best airfares to Hawaii or the Caribbean?

Common wisdom is changing about how to book air. It used to be that the best way to get the lowest fare on the scheduled flight of your choice was to book on the airline's own website. With a quick search, you would see at a glance the lowest discounted fares on the available flights, and you'd buy your ticket with a click of the button with no booking fee. Often, this is still the best way.

But times have changed. Most airlines are running at a loss, due to higher fuel charges and — as my friend Joe Brancatelli would insist — managerial incompetence. Flights are being cut. With less seats to any given destination, the old law of supply and demand does its thing, resulting in higher prices. Last spring's $400 round-trip to Hawaii is today's $700 round-trip to Hawaii.

Here's a way (sometimes) to get a better deal to Hawaii and the Caribbean—and I stress sometimes. As a travel consultant, I work with wholesalers who put together packages to resorts in tropical destinations (and even to Europe and Asia). Wholesalers have contracted rates with airlines flying to their destinations. While it used to be that discounted published air was less expensive, I am now finding that my wholesaler's contracted rate is often the lowest fare.

And there are other advantages to booking these fares. They are cancelable and changeable. They do not have to be paid for until the final payment on your vacation package. With one recent booking, the only seats available at the bulk rate happened to be in the First Class cabin -- and my clients enjoyed flying up front all the way from Puerto Rico to San Francisco (at a negotiated coach price). Passengers can even obtain negotiated bulk fares in Business and First Class.

If this were not enough, my wholesaler can often provide a $200 credit toward a weekly car rental. They are on top of all the incentives offered by resorts (such free nights with a stay of a certain length). And, not least of all, with stiff cancelation charges especially during the Festive Season, you can purchase a very reasonably priced trip insurance package that allows cancelations for any reason.

Consider working with a leisure travel consultant for your next vacation. A good travel consultant will help you plan the optimal vacation, ensure that you receive the best value for your money, and take care of all the hassles of booking your trip.

Hawaii and the Caribbean (search here on Google)



copyright (c) 2008 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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