Lots of folks are making plans now for the summer -- and they've got lots
of questions. My mailbag is filling up and there are lots of
"frequently asked questions." Let's see if we can attack some of the
most common concerns here:
Q: I am traveling with my family back to the East Coast this summer.
Is it better to buy the tickets well in advance or wait for a good
sale?
A: If you see a good sale price to your destination, don't wait. Grab
it, especially if it's between $375 and $450 roundtrip. It may not be
around for long. If you have some flexibility on your dates and the
prices are in the stratosphere, wait for a sale. If you are traveling
at a very popular time, such as Memorial Day or around the Fourth of
July, you may be wise to suck it up and pay the higher price rather
than risk the prospect of sold-out flights.
Chances are we will see some great sale prices to the East Coast with
the introduction of two new carriers in the market: America West and
Frontier. But keep in mind there are some great fares currently to
select destinations. For example, you can fly from Anchorage to
Philadelphia for as little as $291 round-trip. Taxes and fees are
additional.
Q: How do you find the best price? On the Internet? With a travel
agent? Do I call the airline directly?
A: Fact is, you have to shop around for the best price. I surf the net
each day to determine benchmark prices to the top destinations. That
gives me an idea of what the prevailing rate is when I start looking at
specific dates. Here in Anchorage, travel agents have rates that are
not available on the internet. And often, there are fares that are only
available online. That said, almost all travel agents can shop the
online specials for their clients. Just be prepared to pay the agent's
fee to do the research, ticketing and so forth. The average fee is
between $30 and $40 per ticket.
Q: Prices seem to go up and down all the time. How do you find out
when there is a fare to my favorite destination?
A: Well, there's no sure-fire way to know when the prices will drop to
your favorite city. But there are several outfits that offer to email
you when there's a bargain. Most of the airline sites offer email
notices of their web specials. Some local travel agencies send out
periodic notices as well. And if you have a friend in the travel
business, it's a good idea to stay in touch.
Q: Often, I will see a fare advertised and I cannot get it, no matter
how hard I try. What am I doing wrong?
A: Travel agents and airlines tend to offer the lowest available rates
in their advertising. Sometimes, the fares are valid only on a couple
of dates. That means if you want to go during spring break or on a
weekend, you'll likely pay more for the privilege. Airline pricing,
like hotels pricing, cruise pricing and car rental pricing, is a
dynamic business. Air fares are based on supply, demand and the
ability to inflict pain and suffering on a competing carrier.
Q: I've had pretty good luck getting Web deals on flights to the Lower
48. But I cannot find as many options for international flights. Is
there a secret Web site or service?
A: Some international airlines are on the cutting edge of Web
marketing. Virgin Atlantic, Easyjet and Ryan Air use the Web
extensively. Even British Airways has a robust, sophisticated website.
But there are more variables pricewise with international airlines.
Ask any international traveler -- and they will tell you the good, the
bad and the ugly about certain airlines. While it certainly is possible
to use the net to line up a great fare, you may find it's
cost-effective to use a travel agent who is familiar with the specific
area.
Q: Do you think air fares will go up this summer?
A: Overall, because of increased competition between Anchorage and the
Lower 48, prices will be lower. However, not all fares will succumb to
the downward pressure. In-state travelers will not see any new service
from the new airlines, which means there will not be any pressing need
to reduce prices. Also, the new airlines which will serve the market
don't fly everywhere. Prices to places like Lexington, Ky., and
Jackson, Miss., probably will not be affected. So the new low-fare
benefits will be spread unevenly across the country.
Q: Where do airlines come up with the crazy restrictions? Sometimes
there is a good fare but the restrictions make it unusable. This is not
fair.
A: All is fair in love, war and air travel. Airline restrictions, like
prices, are subject to competitive pressures. Recently, Alaska
Airlines ditched their Saturday-night stay rule. One reason is that
low-cost carriers like Frontier and jetBlue sell one-way tickets or
tickets that do not mandate the Saturday night stay.
Q: Why haven't more travelers pitched a fit about Alaska Airlines
watering down their frequent flyer program at the beginning of the
year?
A: Alaska's moves included capping the 50 percent fare option, upping
the levels for their elite status and reworking the first class upgrade
policy. Clearly, there were winners and losers in the deal. The 50
percent fare option now is "capped" at $250 in exchange for 15,000
miles. Now that the majority of airline miles are earned on the ground
and not in the air, there's more pressure to get the free seats -- and
more pressure on the first class seats. I would not be surprised if we
saw further "point erosion" next year. Make no mistake: travelers
continue to complain about having to fly more to get "elite status" for
free upgrades. Nonetheless, Alaska Airlines still has the best plan.
It's part of the carrier's strong competitive position in Alaska -- and
one reason other carriers hesitate to launch additional service to the
state.
(Scott McMurren is an Anchorage-based travel marketing consultant.)
