Archive for the ‘discount airline tickets’ Category

i am on ssi disability is there a program or a discount for ssi disability recipients

No, there isn’t. You’ll have to pay the same as everyone else does.

I’ve looked on cheaptickets.com and expedia.com, but are there any less popular websites that I could maybe find discount tickets on round trip flights around the U.S.? Thanks!

www.fly.com and www.kayak.com, and dont forget to go to www.southwest.com.

I and my 2 sons were invited to vacation in Scotland with free room and board, if we could come up with airfare… so far we can’t come up with enough… so I’m wondering if there is a site where you can get a major discount on tickets or another way to get there
Thanks in advance.

There is no magical, secret discounts for airfare. The biggest discounts are available when you purchase your airfare the fartherest out.

Below are some very simple and straight forward strategies you can use when searching for cheap airfare or discount airline tickets. Best of all the strategies cost you nothing and may save you not only money but also time.

Book early but not too early

Airlines will give you a better deal the further out you book. But keep in mind not to book too far in advance as you may miss any fare wars etc. For domestic US travel use the airfare prediction site FareCast to see where fares are headed.

Be flexible

As a general rule traveling Mondays – Thursdays will give you a better deal as most carriers charge more for weekend travel.

Saturday night stay

This is more important in international travel. Almost all cheap international fares require a Saturday night stay. In the US domestic markets Saturday night stay requirements have to the most extent become a thing of the past.

Alternative airports

Domestic US: Great way to shop for lower airfare is to check fares out of or into alternative airports. For example, if you wanted to go from Boston (BOS) to Los Angeles (LAX) you may also check fares from Providence (PVD), Manchester (MHT)or Hartford (BDL) and into Orange County (SNA), Long Beach (LGB)or Ontario (ONT). Some sites such as Orbitz and Travelocity offer search tools that automatically search for cheaper fares for alternative airport. Again, the more flexible you are the more likely you will find a deal.

International: Finding an alternative airport can save you some serious money but it does require some research and “thinking outside the box.” Here are a couple of examples. When traveling to Germany considering Dusseldorf (DUS) as an alternate to Frankfurt could save you over $50 per person in taxes and fees. Germany’s second largest carrier LTU flies nonstop to DUS from several major US departure cities. Check out Brussels (BRU) or Luxemburg (LUX) as alternates to Paris (PAR).

Buying a round trip ticket

Buying a round trip ticket is almost always cheaper tan buying a one-way ticket. This may not be true for tickets that are purchased last minute or on flights that are almost sold out. Some carriers such as Southwest Airlines and JetBlue price their fares on a one-way basis.

Travel off-season

If your travel is for leisure, you can often find lower rates for off-season fares. If circumstances allow be creative in your vacation planning, and you could save big bucks over time. For example, good times to travel to Europe are usually the first 2 weeks in December and January through March. Also, when planning summer travel to Europe try to depart before May 20. Most carriers switch from shoulder season to high season fares sometime between May 20 and 25. For domestic travel, school vacation, public holidays, Christmas and Thanksgiving are considered peak travel periods and fares tend to go up.

Below are some online website resources for finding cheap airfare.

Online Newsletters

By subscribing to some of the more reputable newsletters such as TravelZoo or Smarter Travel you have great and updated access to travel deals on a weekly basis. Many airlines frequently announce new sales or deals online and you want to know about them as soon as possible. The publishers of these newsletters often receive payment from vendors for placement.

Yet Undiscovered Deal Sites

Some of the least know sites may have the “in” to the absolute best deals. One of these sites is Airfarewatchdog. This site has now been around for about 2 years and it specializes in unearthing unadvertised airfare specials. This site is run by George Hobica, a travel journalist with over 25 years of experience in the travel industry. He is a true fanatic about finding incredible airfares.

Cheap Airfare Prediction

While still in a beta phase FareCast promises to truly revolutionize the way we buy airfare and it allows some sort of parity when looking for the best time to buy. They also offer FareGuard which allows you to protect your low fare against future fare increases. To date they cover about 75 US domestic airports.

Low Fare Alerts and Flex Searches

Several of the online travel agency websites also offer low fare alerts. With Travelocity you can see fares from your departure city that have dropped by 20% or more. Alternatively you can use the Fare Finder Search to see a listing of low fares without first having to commit to travel dates. Cheaptickets allows you to set a target price for your trip; once one or more airlines offer fares at or below your target level Cheaptickets will post an alert you. Expedia also offers a flexible date search. While limited in scope this calendar based feature is pretty easy to use (make sure to check “My dates are flexible”) and quickly shows you cheap fares.

Name Your Own Airfare and White Label Fares

In addition to searching for regular published airfare Priceline allows you to “name your own airfare”. Hotwire offers white label fares. In each scenario you do not know the carrier, flights times or the exact routing. With Priceline you basically bid what it is you are willing to pay for a ticket. Once you submit a bid Priceline will see if there is a carrier willing to sell you a ticket at that price (beware: THEY YOUR OFFER IS BINDING if accepted). With Hotwire you will be offered a white label fare. Again, you do not know the carrier, flights times and exact routing. Once you decide to buy there is “NO WAY BACK” If you do not like the flights details. So, either site can save you a bundle but make sure you can stomach the consequences and be flexible.

