If you're using Kayak.com, you are probably paying way to much for your airfare. Each search engine has its blind spots.
If this is your strategy for finding a lowed airfare has been a search on Kayak and a slight tweek of the travel dates then you are paying too much. Here are five tips to consider when making your next purchase.
1. Prioritize your options. Look at a map and make a list of all of the possible ways to fly your route. For example, if you are searching for a low cost flight to Istanbul from the New York City area you'd make the following list from most desirable route to least desirable route. Be sure to take advantage of http://www.kayak.com/explore/ to examine which destinations may offer low cost flights from your departure location. Note that I've factored in the time and cost of arriving/departing from those alternate airports.
- Flight from JFK to IST (Istanbul)
- Alternate NYC (New York City) Area airport to IST
- Alternate NYC airport to Sofia (12 hours + 60 USD by train), Thessaloniki (14 hours + $80 USD by train), Ankara (5 hours + $35 USD by bus), etc
2. Find the right travel search engines. Each search engine has its blind spots. No search engine is alike. Some search engines only work with airlines that pay them commissions and others specialize on a specific part of the world. Each part of the world has its own engine. However, in general, the following travel search engines have most of the global routes covered:
- Google.com/flights
- Kayak.com
- Mobissimo.com
- Momondo.com
- Webjet.com
- Ixigo.com - India
- Makemytrip.com - Asia
Open these search engines in multiple windows and begin conducting searches for the prioritized list of travel option you've compiled in step one. Get a piece of paper and keep track of the prices and travel time for each search. Use multiple search engines to search each route.
3. Look for a better option. If you're traveling to high traffic destinations you may be able to secure a better deal via Priceline's Name Your Own Price option. This website lets you literally name your own price for your proposed travel dates and destinations. However, you'll be signing away your ability to select stopover aiports, departure times, etc. Its a gamble. Its definately worth the risk if your budget is limited and you have a lot of flexibility. Keep in mind that yous should not bid more than the lowest doable option found in step 2.
4. Get cash back. There's more money to be saved. If you've found your ideal ticket, check to see if the website you are purchasing from provides cash back. Search for your site on Ebates.com. Note that Priceline.com, orbitz.com and other sites all offer cashback for flight purchases made by clicking through the Ebates or Fatwallet site's link. The only thing you have to do is set up an account and click through their provided links. The cashback is deposited to your account via paypal automatically after 60-90 days.
5. Register your ticket on Yapta.com. If youre ticket changes or is provided by the airline at a lower rate at a later date, yapta.com will let you know. Depending on where you've purchased the ticket, Yapta will help you get the ticket price difference back. Apparently this is part of most airlines' ticketing rules: If the prices drop before departure, the passenger can seek to pay the lower price.
