Attendees are responsible to secure and pay for their own airfare. We recommend using a travel agent, especially if you’re not used to flying internationally. There is a fee for using an agent, but it’s a small price to pay for an “800″ number and 24/7 support during your trip. Here are some things to consider when planning your trip.
Finding the Right Fare
Flights are usually scheduled with many different fares. Early bird fares are the least expensive, targeted to budget travelers and offered 6+ months out. The next round is the moderate fares, directed at casual and business travelers – those who plan 3-6 months out. The 1-3 month advance purchaser is usually a business traveler and doesn’t have much flexibility, so they have to accept a higher fare for buying closer to time of departure. The last and most expensive fares are purchased within 30 days of travel.
Add to this the fact that airlines are paring down their costs – taking planes off line, scheduling fewer flights by eliminating some routes or making fewer trips per week to many locations. This results in fewer options, fewer total seats available, and higher prices for the seats that are open. Traveling with air miles? Those seats are gone first and, for the more popular destinations, months ahead of the travel date.
Want to know if prices are more likely to go up or down after you purchase? If the website allows it, look at the seating chart. Is the plane almost full when you consider purchasing? If so, chances are prices will only go up, as there are few seats left. Is the flight during a high traffic period, such as a holiday or college break? Demand will be high during those times, so less chance of seeing any fare specials.
(View recent airfare prices HERE)
Convenience
You’ll often find a wide variety of prices for the same itineraries, even within the same airline. Keep in mind, with every discount, there is usually something you give up to pay for it. The lowest fares often will have multiple connections – sometimes in the opposite direction of your destination – stretching what should be a 5 hour flight into 10 or 15. With more connections comes a greater chance for delays, lost luggage, missed connections, etc.
Many cheap itineraries include overnight flights, or red-eye flights – departure at 11 PM, arrival at 6 AM. Not too bad if you can sleep on the plane. Other itineraries just have overnight layovers – arrival at 11 PM, departure at 6 AM the next morning – so you’ll be sleeping in the airport. Who’s going to watch your carry-on and computer while you’re sleeping?
And figure-in your additional costs. If you’re traveling 12 hours instead of 6, how will you feel on arrival? Are you going to buy a meal at the airport, maybe a couple coffees? Arriving at your destination hungry, tired and with a pain in your neck from sleeping on a bench may not be worth saving $75.
Are you a first time flyer, or is it your first time out of the country? You should consider connecting flights only in the U.S. If your Mexico connection is missed or canceled, you may have difficulty getting re-booked – especially if you don’t speak the language or know how to use the phone system – and some foreign airports can be downright dangerous.
Getting to Cabo is your goal, right? Be careful of traveling through airports that experience extreme winter weather. Hubs like Chicago or Denver, if hit hard by snow, can experience a high rate of delays and cancellations. If possible, try to connect through southern cities, where there are fewer annual problems with ice and snow. That discounted ticket doesn’t do you any good if you can’t reach your destination.
Reliability
Travel agents are experienced travel professionals and can locate about every deal imaginable. They also know exactly what to look out for to ensure you make it to your destination. Does one airport have a particularly bad on-time record? They’ll know to give you more time between your flights. And they usually provide a toll-free number you can call in case your connection is missed or cancelled. That’s a world of difference to standing in a long line at the ticket desk trying to get re-booked.
When troubles occur during your trip, airlines are most likely to deal first with those they know can affect their reputation. A college kid doesn’t concern them much. A travel agent who can pull business from them gets much more attention. Canyon Creek Travel is our approved travel partner and is a very good start to your airfare search. They also can get you the best group rates available – even if you’re traveling alone – because they’re buying for all of ALA, not just you.
You may find lower fares online – that’s fine. Quote them to Lynn Barrera at Canyon Creek Travel and let her tell you why the fares are that price. She may give you options that are a bit more money, but much more reliable in getting you to your destination on time. And yes, they do charge a $35 ticketing fee. Not a bad price for 24/7 travel support during your trip. It’s like insurance – you don’t know you need it until you need it, but when you need it, it’s a life-saver. Just ask some of the students who get stuck overnight in the Mexico City airport each year, because they wanted to save $50.
Give Lynn a call and ask her to price your trip. Her number is 866-415-4900. Asking for a price is not a commitment to buy, but it’s a great first step.
Additional Online Guides, Articles & Resources:
Fodor’s Travel Guide – Los Cabos
Lonely Planet – Cabo San Lucas Info
Virtual Tourist Guide – Cabo San Lucas