Flying Abroad? Check Consolidators

Consolidators basically negotiate airfares directly with carriers. These are unpublished (I.e. the airlines do not publish these fares) and can only be purchased from the consolidator. Some consolidators only re-sell these to travel agents while others sell directly to the public. One of the best retail sources for consolidated airfare anywhere is www.FlightsFirst.com.

Compare Apples to Apples

IMPORTANT: When comparing fares from different sites or vendors make sure to consider all the elements. In order to get the full picture of how much a trip is going to cost you must take all taxes, fees, fuel surcharges, and services charges into account. While the base fare maybe the same at two sites taking the above into account could save you some serious money. This is especially true when traveling overseas or to Central and South America.

Kai Vorpahl
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/how-and-where-to-find-cheap-airfare-on-the-internet-124219.html

I know I have heard that it is possible but I do not know how to go about it???

usually you have to call the airline and ask to speak to a supervisor
then airline will need a copy of the death cerificate or the body
lots times all you get is a discount offf full fare price

There are hundreds of new credit card offers available in the U.S market. The credit card companies compete against each other with attractive incentives such as cash back, points reward schemes and balance transfer offers at zero percent. There are lot of new offers have been introduced in U.S by worldwide banks. Among those new offers some credit cards are specially introduced as reward credit cards. Let see some good deals and their detailed descriptions.

Platinum Business FreedomPass Credit Card from OPEN(sm) the small business team: This card offers 5,000 point welcome bonus with first purchase and the card member can redeem the points for savings on any flight, hotel, car rental or cruise. There are no blackout dates and no travel restrictions. The card members will earn 1 point for every dollar they spend and provides option to pay over time or pay in full. There is no annual fee and 0% intro APR for 12 months. Provides OPEN Savings® like: Automatic discounts with FedEx, Delta®, Courtyard by Marriott®, and more.

BoatU.S.™ Platinum Plus® Visa® Card: This card offers 0% Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)on balance transfers and cash advance checks for the first 12 billing cycles. The card user can earn 1 point for every net retail purchase dollar spent and also he can redeem points for travel, merchandise, gift certificates, and cash. Provides Access to the MyConciergeSM service, a unique personal assistance service. There is absolute fraud protection against unauthorized use, online and offline. And there is no annual fee.

Discover® Motiva Card: This card has its own specific advantages like the card members can Pay-On-Time bonus equal to a full month’s interest each time they make 6 on-time payments in a row– twice a year, every year when they pay on-time every month. Provides 5% to 20% Cashback Bonus at top online retailers through the exclusive online site. The card member will earn up to 1% Cashback Bonus on all other purchases and unlimited cash rewards that never expire as long as the card member use the card. There is no annual fee.

The Knot Credit Card from American Express: This card provides start out with a great wedding gift – 5,000 Membership Rewards points the first time the card member use the Card, which can be redeemed for a $50 gift card. The card member will earn an additional 10,000 bonus points when they spend over $15,000 on the card annually. The card member can track all of their wedding related expenses with the Card on one monthly statement. There is no annual fee and the card member can pay the outstanding amount in over time or in full. The Intro APR is 12.24% and there is no intro period. Provides exclusive welcome gift that the card members can plan every detail of their wedding with The Knot Wedding Planning Kit, including the Knot wedding binder, where they can manage wedding ideas, budgets, guest lists, to-do’s and more.

Financial Rewards® Visa® Platinum Plus® Card: This card offers 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 6 billing cycles. The card members will earn 5 bonus points with their first purchase and the earned points do not expire for 5 years. Provides online banking service and total security protection. There is no annual fee.

Blue from American Express®: This card offers Fee-Free Rewards Program and 0% APR for up to 15 months. There is no annual fee. Provides low balance transfer APR – 4.99% Fixed APR for the life of the balance. Actuallly Blue is named as the card members launch pad to standout shopping and entertainment rewards and one-of-a-kind experiences.

Citi® Upromise® Platinum Select® MasterCard®: This card offers the 0% Intro APR and the Intro period is 12 months. There is no annual fee. Helps the card members to join useful programs through which the card members can Helps families and save some money for college and its free to join. The card members will earn 10% college savings on many grocery and drug store purchases, 2% college savings on purchase of gas at Exxon and Mobil locations and 1% college savings on purchases everywhere you shop.

Citi® Home Rebate Platinum Select® MasterCard®: This card provides 0% Intro APR and the Intro period is 12 months. There is no annual fee. The card members will earn full 6% Rebate on Utilities, Cable/Satellite TV, Internet Connection, and Telecommunications for 6 months. The cardholders will get a statement credit instead to start saving for their dream house. Also provides full 1% on all other purchases and the rebate will automatically applied to the Cardholder’s Mortgage Principal. There are no cap or limits on the amount of rebates cardholders can accumulate in a Year.

Citi® Driver’s Edge® Platinum Select® Card: This card provides 0% Intro APR and the intro period is 12 months. There is no annual fee. The card members will earn rebates for every mile driven and the rebates can be applied towards car maintenance, or to buy or lease a new or used car. The card members will earn 6% rebates on Gas Station, Supermarket, and Drugstore Purchases for 12 Full Months, 3% Rebates after, and 1% Rebates on all other purchases. Rebates can also be applied to the Thank You Network.

