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Flying smarter: 10 money-saving tips for budget travelers

  Airfares in 2024 have been a something of a mixed bag - generally down to/from/within Europe and the United States, but pricier when it comes to Africa and parts of Asia, as well as the Middle East and South America. Regardless, to make the most of your travel budget and leave you more for enjoying destinations once you get there, here are a handful of proven strategies read post  

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Started by Tripatini
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Avgeek alert: the various stages of flight

You get on the plane and, while you listen to music, read a book or rest, there are messages that are heard through the loudspeaker. Often these messages have to do with each phase of the flight of the plane that takes you from your holiday or work destination to home (or vice versa). Today we are going to learn about each of these phases a little more in depth and also about which professionals contribute to each one.Read post   

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Started by Iberia Airlines
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The top 10 of the world´s most expensive/luxurious airlines

  Daniel Gillaspia Luxury abounds in the arena of commercial aviation, luxury abounds, from comfortable, stylish cabins to gourmet dining to private accommodations, all complemented with superlative service. These airlines are the standouts which routinely appear on the annual surveys of the world´s best, and which make the journey itself a big part of the pleasure of travel. read post  

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Started by Tripatini
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  • Anil October 1, 2011 at 10:04pm

    Buzzy: How interesting. I thought the T&C for many eCerts prevented exchange and/or trading for monies or other goods ?

     

    Anyways, great :)

  • Buzzy Gordon October 1, 2011 at 2:10am
    FYI, I was able to find a consolidator in Chicago who took all my eCerts (3 in total, on two different airlines) and gave me credit toward a future purchase. I think this is the best option, but I appreciate everyone's help.
  • Buzzy Gordon September 25, 2011 at 12:15am

    Thanks again. It's amazing how expensive these non-refundable fares are. And that hassle about not being able to redeem online is scary; the website says there is a fee for doing this anywhere else but delta.com.

  • Anil September 22, 2011 at 11:36pm
    Tony: Great posting. I used the 331 day rule to use an expiring pair of PMU in the 90s.
  • Tony Abreu September 22, 2011 at 10:41pm
    Buzzy.
    Here is a story how one blogger did it.
    http://andrewmtrav.blogspot.com/2011/01/building-up-to-berlin-booki...
    Building up to Berlin booking
    I've been silent on this blog since my return from Italy. I'm back on my original concept of the blog being mainly about my international t...
  • Tony Abreu September 22, 2011 at 8:26pm
    UNRESTRICTED is not only REFUNDABLE but also has NO PENALTY.
    Be careful with REFUNDABLE since it might not be FULLY REFUNDABLE WITHOUT PENALTY.

    Also UNRESTRICTED CAN BE CHANGED WITHOUT PENALTY.

    For one-way look for Y0 (Y ZERO) fare basis in Delta.

    Good Luck, Tony
    penalty.be is for sale !!
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  • Buzzy Gordon September 22, 2011 at 8:09pm
    Thanks for the detailed instructions, Tony.  Is there a difference between REFUNDABLE and UNRESTRICTED? Is there a fare basis code I should look out for?
  • Tony Abreu September 22, 2011 at 4:42pm
    Buzzy, if you haven't done so already, here are the steps...
    Use your eCert to buy a ECONOMY UNRESTRICTED (Y) one-way ticket from Delta that is closest to $300 as possible. You may have to shell out additional cash to do this.
    A example for ECONOMY UNRESTRICTED fare is:
    CHIDTT-DL 22SEP11 *RULE DISPLAY* TARIFF 0011 RULE 9000
    013-FARE BASIS USD TAX TOTAL PTC FT
    Y0 502.33 37.67 540.00 ADT NL

    Book the ticket for date as far advance as possible. Let's day 331 days from now. I can see seats as far as 18AUG2012.

    DL2470Y 18AUG SA ORDDTW 700A 926A
    *OPERATED BY MESABA DBA DELTA CONNECTION

    The total ticket price is:
    TICKET BASE USD TX/FEE USD TKT TTL USD
    ADT01 530.24 50.46 580.70
    *TTL 530.24 50.46 580.70

    FBC ADT Y0
    ADT CHI DL DTT Q27.91 502.33USD530.24END DL ZPORD XT2.50AY 4.50XF ORD4.5

    So you need to pony up $280.70.
    But now you will be holding a fully refundable, changeable, exchangeable ticket worth $580.70. Note Delta might limit refund to vouchers.

    When you need to travel later on Delta (but before 18AUG12), just exchange this ticket with the one you really want and pay the difference.

    Note: the key is to buy an UNRESTRICTED ticket with your eCert with the least additional money out.
    -tony
  • Anil September 19, 2011 at 5:22pm
    Buzzy: yes I know DL does not fly to Antigua on that route pair, it does fly JFK-ANU seasonally. Nick is correct. You can book a flight with eCertificate, and in your case a Denied Boarding Compensation. You can use the Cert towards any fare. But do check the T&C and check flyertalk for recent strategies. There are many Frequent Flyers who have a similar situation, and some have used a combination of strategies.
  • Nick Walkland September 19, 2011 at 9:09am

    Taking frequent flyer points out of the equation, I think Anil is suggesting buying the most cost-effective fully flexible ticket with the voucher now - 300+ days in advance - and then, when you know where you want to go, exchange it for the desired flight in full.

    As these tickets are supposedly fully refundable/exchangeable (although Delta are unlikely to refund the voucher as cash) demand another voucher as you bought the fully flexible ticket in good faith.

    Of course, I don't have the T&Cs with their Delta 'get out clauses'.

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