Savings tips: Piloting low fares at high altitudes

BY SHARON HARVEY ROSENBERG AND MYSCHA THERIAULT - McClatchy Newspapers

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After landing $29 airline tickets, Barbara and Ben Harvey recently flew to Pittsburgh to see the birth of granddaughters Julia and Olivia Patterson. It was a labor of love, with a laptop, several search engines and persistence serving as mid-wives for the special delivery of frugal tickets.

Unfortunately for many travelers, last-minute plans and holiday bookings can yield sky-high tickets, costing thousands of dollars. But savvy passengers can touch down on fares as low as $9 a ticket, excluding tax and fees. Here are a few strategies for booking cheap airline tickets.

Online Services: SmarterTravel.com and other alert services provide e-mail notifications about low fares and last-minute specials based on your preferences. SkyAuction.com offers travel specials with an e-Bay style bidding that begins at $1. Search engines include Bookingbuddy.com, Priceline.com, Travelocity.com and Cheaptickets.com. Use multiple sites; compare prices because fares constantly shift.

Carrier clubs: There's a secret to scoring flights for $1, $9 and $13 from Spirit Airlines, according to a Miami Beach resident who travels around the country for less than a tank of gas. Her secret: She's joined the $9 Fare Club at Spirit. For $40 a year, she has access to high-profile, low-cost flights that allude other travelers. For instance, she traveled to New York for $9 one-way and from Fort Lauderdale to Washington, D.C. for $13 a ticket. Other carriers have promotions or price breaks. Jazeera Airways, for example, offers round-trip tickets from Kuwait City to Dubai for as little as $56 (USD). For $62 (USD), including taxes and fees, Ryan Air markets flights from London to Barcelona.

Military flights: Retired and active-duty military personnel and their families have free access to MAC (military air craft) flights. The supply of free seats, however, is subject to change, with military objectives and emergency-leave requests pulling rank as top priorities. Flights are routinely canceled, and luxury is stranded at the curb. But travelers with free time, flexible schedules and patience can receive free transportation to popular global destinations, including Hawaii, Thailand, Japan and Italy. Information about military flight terminals and routes can be found at http://www.amc.af.mil/amctravel/index.asp.

Flexibility and planning: For travelers seeking a quick get away, a flexible attitude will save money. Pre-dawn and mid-week flights are often cheaper than peak travel time slots. Prices sharply vary in metropolitan areas served by several airports. Pack light to avoid baggage fees.

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