Citi® Platinum Select®/AAdvantage® World MasterCard®: The Intro APR is 18.24% and there is no annual fee. The card members will earn 15,000 Bonus Miles after the first purchase. There are no blackout dates for award travel on American Airlines, American Eagle, and AmericanConnection® Carriers. The card members will earn one mile for every dollar spent on eligible purchases – Up To 100,000 miles per year and the earned miles may never expire. The card members can redeem miles with over 25 of the World’s Top Airlines, Major Car Rental Companies, and Hundreds of Hotels Worldwide.

Citi® Diamond Preferred® Rewards Card: This card provides 0% Intro APR and the intro period is 12 months . There is no annual fee. Provides $50 Gift Card — Redeem 6,000 Bonus Points after first purchase and also provides 0% APR on balance transfers for twelve months. The card members will earn five bonus ThankYou Points for every dollar spent at Supermarkets, Drugstores and Gas Stations for 12 months and earn one bonus ThankYou Point for every dollar spent on all other purchases.

Citi® Hilton HHonors® Visa® Signature Card: This card offers 15,000 Hhonors Points with the very first purchase. The card members earn Double Dip® and receive both Hilton HHonors Points and Airline Miles for the same stay at Over 2,500 hotels and more than 55 participating airlines. The card members will earn three HHonors Bonus Points for every dollar spent using the card at Hilton Family Hotels, plus two HHonors Bonus Points for every dollar spent on other purchases. Provides complimentary silver VIP membership for the first year. There is no annual fee.

The Chase Business Cash Rewards Card: The card user will earn up to 5% cash back with unlimited rewards potential. There are no merchant or category spending restrictions, the card memeber can earn points by shopping wherever he want, for whatever he want. Provides 0% APR

on purchases and balance transfers for up to 12 months. There is no annual fee. The card user can opt for additional cards for his employees.

TripRewards® MasterCard® Credit Card: This card offers 0% introductory APR on balance transfers and cash advance checks for the first 12 billing cycles. The card member earn 2 points for every $1 in net retail purchases and earn 13 points for every $1 spent for qualifying TripRewards hotel stays. There is no annual fee. Provides 24-hour online access and Absolute Fraud Protection.

Advanta Platinum BusinessCard with Rewards: This card offers 0% Intro APR and intro period is 15 months. There is no annual fee. Provides 0% APR for 15 months on Balance Transfers, 7.99% fixed APR there after and 7.99% variable APR on purchases. The card members have their own choice of 5% Cash Back or Travel Rewards and there is no limit on earnings. Provides $0 Fraud Liability. And the card members can get personalized card — their company name on the top of the card.

American Express® Preferred Rewards Gold Card: This card offers 0% Intro APR and there is no intro period. There is no annual fee for the first year and $125 there after. The card member get 10,000 Membership Rewards® points redeemable for rewards right away and there is no pre-set spending limit. Provides exclusive Gold Card events such as exclusive access to tickets for select concerts, shows, major sporting events, and more in cities nationwide. Global Assist® Plus Hotline and many more benefits included.

American Express® Preferred Rewards Green Card: This card offers 0% Intro APR and there is no intro period. The annual fee is free for the first year and $95 there after. The card members will get 5,000 Bonus Membership Rewards® points redeemable for rewards right away. The membership rewards program also let them transfer points to 11 frequent flyer programs: 1 point = 1 frequent flyer mile or frequent guest credit for most programs. Global Assist® Plus Hotline allows the card members to travel with total peace of mind when they are more than 100 miles away from home. Provides many other travel and shopping benefits and there is no preset spending limit.

One from American Express®: The Intro APR is 14.24% and there is no intro period. The annual fee is free for the first year and $35 there after. The card members never pay interest on new purchases and the Savings AcceleratorSM Plan contributes 1% of eligible purchases into an FDIC-insured High-Yield Savings Account in the card members name. Thereis no preset spending limit.

Bank of America Rewards™ American Express® Card: This Card offers 0% Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on balance transfers and cash advance checks for the first 12 billing cycles. There is no annual fee and the flexibility to pay over time. The user can reedeem the points for travel with no blackout dates, discounts at hotels, cash, brand-name merchandise, or gift certificates. Earn one point for every net retail purchase dollar. The card user gets Access to special Cardmember offers from American Express to save on shopping, dining, travel, hotels, and much more. Provides free 24/7 Concierge Service.

Business Green Rewards Card from OPENSM The Small Business Team: The card member receives 5,000 bonus points to start. The annual fee is free for the first year and a $95 savings. There are no preset spending limit or finance charges. The card members will earn One membership reward point for virtually every dollar they spend and discounts with FedEx, Delta®, Courtyard by Marriott®, and more. The card members can redeem their points for top-tier rewards including travel, merchandise, office equipment, and gift cards for them or for their employees.

