Scan Web sites for lower prices
We’re likely to see very aggressive sales the first 30 to 60 days of the new year. If you’d like to travel, scan airline Web sites daily for low-cost fares. If your dates are flexible, flying on the off-peak days of Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday is generally cheaper.
Bargain flights to Florida have been proliferating, including $198 round-trip fares from the West Coast. We expect similar sales for travel throughout January, possibly into March.
Hawaii is also a good bet for discounted fares for travel into February, possibly March. Hawaiian Airlines ( www.hawaiianair.com) has been offering Internet-only fares between the West Coast and Hawaii, including discounted coach fares and first-class fares starting at $1,049 round trip.
Other markets to check are the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico for travel through mid-February. Continental and US Airways have been aggressive in their expansion into these locales, and American, Delta, United and Northwest have also been adding routes.
If you’re planning to travel to Europe this spring or summer, look for airfares now, since we expect to see prices creep up week by week. The exchange rate favoring the euro means U.S. travelers will compete with Europeans as well as fellow Americans for flights to and from Europe.
We’re waiting to see what Southwest has up its sleeve with its new code-share agreement with ATA. The carriers at first may code-share in just a handful of cities, then add more. If it goes well, they could do a full-blown expansion, which would bring low fares to more cities.
ATA currently serves 25 continental U.S. cities and three Hawaiian cities that Southwest does not, and Southwest serves 50 U.S. cities that aren’t covered by ATA. ATA also offers service to nine destinations in the Caribbean and Mexico, which could allow Southwest travelers to fly beyond the United States.
For those planning skiing vacations, United has extended its “kids fly free” promotion to nearly all its ski destinations. See www.unitedvacations.com/spec /FS1013.asp.
Car rental companies have ski rates, which include rooftop racks. Most discounts are valid through April 30.
Dollar ( www.dollar.com) rates start at $33.99 per day or $169.99 per week for a compact SUV at eight cities, Advantage ( www.arac.com) rates start at $37 per day or $189 per week for SUV rentals. Avis ( www.avis.com), Budget ( www.budget.com) and Hertz ( www.hertz.com) offer $50 off weekly SUV rates and $20 off weekend rates.