There’s still time to get holiday deals

By R.J. Heim
Meteorologist & Reporter
Published: November 21, 2008

Haven’t made your holiday travel plans yet?  Well, you’re not alone.

But even though many of the standard days for flying are sold out—the day before the actual holiday and the following Sunday to come back—if you’re flexible, you’re in luck.

“Move their destination dates around by one or two days, we can usually find them something,“ said Nancy DiGiglio of Anyplace Travel.  And those days are usually cheaper to fly she says.

“If you can go and spend an extra day or two with your relatives, that Monday or Tuesday, there’s probably some seats available, and there might be some good fares out there still,“ said Howard Lodge of SouthWest Airlines.

There are bargains out there to be had if you really want to get away—far away—for a holiday adventure.

There is a $60 roundtrip fare to Madrid right now and to Barcelona.  It’s Iberian Airlines, but if you add in the taxes, you’re looking at a total fare of $457, which is still a bargain,” says DiGiglio.

That deal is good through March of 2009. It’s offseason, but Europe nonetheless.  And the exchange rate is finally getting back to parity.  You’ll spend $1.25 to get one euro, which is better than $1.60 this past July.

“The good news about this economic time is that we can offer five-star hotels for three-star pricing,“ she says

People are still traveling, 90 percent as many as last year.  Even with concern over the economy, most are booking their trips anyhow.  But beware of fewer available flights overall.

On most airlines, there’s still a charge for an extra checked bag:  $15 each way—no charge for a second bag on Southwest. But on most, if it’s overweight, there is a fee.

“My advice is to pack light, Go to a nice warm climate where you just need a bathing suit and some flip-flops, and you won’t have to pay the luggage fees. Or even better, take just a carry-on,” DiGiglio said.

“I have it down to a science.  I know exactly what I need to put in there, and I roll my clothes so it takes up less space, and shoes go on the bottom and I go up from there,“ said traveler Kristina Woessner of Somerville, Mass.

“If there’s a better deal that emerges between the time of the actual deposit and the final payment it’s all retro, and we keep tabs on that.  So, there’s really no advantage to booking late.  The advantage is if you book early you get everything that you wanted.  And then if there’s a sale, you get that benefit as well,“ said DiGiglio.

Many of you are choosing to forget the economy. You can get out of the cold right now and go to Belize roundtrip for $354 with tax.  An all inclusive deal to Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic is $799.

“Sometimes you can’t even get to New York for the weekend for that kind of price,“ DiGiglio said. “Everybody needs a break from the action.“

Ten percent fewer travelers over this time last year at T.F. Green Airport should mean less aggravation, but don’t ignore the rules.

“People who don’t have their stuff packed the way they should so that when they get through the checkpoint everything has to come out and get tossed and separated usually,“ said Anne Klumbis of Charlestown.

Best advice: There are some cheaper prices if you shop around and are flexible.