Platinum Business FreedomPass® Credit Card: This card offer 0% Intro APR and the Intro period is for 6 months. There is no annual fee. The card member will earn 5000 bonus points with first purchase and redeem for savings on any flight, hotel, car rental or cruise. There are no blackout dates and no restrictions.

IN:CHICAGOSM Card from American Express®: This card offers 0% Intro APR and the intro period is 6 months. There is no annual fee. The card member will earn one INSIDESM Rewards point for virtually every eligible dollar they spend, whether they’re in Chicago or not. The earned points have no expiration date and the card members can redeem points for rewards in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles.

IN:LASM Card from American Express®: This card offers 0% Intro APR and the intro period is 6 months. There is no annual fee. The card member will earn one INSIDESM Rewards point for virtually every eligible dollar they spend, whether they’re in Los Angeles or not. The earned points have no expiration date and the card members can redeem points for rewards in Los Angeles, New York and Chicago.

IN:NYC® Card from American Express: This card offers 0% Intro APR and the intro period is 6 months. There is no annual fee. The card member will earn one INSIDESM Rewards point for virtually every eligible dollar they spend in New York city. The earned points have no expiration date and the card members can redeem points for rewards in New York. This card provides the option to carry balance.

Chase Flexible Rewards Platinum Visa® Card: This card offers 0% Intro APR and the intro period is 6 months. There is no annual fee. The card members will earn 1 point for every dollar spent and the card members can earn travel fast! that means all their purchases earn points for them. Also provides 0% introductory APR for up to 12 months on all purchases and balance transfers. The card member can save even more with low rates. The time period for the introductory APR and the balance transfers to which it will apply will be based on the review of the applicant’s application and credit history.

Chase Travel Plus Platinum Visa®: This card offers 0% Intro APR and the intro period is 6 months. The annual fee for this card is $29. The card members will earn 1 mile for every dollar in purchases and they redeem their points for flights, hotel stays, car rentals, cruises and more! Provides the option to choose from over 250 airlines without restrictions. Also provides 0% Introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for up to 12 months. The time period for the introductory APR and the balances to which it will apply will be based on our review of your credit history.

Discover® More Sealife Card: This card offers 0% Intro APR and the Intro period is 12 months. There is no annual fee. Also provides 0% Intro APR for purchases and balance transfers for 12 months. The card members will earn 5% Cashback Bonus on Get More purchases in popular categories that change four times a year like home, apparel and more. Also earns up to 1% Cashback Bonus on all other purchases automatically. Provides unlimited cash rewards that never expire,$0 fraud liability guarantee and easiest online account management options. The card members can double their Cashback Bonus (turn $20 into $40) when they redeem for gift cards or certificates from many of the 70 brand name partners.

Bank of America Visa Signature® with WorldPoints™: This card offers 0% APR and the Intro period is for 12 billing cycles. There is no annual fee. Also provides 0% APR on balance transfers and cash advance checks for the first 12 billing cycles. The card members will earn 1 point for every dollar they spend in net retail purchases.§ Points are redeemable for cash, brand name merchandise, travel with no blackout dates, dining certificates and more. Provides the advantage of preferred seating – Visa Signature Access gives the card members the exclusive entry to exciting events as well as the best seats at sports, entertainment, and cultural venues. The card members can reserve last-minute tables at popular restaurants – Visa Signature Dining makes it easy to get preferrred reservations, discounts, and special offers at the nation’s hottest restaurants. The card members also enjoy more savings and more extras – get discounts at select merchants, valuable upgrades, and savings of up to 50% on accommodations at spectacular places. Visa Signature Privileges make it possible. The card members receive personalized assistance – From hard-to-find gifts to travel and entertainment planning, let Visa Signature Concierge handle all the details. Provides absolute fraud protection.

Pet Rewards™ Visa®: This card offers 0% Intro APR and the Intro Period is Six Billing Cycles. There is no annual fee. Gives 500 bonus points after first purchase. 1 point for every dollar spend on everyday purchases and rewards begin at just 750 points. The card user can earn points toward veterinary services, pet food discount certificates, and shelter donations also earn two PetRewards Points for each dollar spend at participating veterinary clinics, pet food retailers, farm and feed stores, and neighborhood pet specialty stores.

2% Back MasterCard This card offers 0% Intro APR and the card members get 2% back on every purchase, everywhere – automatically! The card members can manage their account with 24/7 online access and bill pay and the card members can choose a payment due date that’s convenient for them. Provides 100% fraud liability protection and great built-in MasterCard benefits.

Discover® Business Miles Card: This card provides 0% Intro APR and the Intro period is 12 months. There is no annual fee. Provides 0% Intro APR on card purchases. The card user will earn Double Miles on travel and gas. The card member get up to 1 Mile per dollar on all other purchases. There are no restrictions on any airline, any date, any seat.

Chase Freedom Cash: This card offers 05 intro APR and the APR period is for 6 months. There is no annual fee. The card member can Earn 3% cash back for every eligible $1 spent in purchases at Grocery Stores, Stock up on food, household goods and more. Also earn 3% cash back for gas station purchases such as using the card for fuel, repairs, car washes, and other purchases. The same 3% cash back offers also applicable for purchases at Quick Service Restaurants, the rewards add up fast from pizza to hamburgers to tacos – even sandwich shops, coffee houses and more. The card members earn 1% cash back for every $1 spent in purchases everywhere else. The card members get a $50 Check once they have earned $50 in rewards. The card members can save up to $200 in rewards and redeem for $250 cash back.

