Flying to a college football game? Score a deal
NEW YORK — Smell the tailgate party — it’s college football season. But if you are flying in for a game, you might be headed for a headache. Cutbacks at major airlines have made flight choices more difficult this fall, especially to smaller college towns. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when planning your trip:
The pre-game Here’s the rundown if you have not flown in a while: Planes are fuller and there are fewer flights because of schedule cutbacks across the industry. Fares have gone up, particularly to smaller towns that are often dominated by a single major airline. Airlines have also become more dependent upon fees and surcharges, which means there are plenty more to look out for.
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But there is good news, too. Unless you are flying to a game around Thanksgiving, peak day travel surcharges are virtually nonexistent this year. Also, fall fare sales are abundant but you have to know where to look. Expedia and Orbitz will give you a range of options to compare, but do not rule out sites like Travelzoo, which point out the ideal sales. Fans take note: deals include one from American Airlines, with flights starting at $59 each way on more than 100 routes, and a nation-wide fare sales from AirTran with fares starting at $54.
On the offense It’s important to sign up for fare alerts on sites like Travelzoo or Kayak to keep on top of the latest deals if you want to make it to the huge game. Airlines have shifted toward last-minute sales aimed at drumming up attention on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter and getting passengers to book fast. The sales, often only two or three days long, do not leave you much time to decide whether the fare is a good one. That’s where research comes in handy. If you know a basic range of fare prices you can feel more confident to book a low price or let a higher one go.
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Another important tip to remember for college football fans? Be sure to include several different airports in your search. If you are a fan of the No. 1-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide, for instance, include flights to Atlanta as well as Birmingham. A few hours in a rental automobile might be worth a drop in price — especially if you were planning to rent a automobile once you reached campus in Tuscaloosa. Fans of the Ohio State Buckeyes, ranked second in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, will have less trouble finding cheap flights. Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest cities home to a top-ranked college football team, along with Fort Worth, home to No. 5 Texas Christian University.
University of Florida die-hards can look forward to more choices this year. American Airlines is adding service to Gainesville, Fla. on Oct. 1.
Time out Experts suggest travelers should book about eight weeks in advance. Still, it’s not the end of the world if you do not have that much time. Although ticket prices are higher than last year, there are more fare sales now than during the summer because airlines are anxious to fill seats in one of the weakest periods of the year. The month after Labor Day can be especially bad for the airlines, as summer vacations end and children go back to school. So if you are looking for a good deal, it’s likely still out there. Hotel prices do not sway so quickly, but rooms are also cheaper than last year.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Submited at Thursday, September 9th, 2010 at 4:00 am on Tips by hilman
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