Wondering how to get the best air fare online? It’s more difficult than you might think.
Think you know all the tricks when it comes to finding the best airfare online? Be aware that some websites don’t offer all the best fares, and some may even mislead unwary buyers.
According to an article on Aviation.com (http://www.aviation.com/travel/071113-airlines-best-deals.html ), many airlines only offer their best fares on their own websites. That means that online travel agencies and booking engines such as Expedia, Kayak, and Travelocity often don’t see the best deals. Contrary to what many travellers assume, not all airlines are represented on many sites. In fact, many low-cost carriers only sell through their websites rather than through agents or aggregators.
But are airline websites the way to go? Not necessarily. According to an article on BBC news (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7091950.stm) , the European Commission found that at least half of all European airline websites were misleading and did not complying with EU law. Some violations included flights advertised as “free” that weren’t free at all and advertised prices that did not include taxes and other charges, such as new fuel surcharges. Some websites even require the purchase of other services, such as travel insurance.
The solution? Be prepared to put in some extra time searching for fares and consult a variety of sources. Look for “hidden costs” like taxes, service charges and fuel surcharges. Look for websites that offers alerts when deals become available. (Hint: Look for RSS feeds – they won’t clog your inbox).
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