Jagan babu vasudevan
http://www.articlesbase.com/credit-articles/reward-credit-cards-benefits-and-detailed-descriptions-182108.html

Bank of America is one of the largest and most reputed companies offering financial products and services throughout the world. It is hugely popular for its quality service and customer satisfaction. These merits are well incorporated in Bank of Americas’ credit cards that are on the offer.

Bank of America – Hawaiian Airlines Visa Platinum Credit Card, issued by FIA Card Services, is specifically designed for those of you with excellent credit history and frequently traveling with Hawaiian Airlines.

Well, if you wish to use this card for purchasing Hawaiian Airlines ticket (read this as a good opportunity for earning additional points) very often and are prepared to pay in full each month (for evading financial charges), Hawaiian Airlines Visa Platinum Credit Card will be your best bet.

Fundamental Features

Some of the basic features of Bank of America – Hawaiian Airlines Visa Platinum credit card include:

§ The card gives you a reasonable introductory APR of 1.9% normally for a period of 6 months, which is obviously lesser than most of the other credit cards

§ The regular APR is fixed at a competitive 6.99%

§ The highlight of the card is that you will not have to pay any Annual Fee (and that is really amazing considering the fact that most Airline cards charge high fees).

§ The interest rates for purchases and balance transfers are undoubtedly reasonable for a reward card, however, you will be in for some loss if you plan to carry a balance

§ Visa Platinum card offers you a credit line of upto $25000 which is definitely one of its strengths. You will need to remember that it all depends on your level of income and credit history as well as on your own ability to check your account balance with the online account feature

Attractive Rewards Program

The airline rewards program of the Bank of America – Hawaiian Airlines Visa Platinum card provides you an excellent opportunity to collect/build up miles. Look further to find more about earning miles:

§ Add one Hawaiian mile to your kitty for every dollar you spend on general purchases and two miles for every dollar you spend on purchasing tickets directly from Hawaiian Airlines. (Remember that you are allowed to earn upto 100000 miles per calendar year with your Hawaiian Airlines Visa Platinum card).

§ As soon as you sign up for your Hawaiian Airlines Visa Platinum, you are welcomed to the program with a bonus 10000 Hawaiian Miles automatically.

§ Every year on renewing your account, you will be presented an anniversary gift of additional Hawaiian Miles.

§ You will also be able to save miles towards airfare and discounts or merge them with miles from friends and family

§ One of the most exciting features of the reward program is the discount on companion ticket. Obviously, you will not plan a vacation in Hawaii all alone. You do not need do so either, as your Hawaiian Airlines Visa Platinum Credit Card offers you a 50% discounted companion ticket with the purchase of a regular full-coach fare ticket plus applicable taxes, fees, and surcharges – making it easy for you to enjoy your Hawaiian vacation.

(In some places, you may find the Visa credit card is not being accepted; in such cases, you will always have the option of writing free convenience checks).

Security Programs

You can use Bank of America – Hawaiian Airlines Visa Platinum with full assurance from the security programs. The security program provides you following amenities:

§ Zero liability for purchases made on Internet. If your online purchase shows some counterfeits or does not show up at all, you will not be liable for unauthorized purchases.

§ Total Security Protection program

§ Extended warranty protection.

§ Insurance cover on lost luggage and Hotel theft, upto $1000000 for travel accident and unlimited automatic rental insurance.

Richard Gilliland
http://www.articlesbase.com/credit-articles/bank-of-america-hawaiian-airlines-visa-platinum-136775.html

If you’ve never bid on airfare through an online travel auction site (websites such as SkyAuction and even Ebay), there are a few things you need to be mindful of. You can’t just jump into an auction and expect to get a killer deal on a discount flight to Cancun. Each travel auction is set up differently and has different bidding requirements. That’s why before you ever place a bid on a travel auction you need to do the following.

Research All Travel Auctions

Most online travel auctions run independently of each other. Each one has its own auction set up, bidding requirements, and terms and conditions. This means that not all online travel auctions are the same. Some require membership fees while others allow you to sign up for free but have restrictions on how you bid. It’s important to get as much information as you can about the travel auctions you find online. Read through all the information provided on each website (including “terms and conditions”) and get a feel for how you bid on airfare through each travel auction. You don’t want to sign up for a membership on a travel auction website until you have a clear idea and understanding of the bidding process. If you don’t, you could end up getting locked into a pretty sticky situation.

Browse Current Auctions

After you’ve read through each travel auction’s user information and bidding guidelines, the next step is NOT to sign up. You need to first check out a few auctions currently underway on the site. This will give you an opportunity to check out what different travel tickets are going for. You may find that the auctions have very high opening bid amounts or only offer expensive package deals that are out of your price range. Always check out the bid amounts before you even think about signing up with a travel auction site. It will save you time, effort, and money.

