I frequently get asked questions about locating the best fares, how much tickets cost, and related fare questions. When it comes to these type of questions, I’m in the same boat as everyone else. I have to price out the best fares that I can find, balance that against the cost of a standby pass (and the attendant risks of not getting on a flight), and make the best decision that I can.
Today’s questions comes from Joan, who asks:
Q. How much would a flight to Italy be? Before I go ahead, is there any pointers you might have? Please point me in the right direction. Thank you very much.
A. First of all, I want to make it very clear that I don’t claim to be a guru of the air fare wars. I am just as frustrated as everyone else with the nutty way of pricing that the airlines seem to have. I may work in the industry, but that’s not to say I agree with the pricing model. I want to know the full cost of a ticket, including all the taxes and special fees. Don’t tempt me with superficially low fees, and then make me feel like I’ve been conned when I get to the part where I pay the bill.
I’m a fan of two sites that I use for every booking decision that I make – Kayak and Fare Compare. While they may not work for everyone, and I have lots of friends who swear by other options, these are the ones that work for me. I used Fare Compare and Kayak to watch prices for a trip to Italy last spring, and I also used my standard price checking process to make sure that I got the best deal.
For my trip to Italy this year (that’s where I am now), I used points to travel First/Business Class, which is an entirely different process.
The best advice that I can give is to do your homework, try to be as flexible as you can, and not lose sleep over $100. I would never let the fact that I could have gotten a cheaper air fare ruin a wonderful vacation in Italy.
Buongiorno!
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