Grounded
We don’t need to tell you coronavirus has grounded travellers. According to the TSA, on a single day a year ago – March 29, 2019 – more than 2.5 million people passed through security checkpoints in U.S. airports. One year later – March 29, 2020 – the number dropped to 180,000. A loss of 90+ percent!
So what’s a traveler to do? Wait. Wait for the all clear from health and government authorities. In the meantime, you can dream about where you want to go next, and we can help make those dreams come true. Go to FareCompare to look for cheap airfare now, book for later. These four steps will get you started.
Step 1 – When to fly
No one can tell you when COVID-19 will subside and quarantines are cancelled but if your airline allows waives cancellation fees, you’re allowed to guess about travel dates. Suggestion: Fall is always an excellent (and cheap) time to fly, as is early winter. If you’re looking for a super bargain, try flying in early November (just before the U.S. holiday of Thanksgiving). If you’re looking for a family reunion, go ahead and book flights for Thanksgiving fares or Christmas and/or New Year’s. Don’t worry about paying top dollar; FareCompare CEO Rick Seaney says airlines will probably need to continue luring us back on planes throughout the year and the easiest way to do this is by cutting prices.
Step 2 – Find cheap flights
Cheap times to fly begin in late August for domestic and international travel, with fall and winter begin cheapest but how you fly can save money, too. Suggestions:
Cheap times: Fly early in the morning, at the dinner hour or overnight.
Cheap routes: Connecting flights can be cheaper than non-stops so compare fares for both.
Step 4 – Before you buy
Before you book the deal you found for fall or winter or whenever, check out your airline’s cancellation policy – and here’s a list. Most carriers are waiving change fees which (can run up to $200) but check to be sure your travel dates are covered, so you won’t have to worry if you change your mind about flying later on.
Step 4 – Stay connected
The only thing consistent about this pandemic has been that it follows no rules and everything keeps changing. The solution is to stay on top of the news and follow your airline on Twitter and Facebook, and keep checking the website for changes to its coronavirus policies.
But let’s look ahead to getting back in the air. Ready? Look for cheap airfare now, book for later.
The post Coronavirus: Look for Cheap Airfare Now, Book for Later appeared first on FareCompare.
