Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

GETTING THERE 53
FLYING FOR LESS: TIPS FOR
GETTING THE BEST AIRFARE
If you’re flying from the United States,
keep in mind that the airlines’ low season
is from mid-April to the end of
August—and this happens to be the
best time to travel most parts of Australia.
High season is December
through February, and shoulder season
is September through November,
and again from March to mid-April.
Keep an eye out for special deals
throughout the year. Unexpected lows
in airline passenger loads often lead
airlines to put cheap offers on the
market. The catch is these usually have
a short lead-time, requiring you to
travel in the next 6 weeks or so. Some
deals involve taking a circuitous route,
via Japan, for instance.
Some travel agents specializing in
cheap fares include Austravel (& 800/
633-3404 in the U.S. and Canada, or
0870/055-0239 in the U.K.; www.aus
travel.net); Downunder Direct, a division
of Swain Australia (& 800/642-
6224 in the U.S. and Canada; www.
downunderdirect.com); and Goway
(& 800/387-8850 in the U.S. and
Canada; www.goway.com).
Here are some other ways to keep
your airfare costs down:
• Passengers who can book their
tickets long in advance, who can
stay over Saturday night, or who
fly midweek or at less-trafficked
hours will pay a fraction of the
full fare. If your schedule is flexible,
say so, and ask if you can
secure a cheaper fare by changing
your plans.
• Save on airfares by keeping an eye
out in local newspapers for promotional
specials or fare wars, when
airlines lower prices on their most
popular routes. You rarely see fare
wars offered for peak travel times,
but if you travel in the off-months,
you may snag a bargain.
• Search the Internet for cheap fares
(see “Planning an Affordable Trip
Online” above).
• Try to book a ticket in its country
of origin. For instance, if you’re
planning a one-way flight from
Sydney to Auckland, an Australian-based
travel agent such as
Flight Centres (& 13 31 33 in
Australia) will probably have the
lowest fares. For multi-leg trips,
book in the country of the first leg;
for example, book Melbourne-
Auckland-Los Angeles in Australia.
• Consolidators, also known as
bucket shops, are great sources for
international tickets. Start by looking
in Sunday newspaper travel
sections; U.S. travelers should
focus on the New York Times, Los
Angeles Times, and Miami Herald.
Travel in the Age of Bankruptcy
At press time, two major U.S. airlines were struggling in bankruptcy court
and most of the rest weren’t doing very well either. To protect yourself,
buy your tickets with a credit card, as the Fair Credit Billing Act guarantees
that you can get your money back from the credit card company if a
travel supplier goes under (and if you request the refund within 60 days
of the bankruptcy). Travel insurance can also help, but make sure it covers
against “carrier default” for your specific travel provider. And be
aware that if a U.S. airline goes bust mid-trip, a 2001 federal law requires
other carriers to take you to your destination (albeit on a space-available
basis) for a fee of no more than $25, provided you rebook within 60 days
of the cancellation.