Wrap up your travel plans: If you wait, you’re likely to pay more - Off Duty, travel - Navy Times

Wrap up your travel plans: If you wait, you’re likely to pay more

The longer you wait to book your holiday flight, the pricier it’s likely to be — and you can’t count on military rates to get the best deal. Fliers can, however, save money by making the best use of travel websites, planning itineraries that are a little less convenient and taking advantage of airfare refund policies. A simple but valuable strategy: If you find a good fare, jump on it. The price might drop later on, but not much. More tips to help you save:

1 Don’t assume a military fare is the same thing as a discount. Military fares let you book at the last minute, change flights or have an open-ended return date. Since they’re less restrictive, they may cost more. For true military discounts, authorized exchange shoppers can click here, scroll to the “Exchange Online Mall” and select “MWR Exchange Vacations” from the drop-down menu.

2. Be flexible. Adding a couple of days to your trip before or after peak travel days can lower fares significantly. So can flying on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day or early on the morning of New Year’s Day.

3. Look for connecting flights. Flying nonstop is ideal, but that convenience isn’t free. Booking an itinerary that includes one stop could save you $100 round trip. Just be careful when booking an itinerary that includes a stop in a cold-weather city.

4. Fly, then drive. Some airlines have a virtual monopoly at certain airports, allowing them to charge more. To save money, many fliers instead choose nearby airports.

5. Use two airlines. Most airlines now sell one-way flights at reasonable prices. One airline might be cheaper for the outbound flight and another for the return.

6. Consider the 24-hour rule. Most big airlines allow passengers to cancel and rebook tickets purchased through their websites within 24 hours without penalty. After you book, check the next morning and see whether the price fell.

7. Search multiple sites. The cheapest flight doesn’t always show up on every website. Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity are the biggest online ticket-sellers. Sometimes better deals can be found on sites such as Kayak, Hipmunk, AirfareWatchdog, Yapta, FareCompare, CheapOair, Mobissimo and Fly.com. Some airlines, such as Southwest, aren’t included on many of these sites. Look there to make sure you aren’t missing a deal.