- Limo ride to/from the airport
Visitors to (or residents living in) Manhattan or the San Francisco Bay Area should check out Hitchsters.com, which connects travelers going to and from their local airport so they can share a ride (and thus split the fare). Treat yourself to a semi-private car service instead of taking public transportation, a taxi or asking family or friends for a lift.
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- Day pass to an airline lounge
While entrance is typically limited to first- and business-class travelers, anyone can purchase a day pass to a lounge which lets you sit back and relax like a VIP before your next flight. The newly remodeled 32,000-square-foot, 504-seat American Airlines Admirals Club inside Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, for example, offers a range of amenities including a walk-up cyber café, free Wi-Fi, spa-like shower facilities, and complimentary coffee, tea, soft drinks, juices and light snacks—all for just $50.
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- First class upgrade
Some carriers offer last-minute upgrades to the first class cabin for as low as $25 on some flights, so it’s worth finding out if the option is available when checking in. In addition, you may also be able to get yourself to the front of the plane by redeeming frequent flier miles.
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- Helicopter transfer
Those visiting The Big Apple can arrive in style with the help of companies such as Flyush.com, which offers helicopter rides every hour to central Manhattan from JFK and Newark airports. Though the cost of the eight-minute service is around $170, consider this a unique opportunity to not only get from the airport in minutes, but also to experience an unforgettable mini-tour of the city. (With a similar helicopter tour running about $135 and a cab from the airport about $50, treating yourself to this luxury is a comparable value.)
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- Look for Promo Codes
Airlines are increasingly offering promotion codes. Discounts range from $10 to 50% off published fares. To get the codes, sign up for the airlines' frequent flyer programs and newsletters. These fares are never listed on other popular travel sites.
Source: Airfarewatchdog.com
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- Watch out for surprising sales that sometimes appear on Saturdays and holiday weekends.
For example, during the Martin Luther King 3-day weekend this year, US Airways launched an unadvertised sale to Europe with fares up to 60% off. For competitive reasons, airlines often sneak in the very best unadvertised sales when they think the competition isn't watching.
Source: Airfarewatchdog.com
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- Search for fares throughout the day, several times a day.
Fares go up and down throughout the day, so if you don't like what you see at 10 a.m., come back later and search again. Seat availability can also change throughout the day, so check often.
Source: Airfarewatchdog.com
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- Use consolidators for international business- and first-class fares.
With the economic downturn, business- and first-class cabins are likely to be emptier in 2009, and deals could be amazing. Consolidators specializing in premium cabins are likely to have some great deals, and airlines will probably heavily discount their premium cabins, so check their website specials. Do a Google search for "first-class consolidators" to see some of the firms in this space.
Source: Airfarewatchdog.com
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- Tips for Flying With Tots
Three words: Portable. DVD. Player.
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- Tips for Flying With Tots
Fly a kid-friendly airline like Frontier, JetBlue, or Virgin America with seat back televisions. There's almost always a channel with children's programming.
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