable airport”.

Official Department of Transportation numbers paint a frustrating picture for Motown’s frequent fliers. Thirty-nine percent of flights at Detroit leave the tarmac late. Combined with an average load factor of just under seventy-seven percent – meaning that passenger flights leaving Detroit are nearly 77 percent full – Detroit’s airport offers the most misery to the largest number of people when flights are delayed.

Because I live near Detroit and make the occasional business trip to nearby Chicago or Cleveland, these figures got me thinking about the advantages – if any – of traveling by car to these destinations. With the help of some other tips in the article, it was quite easy for me to price and then compare the cost of driving and flying to each of these cities.

Step One in the process was to pay a visit to fuelcostcalculator.com.

Maintained by the American Automobile Association (AAA), this website asks you to supply your departure point and final destination along with the make, model and year of manufacture of your car. Using MPG estimates for your particular vehicle and the average gas price for your neck of the woods, AAA’s fuel cost calculator rapidly calculates the overall distance, the amount of fuel required and cost of that fuel for a typical drive from let’s say – Detroit to Chicago. In my case, I learned that I could expect to consume 10.58 gallons of gas for the 275-mile drive to the Windy City at an approximate fuel cost at just over 33 dollars (33.23). The calculator likewise computed the round-trip cost of the drive, in this case, 66.46.

To find out how this would compare to flying, I next visited sidestep.com.

Sidestep appeals to me because it searches hundreds of airline and discounted fare websites for the best deal and then lets me book directly with the airline company instead of using a go-between like Orbitz, Travelocity or Expedia. Dealing with the airline directly instead of through a third-party ticket broker, makes it easier and possibly less expensive if there are additional fees to change my flight if necessary.

While at sidestep.com, I found an American Airlines non-stop flight that would whisk me from Detroit to Chicago on a Tuesday and return me the following Thursday at a total round-trip cost of 119.00 dollars. Not a bad price by any means, but still approximately twice the cost of traveling by car. And the price didn’t factor in the cost of airport parking or any additional airport charges or taxes.

Since driving is a pleasure for me, the decision to drive to Chicago on my next business trip was an easy one. My route takes me right by the Detroit airport anyway and I’d rather spend my time driving through the scenic countryside of Western Michigan than battling long lines and possible delays at the airport. In addition, it’s nice to have a familiar car in Chicago and also gratifying to save on the cost of a rental.

Whether a decision like this adds up for you depends to a large extent on your starting point and ultimate destination. While it’s still marginally less expensive for me to drive from Detroit to Los Angeles than it is to fly, for example, I’d never dream of making this long drive part of a business trip.

It’s generally the shorter trips, on the order of 250 to 450 miles, where driving makes sense. See for yourself by comparing the cost of flying and the cost of driving from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, Washington, D.C. to Boston, or Miami to Orlando using the tools available at fuelcostcalculator.com and sidestep.com.



Rebekah