Compare Travel Auctions against Other Online Travel Deals

Browsing current auctions and bid amounts will give you something to compare other online airfare deals against. Travel auctions aren’t the only source for discount flights. Travel consolidators and other travel-related websites also offer great wholesale and discount rates on airfare to many popular destinations. You may even find a deal on airfare that the travel auctions just can’t beat. That’s why it’s very important for you to check out existing auction bids and compare them to other bargain travel deals you find online. It could save you a significant chunk of change in the end.

Take Warning!

Some travel auctions won’t tell you the exact airline, flight, or seat location connected to the tickets you’re bidding on until AFTER you’ve won the auction. And once you’ve won the auction, in many cases you’re locked in and stuck with whatever airline and flight times the tickets offer. So before you bid on any airline tickets, check to see if the auction discloses ALL information about the flight. If it doesn’t and you bid, you’re taking a gamble on when you’re leaving, how many layovers you’ll have, and what airline you’ll be flying.

When you book your travel plans with cFares, you know everything about the flight upfront. Don’t book your flight in the dark. Become a cFares member and find the exact itinerary you need at an affordable price.

Travel auctions are definitely a viable source for discount airfare; however, they aren’t for everyone. Before you hit the online travel auctions, do your research and see if they’ll actually help you save on your travel plans.

Frank Johnson
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/about-online-travel-auctions-54538.html

Who ya gonna call? -

Where do you buy your cruise tickets to get the best price? Should you buy from a traditional travel agent, an online mega-seller or direct from the cruise line? Surprisingly, when it comes to the base fare, it doesn’t make much difference. Price variation is more contingent on qualifying for a particular type of discount; promotional, seasonal, past passenger, military or last minute booking- than on where you buy your ticket. The real variables between booking channels are in the level of service provided during the process and perks offered. So read on to learn how to max the experience while making sure you are getting the best value.

When trying to determine actual price from the advertised price, cruise fares can be almost as maddening as airline pricing. Advertised cruise prices are often misleading and unnecessarily vague.

Published prices are always per person based on double occupancy. Additional people occupying the same cabin pay less…usually a lot less. Port taxes and other fees are considerable and are the same for everybody, regardless of category and whether they are the first or fifth person in the cabin.

The add-on fees and taxes when combined with the base fare have been known to add 20% to 50% to the total per person, especially on shorter, already deeply discounted cruises. Always remember to ask about price inclusive of all fees and taxes- or note the fine print if you are reading a brochure. Some cruise lines include the added fees in their advertised prices, most do not. Always ask.

Click here if you would like to see our comments superimposed over a typical cruise ad.

How to qualify for discounts -

The most common discounts are seasonal, last minute, military, geographical, past passenger, senior citizen, positioning itineraries, promotional and distressed categories.

Seasonal – Caribbean cruises are typically discounted in the fall. Alaska cruises will be cheaper at the beginning and end of the season (May, September and October). Ditto for European and Mediterranean cruises – avoid the peak months of July and August and you’ll probably snag a good deal.

Last Minute – Waiting to book can also lead to a great bargain, especially if you are prepared to depart on short notice, having no strong preferences on which ship or itinerary.

Military – Tell the agent that you won the Medal of Honor fighting alongside Sgt. York at the Battle of Verdun and you might get an extra 5% to 10% off.

Geographical – Sometimes small discounts will be available because of where you live – say in Paris, Texas instead of Paris, Tennessee. (Don’t ask why – it is something known only to cruise line executives.)

Past Passenger – lines will frequently offer discounts and/or perks to loyal customers -depending on the number of previous cruises with that particular cruise line.

Senior Citizen – If you are over age 55, ask if an age related discount is available.

Promotional – These kind of discounts can rear their pretty little heads for any number of reasons – again, some only known by cruise lines executives.

Positioning Cruises – These are necessary but less popular itineraries needed to get the ship from one seasonal station to another – say, from Miami to Seattle for the Alaska season. These itineraries are available mostly in the spring and fall and almost always offer deep discounts. But be forewarned – these positioning cruises involve long days at sea and fewer ports. This is especially true of trans-Atlantic positioning cruises.

Category Sale – Another frequent price promotion – a ship may be over-sold in one category and grossly under-sold in another; resulting in deep discounts on the latter.

How to get the most perks –

Many times it is as simple as asking! If you are working with a travel agent, have the TA quiz the cruise line reservations department about any and all available promotions and perks on the sailing(s) that interest you. A good, experienced agent will have a long laundry list of possible perks for which you might be qualified. Or, if booking direct with the cruise line, use what you have learned here about booking direct- but you will need to play the role of Grand Perk Inquisitor yourself.

People who are associated with a group of passengers traveling on the same sailing will automatically qualify for some combination of perks- such as category upgrades, onboard spending credits, free photo, bottle of wine, private meetings, a free shore excursion, etc.

Tip – What most would-be cruisers don’t know is that you only need to be associated with the group on cruise passenger list – not literally. Hence, you only need to find an agency or online consolidator that has group space reserved on cruises that match your desired dates and destination- and before you know it you’re cruising in Perk City. Additionally, if the group is a theme group lead by a celebrity- you might find yourself temporarily basking in the glow and glory of one of your all time idols. Imagine the thrill of being part of the Simon Cowell School of Charm Cruise – complete with an in-the-flesh tongue lashing and public humiliation by Mr. Warm & Fuzzy himself!

