Shopping around for the best deals online is one way to find discounted holiday flights. Even better, why not put the web to work for you for free! Get the help of a "personal shopper" when you sign up for the fare alerts from the airlines or an airfare alert service. Recently I wrote the post about finding deals on hotels, airfare, rental cars in "Six ways to save big on your next trip." You can use many of the same online services plus some additional options, just check out my list below.
Find cheap flights online:
FareCompare offers an e-mail fare alert service, an iPhone app, and a Twitter feed to notify you of deals.
Airfarewatchdog.com tracks low airfares to hundreds of cities worldwide. Some of my favorite features include the scoop on hidden sales, emailed news alerts for your location, top 50 low fares, and message boards. You can also follow them on Twitter and on Facebook.
Yapta.com offers two ways to save: Track flight prices BEFORE you buy. Yapta email alerts let you know when prices drop and when to buy to save money on airfare. The second way Yapta helps you save is by helping you get airline refunds AFTER you buy. If the price of your flight drops below what you paid, Yapta helps you get a refund for the difference. Follow them on Twitter.
Expedia offers a fare alert application for your computer and an iPhone app. Expedia also lets you book the plane tickets (no booking fees).
Travelocity's FareWatcher Plus service will watch up to 10 destinations and notify you about any deals. You can also book the plane tickets.
Travelzoo.com is a travel search engine that sends you weekly emails to help you find the best deals on airfare. Follow them on Twitter.
KAYAK.com is a travel search engine like Travelzoo.com. It searches online for the best deals on flights. They have a smartphone app. Follow them on Twitter.
Southwest Airlines is known for offering discounted fares. Now with the "iPhone app Plus with DING!" you’ll be notified immediately of discount flights. (With the app you can also make reservations, check in for flights, and access your Rapid Rewards account directly from your iPhone.)
For more information on finding holiday airfare deals, check out
- Start Shopping For Holiday Plane Tickets Now (VIDEO) - Huffington Post
- Air fares are making double-digit gains- CNN Money.com
- HOW TO: Find the Best Fall Travel Deals on the Social Web - Mashable
- Practical Traveler - Tools for Finding the Best Holiday Fares - NYTimes.com
Photo: Kossy@Finedays
