Where do you start? There are so many airlines, and so many sites dedicated to finding you the cheapest and best fares, each of them calling your name promising the best fare for your destination, it’s all enough to make your head spin! Because this is true, we have put our heads together and come up with the best and most user friendly tips and tricks to get the best bang for your buck all while still getting you there as comfortably as you wish to fly. Each of these websites has different prices to offer, so please shop around for the best possible deal when purchasing any airfares; besides we are sure you would rather spend the money you saved on a stellar souvenir rather than an overpriced airline ticket! However, before booking any flights please check with Pastor Sharon to verify flight arrival and departure time requirements set by the Cruise line as they are very strict about this and we must be in compliance with them at all times.
It doesn’t have to be complicated to find a great deal, just stick to these steps and you are sure to find the best deal!
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Plan ahead
Airline tickets are based on supply and demand, and logic tells us that the lowest fares get snatched first. While this is true, certain sites still run specials from time to time and some search engines offer email notifications of these special deals. Before you make any purchases, we ask that you first have your cruise booked with Pastor Sharon.
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Be Smart
Don’t rely on your memory. It can cost you if you don’t have the correct dates for the cruise especially when you are attending the pre-cruise excursions. Just the cost of changing your flight dates and times, if you’re even allowed to, can wash out any savings you initially made. So have a pen and paper handy with the correct dates and also take note as to which websites, airlines, the flight date and times, and prices that offer the best deals. It’s really easy to lose track after you’ve visited six or seven websites.
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Be Flexible
The more flexible you are the more likely you are to find the best deals, but keep in mind that the cheapest days to fly are usually Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Also bear in mind the best times to avoid are the business-flyer periods of 6 – 9 am and 4 – 7 pm.
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Watch Out For Date Formats
It seems obvious, but for International flights Europeans talk about dates in the day of which month such as “the 20th of April” whereas Americans say the month and day like this: “April 20th.” Whichever search engine you choose will show you the format it uses: dd/mm/yy or mm/dd/yy. Just pay extra close attention if you are an international traveler, be careful not to book a flight for 03/04 when you really meant 04/03! Domestic flyers will not have to worry about this too much.
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Check For Those Sly Hidden Costs
When you see a fare quotation, play extra close attention that it’s the full fare including taxes. Some airlines will show the fair that has its taxes separate from the fare, and you may not notice until you have already purchased it. So when comparing, be sure to write down the fare to include these taxes so you know what kind of deal you are really getting. Always read the terms and conditions before you press that book button. Yes, it’s boring, yes, it may be snooze fest and you may need some caffeine to get through it but it really only takes a few minutes and it is important information you need to know about.
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Don’t Lolly-Gag
When you do find the flight you want at the right price, don’t lolly-gag around- BUY IT! Prices are changing constantly and there are many other travelers looking at the same information, ready to purchase those bargains, so if you wait it almost certainly will not be there the next time you come around. Some websites will reserve that price for you for an allotted amount of time such as an hour, so be sure to check out if that is an option.