Travel Blog

Category: Travel planning

No crystal ball? Try these travel Web sites before booking airfare

My friend, Doug, asked me if now is the best time to buy a fall flight to Finland and my first reaction was, "It's really a crapshoot!" I told him you'd need a crystal ball to predict the ideal time to lock in a fare in this volatile travel market.

But with more than seven months before his trip, Doug still has time to do some research. He already has investigated the travel-booking engine, Orbitz.com and likes its "assurance" of a cash refund if the price drops.

I also suggested he check out farecast.com, a site that predicts the optimal time to buy, using red, green and yellow arrows based on past-fare histories. Another site to check is Yapta.com, which tracks fare changes and says it will help you get a refund if your fare drops. If you're still not satisfied, try airfarewatchdog.com and farecompare.com.

Also, don't overlook the Web sites of the airlines themselves, where you'll never pay a booking fee.

Remember to try the "flexible search" option available on most travel search engine sites, which show how prices vary for dates around the time you want to travel. You may find a better deal if you leave Saturday morning instead of on Friday, for example.

Just remember that in all your research, the low fares that pop up and entice you to "buy right now" do not reflect taxes and fees, which typically are shown in smaller print a few clicks later -- and can sometimes double the cost of the fare. Also, airlines are not required to show the luggage fees, meal fees and other fees that all add up, beyond the fare, to a bottom line bigger than you expected.

You just have to remember that, like Doug, you could be about to embark on the trip of a lifetime. Just keep in mind that all this research takes time and patience. For some travelers, that's part of the fun and anticipation building up to their trip. For others it's a frustrating chore. To them I say, why not just call a travel agent? Even if you don't get the absolute rock-bottom price, it may be worth the peace of mind.