26/09
More Sneaky Ways to Avoid Airline Fees
*Says New Yorker Warren Heaps: “Domestic carriers charge a hefty co-payment for upgrades to Europe and other international destinations. To avoid this, join an international carrier’s frequent flyer program, which generally don’t have these fees.” For example, he notes that Asia Miles (Cathay Pacific) is a oneWorld carrier. Use them to book your flight instead of American.
*Another tip on avoiding seat reservation fees, again from Jorge Gomez of placesandtrips.com: When my wife and I are traveling together, I check regularly to see if the airplane has enough empty seats that have not yet been purchased or reserved. If there are plenty of empty seats, chances are you will be able to get seats together when they assign seats during airport check-in, since there is no charge when they assign the seats at the airport.
*“If you make a mistake ordering a ticket online, call the airline immediately and admit your error,” advises frequent traveler Dan Poynter of Santa Barbara. “Then request changes.”
*Join the premier clubs and/or apply for lounge membership with the airlines. Many will waive some or all of those annoying fees.
*This one works if you change your mind and want to take a later flight; you’re more likely to pull it off if you’re traveling solo. To avoid a re-booking fee — up to $150 at some airlines — just show up late for your original flight, but in plenty of time for the one you want. However, you may need to be a bit flexible and fly stand-by.
*A variation on the above theme: I haven’t tried this one, but I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t work: If the price difference between two flights within a few hours of each other is a hundred bucks or more — and the earlier one is cheaper — book the early flight and then “miss the flight.”
*Book on a site where the currency exchange works in your favor. For instance, I compared the same nonstop roundtrip flight from Charleston SC to LaGuardia on both TargetVacations.ca and Orbitz. With the exchange rate, the trip was fifty bucks cheaper on TargetVacations.ca.
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