Many mega-agencies will have hundreds of departures available with blocked group space into which they can slip perk hungry purchasers.

How to keep costs low -

Cruises were once all-inclusive – one price paid for everything. Today the cruise fare can pale in comparison to the bill you receive at the end of your cruise. There are so many extra cost options – you need to manage those activities as you go.

On board you have no need to carry cash, a credit card or even your wallet on your person - you are issued one card with a magnetic stripe that does triple duty as your room key, on board spending card and boarding pass. You can purchase anything on board with this little piece of plastic convenience in your pocket- alcohol, soft drinks, gift shop items, shore excursions, photographs, spa treatments, art work, surcharges for alternative restaurants, Internet access, ship to shore phone calls- you can even buy chips for gambling in the casino.

Tip – many ships now allow real time access to your on board spending tab at any time from the closed circuit TV in your cabin- displaying a current, up-to-the-minute running total – with details for each line item. So, you can rein in spending if it appears to be getting out of hand. Plus, you can call the front desk at any time to dispute an item if you think the charge is incorrect or excessive for any reason.

Tip toe lightly through the minefield of extra costs once on board -

Alcoholic beverages – Booze is always at extra cost with prices running about what you would expect to pay for similar service in a moderately upscale on-shore establishment.

Soda - priced from $2 to $4 per soda depending on ship and cruise line – if you consume soda daily best bet is to buy the flat rate “unlimited sodas” option for duration of the cruise.

Wine – always at extra cost with prices running about what you would expect to pay for similar in a moderately upscale on-shore establishment – there will be some “freebies” like at the Captain’s Welcome Aboard party or a complimentary bottle if it is your anniversary.

Specialty/Alternative restaurants – most have surcharges of $15 to $40 per person per reservation – the average being about $30. In our opinion the price is well worth paying for a night or two – especially if you want to experience elegant, high-end dining at a level that could easily cost $100 or more per person in a similarly upscale shore side establishment. (Click here for more details on the fine points of maxing the shipboard dining experience.)

Internet access – Available on most ships, you can purchase a basket of minutes for a fixed price. To economize on these dearly priced minutes, read and compose email offline – then log on just for sending and receiving.

Ship to shore phone calls – forget about it! Charges run $2 to $3 PER MINUTE! Buy the Internet access plan instead – then use Skype from your laptop. Plus, your regular cell phone will work on occasion – especially if you are departing from a US port and near land. My Sprint phone usually works just fine from the deck of the ship when within 5 or 6 miles of Miami, Ft Lauderdale or any US island like St. Thomas, Puerto Rico, etc.

Coffee bar – Although regular coffee at meals is included in the cruise fare, you are charged extra for specialty coffees such as espressos and cappuccinos – priced at about what you would expect to pay at Starbucks.

Photos/videos - They are grossly over-priced but it’s a captive audience, so they can get away with it. Even so, you might want to go ahead and buy one or two. My spouse and I always like to get a classy shot of us all dressed up in our matching pink satin bib overalls on formal night.

Shore Excursions – another huge profit center and usually way over-priced – but there’s good news; there are now highly reputable and reliable third party options that can save you a ton of money (Click here to see some alternative possibilities for Shore Excursions.)

Art Auctions – Usually held on days at sea to insure a captive audience, these events are intentionally set in a high trafficked public place to guarantee that innocent victims strolling by will be sucked in by the slick, silver-tongued Art Auction barker. You are cautioned to hold your hand firmly over your pocketbook when in proximity, as well as averting your eyes, humming loudly to yourself to drown out the beguiling sales pitch. It is our personal theory that these Pimped Up Picasso Pushers may be a contributing factor in the recent rash of suicides by jumping overboard. But, that’s just us.

Onboard Shopping – What started out years ago to be just a storage closet with a Dutch door - only open for business for an hour or two each day – primarily for elderly passengers to stock up on essentials such as Denture Cream and Preparation H (sold separately so as not to be confused) has now morphed into mega-malls to rival those of a small city. And, the deals have gotten better and better – with volume has come lower prices – sometimes even lower than shore side because of the lack of taxes.

Tip: Merchandise often goes on sale during port visits – if local authorities allow the onboard shops to stay open while in port – as well as on the last day of the cruise. If you can wait to buy that tacky tank top that says “I went down on the Titanic”, you might save a few bucks.

Gratuities – This is another aspect of cruising that has changed drastically over the years – from no tipping, period…to no tipping required…to “you’d better tip if you ever want to see your luggage again“…to prepaid tips. On cruises today you can expect to tip – but our preference is to maintain control over who and how much. So we stick with the old fashioned method. Pretending to be Congressional lobbyists, we go around the ship on the last night passing out envelopes stuffed with cash. However, if you are into convenience – go the prepaid route. You can always give a little extra on the side at the end of the cruise.

Gambling – There is a reason why the English blackjack dealers refer to customers in the casino as “punters”. For that same reason, our advice is to STAY OUT!…especially if you are easily mesmerized by loud noises, flashing lights and shiny objects going around in circles (NASCAR fans…are you paying attention?)

