Special Offers

As you peruse various Internet search engines and airline websites you’ll see special offers. This is the bargain bin for cheap flights. Learn to use them in your planning mix. With money becoming so tight, the airlines can ill afford empty seats. That's why some of the airlines will e-mail you with their weekly special offers. It's the reason they will offer low fares on routes where competition is keen.

Nothing is perfect, not even deeply discounted Internet airfares. Here are some pitfalls to be aware of:

• Most are highly restricted. You should never book a fare on line until you have read and understood the fine print. The dates are usually fairly narrow, so check not only the deadline for purchase but also the time in which travel must be completed.
• Offers vanish without notice. Don't expect a price to be there the next day, and don't expect an explanation for the disappearance. If you like it, buy it.
• Look for hidden charges. Most airlines don't try to be deceptive, but they are trying to catch your attention. For that reason, they'll splash the base fare across your computer screen, and mention the additional taxes on a separate page. Total up the full price before you compare it with quotes from the search engines.