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Arline Senior Discounts
Date: August 11, 2006
Author: David Smidt, SeniorDiscounts.com
While some airlines have dropped their senior discount programs, there
are still quite a few that extend an extra discount to their older clientele. You just have
to know where to look and how to ask for them.
In the age of the Internet and online ticket sales, airlines have become
very competitive in their ticket pricing. This is probably the main reason that there are fewer
senior discounts now than there were five years ago. This also means that the senior discount
may not always be the best price available. While most airlines now guarantee that the best
fare can be found on its web site, many still do not provide an online option for searching
for the senior rate.
Start with some of the travel sites that enable you to search many of the
airlines at the same time. This will provide a good price base from which to work from.
Orbitz.com, Sidestep.com, Travelocity.com, or Cheapflights.com are some great sites to begin
with. Search the dates and destination you wish to travel and find out what the best prices
are and for which airlines. Be sure to check the time of the flights as well as the airport
the flight originates and departs from. Long layovers, early or late flights and smaller
airports may be the reason for the less expensive tickets.
Once you have established the airlines with the best rates and the times
that work for you, compare the prices against those published on the airline’s web site. As
we said earlier, many airlines now claim that their lowest prices available can only be found
on their web site. Now that you have done your research and established the lowest fare, call
the airline and ask about its senior discount and its price. This will ensure you are receiving
the best deal. Southwest, Continental, and United will allow you to search for the senior fare
online.
Typically the senior discount will be the best rate when traveling at the
last minute or during a busy time of the year. Some airlines may also have blackout dates for
their senior fares, so check the web site or ask an agent for all of the restrictions. If you
are not traveling alone, the senior fare can be a good choice as some airlines will extend the
senior fare to a companion regardless of age.
Here other tips for finding the least expensive price. Most airlines will
post their lowest fares Tuesday through Thursday, so it is best to search for pricing during
these days. If you have some time before your trip, many airlines and other travel web sites
have the ability to e-mail you when the price you would like for a particular trip becomes
available. You can also try web sites like Priceline.com. If the day and time you leave and
return are flexible, you can place a price bid for that trip. Be careful though, once you place
the bid, you can not get a refund for the trip and you are stuck with the airline and times
they provide to you.
In our next article, we will discuss the airline discounts in detail for
the various carriers. Happy travels.
© SeniorDiscounts
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