Tip: Occasionally people just have to test Lady Luck. If this is the case, set aside a fixed amount of money – an amount that you can afford to lose – and when that is gone, casually sip the last of your drink – but NEVER eat the ice; nervous, out-of-control ice eaters have been known to snow in their pants – then slowly but humbly stagger away from the table with downcast eyes, pockets turned inside out. Your dog will still love you.

How to earn a free cruise -

It is a well known secret that cruise lines offer a “TC” – or Tour Conductor berth – to travel agencies booking groups. With most cruise lines the ratio is one free for every fifteen full fare paying passengers traveling on the same cruise. The sixteenth person pays only the taxes and fees. (Note that only the first two people occupying a cabin are credited towards the TC- third and fourth people sharing a cabin at a discount rate don’t count- so you can’t stack-the-deck by cramming five people into each of three cabins.)

Tip - There several ways to leverage this offer – and most travel agencies will work with you on this. Give the credit away to a fellow cruiser; use it to defer your own cost of cruising; tell your travel agent that you want the credit to be an overall discount for the group- or, like a bankrupt CEO bailed out by tax payer money – skip the cruise, pocket the credit as a cash bonus and retire to your deluxe double-wide on the shores of Lake Titicaca.

Pros & cons of booking direct with the cruise line -

Pros – If you know exactly which line you want to take, the cruise line should be able to answer all your questions in great detail and will take your booking direct. You can access a cruise line’s online booking engine 24/7 and not have to wait for the travel agency to open for business.

Cons -The cruise line is going to offer the same price as travel agents – you won’t save any money on the fare. However, they are not going to tell you about any other cruise line that might match your needs – or have lower prices for the same itinerary. If you register on many of the cruise lines own sites for information, the lines will contact you often. One can receive weekly phone calls and emails for months or years!

Once you’ve talked with a travel agency, you need to let the agency handle the cruise booking details, follow up questions, etc. (although other cruise related add-ons such as airfare, hotels, car rental, travel insurance, shore excursions, etc. can still be handled on your own – or online if you are a “do-it-yourselfer” and wish to avoid agency service fees.)

If the cruise line knows that you have already reserved space through an agency they are not likely to provide further information. In such case, when called directly, the cruise line will stonewall – relentlessly referring you back to your travel agent for any more details.

Now you are ready to cruise – to max the experience while controlling the costs. But there’s more. Coming soon – articles on getting the best airfare; the best stateroom, maximizing onboard experiences such as dining, activities, entertainment, as well as how to get the best deal on travel insurance (hint: it is usually NOT the coverage offered by the cruise line).   – Lyn Edwin Cathey

Lyn Cathey
http://www.articlesbase.com/cruising-articles/the-perfect-cruise-vacation-how-to-spend-less-for-the-very-best-1134332.html

The Bank of America – Hawaiian Airlines Visa Platinum card is suitable for you if you have an excellent credit background and is a frequent flyer with the Hawaiian Airlines.

The Card And Its Benefits

The advantage of opting for the Bank of America – Hawaiian Airlines Visa Platinum is its fantastic air-miles rewards program that permits you to obtain discount for airfares.

After you sign up for the Hawaiian Airlines Visa, you will automatically receive 10000 Hawaiian Miles. With the renewal of your account every year, the cardholder will get an anniversary gift of 2000 Hawaiian Miles. You can also save and gather your miles for discounts and airfare.

Regular, everyday purchases that you make with the card will get you extra Hawaiian Miles and you can gather up to 100000 miles per year. Moreover, for spending a dollar with the card, you will get one Hawaiian Mile and for spending a dollar through the Hawaiian Airlines (for tickets and vacation packages), you will stand to gain two Hawaiian Miles.

The most attractive reward coming your way as part of the card’s Reward Program is a 50% discount voucher with a regular full-coach fare ticket for your traveling companion or partner, with applicable fees, taxes and surcharges. So, you can always plan and enjoy your Hawaiian vacation with your partner by your side. All the more, the Hawaiian Miles program will let you save on a large amount of money when the card is in use.

Other Plus points

The Bank of America – Hawaiian Airlines Visa Platinum card will provide the cardholder with a credit line that sums up to $25000 depending on the cardholder’s credit history and level of income. The card further enables you to check your account balance through the online account feature. It allows you to write free convenience checks in places where credit cards are not accepted.

You can confidently use the Hawaiian Airlines Visa card coupled with the total security protection program. You will not be liable for unauthorized Internet purchases with the card. The interest rate for the balance transfers and purchases is affordable for a reward card. However, the card is just not meant for you if have plans to carry a balance.

Perks

Other than the beneficial reward program, the cardholders can also avail of benefits like numerous emergency and travel assistance services, extended warranty protection, emergency airline ticket replacement, up to $1000000 travel accident insurance, optional mini card, auto rental insurance, optional personal photo on the card, hotel theft and lost luggage insurance and online banking facilities.

Richard Gilliland
http://www.articlesbase.com/credit-articles/the-bank-of-america-hawaiian-airlines-visa-platinum-for-the-hawaiian-airlines-traveler-136776.html