5 Tips for Flying the Frugal Skies

I remember when you could buy a coach airplane ticket, have plenty of legroom and overhead storage space. The airline hostesses brought me lots of juice, snacks, and let me visit the cockpit. Lunch was included on long trips, movies were shown and no additional fees were necessary for headphones, blankies, pillows, crayons, or my complimentary plastic airplane toy.

That was a different time.

Some airlines are now charging extra costs to the customer for storing luggage for overhead bins, personal escorts from the gate, to baggage claim, and to the taxi stands. US Airways even charges fees for reserving window/aisle seats towards the front of coach. Other ideas airlines are toying with is offering premium meals, providing in-flight spa services, renting entertainment devices, paying extra to keep the middle seat empty, and even charging fees for restroom use!

 These companies, are dealing with very different economic realities today. 

This winter, several major storms swept across the United States, costing the airlines hundreds of millions of dollars from cancellations. Then, unrest in the Middle East sent oil prices above $100 a barrel, which pushed up jet fuel costs. Now, the disaster in Japan is threatening traffic to the region at a time when US airlines are focusing more on international flights.

 --Read the rest of the article at The Boston Globe.

 Still, there are ways to minimize your expense while traveling the friendly skies:

1. Comparison Shopping sites - Use travel sites (Learnvest recommends Kayak.com but my favorite is expedia.com) to look at air fares for multiple airlines with several stop-over options. Usually, if you are willing to add a stop-over in your itinerary, you can lower the price of your ticket. Try to get a stop-over in an airport that isn't very busy.
Note: JFK is NOT one of them. 

Also airfarewatchdog.com can send you e-mail updates on how fares are looking out of your hometown airport.

2. Look for Red Eye flights- These are overnight flights, so plan on getting to the airport late and getting picked-up early in the morning. The advantages are that they are usually cheaper, you can get some rest and be ready for a full day of work/fun when you land, you avoid lines at the airport.

3. Pack Light -  With more and more airlines charging extra fees for checked-in bags, it makes more financial sense to bring less stuff. Pack what you can into your carry-on luggage, just remember the security guidelines on liquids is 100 milliliters. You can buy small travel-size, clear, plastic bottles at Walmart and fill them up with the shampoos, toothpaste, mouthwash you currently have at home, instead of buying new products.

Be honest with yourself. If you are going away for a week, you probably don't need more than 3 outfits: casual, business, and work-out clothing. Also, that's 2 pairs of shoes; formal, and sneakers.

Remember, women get 1 purse, and 1 carry-on. You're purse just has to be able to fit underneath the seat in front of you, and if you have a large purse, you can fit quite a bit of cosmetics and personal items into it.

4. Bring your own Food- Don't pay $10 for airplane food!!! Bring a sandwich from home that won't get soggy, like a grilled pannini with mozzarella cheese, tomato, and basil. Bring along an orange, and a baggie of dried fruit's and nuts and you should be good. Don't feel shy to ask the stewards for lots of water to keep yourself hydrated on the trip. Chances are, security won't let you bring bottled water through to the gate.

5. Avoid Airport Parking Lots- If you can mange it, don't park your car in the airport parking lot. This is a sample of BOS Logan Airport's Central Parking Fees: First Day: 0 - 30 minutes $3.00   31 minutes - 1 hour $6.00   1 hour -1 ½ hours $9.00    1 ½ hours - 2 hours   $12.00  2 hours - 3 hours $15.00    3 hours - 4 hours   $18.00   4 hours - 7 hours    $22.00  7 hours - 24 hours $24.00    1 Day & 0-6 hours    $36.00  1 Day & 6-24 hours $48.00  Each Additional Day  $24.00   Additional Day 0-6 hours $12.00    Lost Parking Ticket Fee:     Applicable Parking Fee + $5.00
Obviously parking your car will add-up...fast. Instead, make use of public transportation and commuter rails. Most airports have cell phone lots where your ride can wait for about 30 minutes to pick you up. These lots are very close to the terminal, and you could always split the cost of gas with your friend.
6. Offer to give up your seat- Be careful. Make sure the airline can guarantee that you will be transferred to another plane within the same airline, or you might be in for a headache. If you play your cards right, you can score perks like an upgrade certificate, or access to the premier traveler lounges. Hello pineapple-coconut shrimp!