All
About Travel Discounts For Students
By
Anne Marie Razza, Orbitz Airfare Expert
There
are many ways for students to snag a bargain airfare using the
Internet. But you have to consider what type of fare you purchase,
who is selling the ticket, as well as when and where you travel.
Here's
some advice -- and some caveats -- for finding budget-friendly
fares for students:
Types
of Fares
Orbitz,
for example, has partnered with Student Universe, an online travel
site for college students and faculty. Students or teachers register
with an ".edu" e-mail address, which must be verified
before "qualifying" to receive travel discounts. Choices
of airline or departure time may be limited, but the savings can
be worth it. You can make a reservation only for yourself through
Student Universe.
If
you're traveling with a companion, you might want to check online
travel agencies for companion fares -- specials for parties of
two or more traveling together. To get these fares, you and your
companion must always be on the same flight. If one person changes
flight plans, that could mean higher fares for each traveler --
even the passenger who adheres to the original itinerary.
Web-only
fares are another category of bargain fares available only through
the Internet. For even deeper discounts, look for Weekend Web
Fares. Airlines trying to unload inventory release these fares
early Wednesday morning for travel beginning Thursday, Friday
or Saturday and returning Sunday, Monday or Tuesday. It's perfect
for a last-minute trip. Orbitz' Flex Search also provides an easy,
quick way to find the cheapest weekend to fly in a month.
Alternative
Sellers
Some sites, like Hotwire, also allow you to bid on fares. However,
you don't find out the airline or flight times until you make
the purchase.
Some
students also swear by consolidators, who re-sell tickets they
have bought in bulk from the airline.
Other
adventurous types choose to fly internationally as a courier for
a shipping company. In exchange for a cheap seat on a courier
flight, you typically forfeit your checked baggage allowance (the
freight fills your checked-baggage allotment) and may be required
to hand off courier documents.
Things
To Remember About Student Travel Discounts
1)
Rules, rules... Online ticket availability is often limited
and carries many restrictions.
2)
No refunds, please. For tickets purchased online, no
cash refunds are generally given. Many airlines will grant you
a credit, in which you can maintain the credited rate and apply
that to your next ticket purchase with their company.
3)
Mistakes are not good. If you accidentally type in the
wrong date, or constantly have changing plans, be aware there
may not be any online costumer service agents to help you sort
out the mess you created while buying your ticket.
4)
Be flexible. Getting the cheapest possible fare depend
on your trip's timing, how far ahead you plan how long you stay
at your destination, and how flexible you can be on days and hours
of your travel. The fewer limitations you have, the better your
chance at finding the cheaper fares.
5)
Get benchmarks for pricing. Start by searching the major
airline sites and using their price quotes as benchmark prices.*
From there, compare those prices with the major online travel
companies, such as Travelocity, Expedia, and Priceline.
6)
Last minute? Some airlines list discounted trips each
Wednesday for that following weekend. Airlines will also run frequent
specials on their websites, so do not totally disregard these
sites.
7)
Name your price. Priceline.com lets the consumer bid
for a flight and oftentimes can come out with an astonishingly
low fare. Be aware that trips must be roundtrip, only coach class,
and you must give your credit card number when making your bid.
There is no refund possible.
8)
Not exactly roundtrip? Online booking also has benefits
for you. "Open jaw" excursion tickets let you leave
from a different destination than the one you flew into. Those
tickets typically cost half the price of a regular round trip
ticket to each destination.
Anne
Marie Razza is a 24-year veteran of the travel industry.
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