There are tricks to every trade. Ask any frequent flyer and you're likely to get an earful about how to navigate the increasingly complex world of planning, purchasing and executing a trip.
Lots of folks want to know the best time to buy their tickets. If you're traveling at Christmas or Spring Break, "now" would be the correct answer. Many of the prime dates already are sold out.
Don't purchase non-peak tickets too far ahead -- too many things can happen that require a date change, negating any fare savings. I pull the trigger between 18 and 29 days prior to departure. Anything inside of 14 days and you're asking for trouble: Either the seats won't be there, the fare will be astronomical, or both.
It's best to use mileage for short-notice trips. Most airlines will allow you to purchase additional miles to top off your account. That came in handy for me when I was 3,000 miles short for an award ticket to Jackson, Miss., using Alaska Airlines to Dallas, connecting to American Eagle's puddle-jumper into Jackson.
A few select cities are on sale: Washington, D.C., still is a bargain on Northwest at around $511 round trip from Anchorage. Fly to Hartford, Conn., on Northwest for $478 round trip. Compare that to $621 to Boston. I love Delta's deal to Salt Lake: just $373 round trip between now and Dec. 12.
After returning from a trip to Seattle last night, I'm amazed that airlines have managed to make all the extra fees permanent fixtures in the pricing structures. The fees for meals, for checked baggage, even fuel surcharges are with us for good.
Travelers are getting smarter, though. They're bringing aboard their own food. Between Seattle and Anchorage, the big favorite was Wolfgang Puck's restaurant on the D concourse: salads, pizzas and sandwiches. Between Anchorage and Seattle, more folks had Quizno's toasted subs. Either selection was much better than Alaska's Northern Bites service. Oh, don't forget: your cash is no good on Alaska Airlines. Only credit cards are accepted for drinks, video players and meals.
More travelers are jamming all their belongings into carry-on luggage. And why not? Airlines want to charge you to check your bags, then wait an extra hour or so to retrieve them? Never mind if they lose them or misplace them. It doesn't make sense. Some people simply must check their bags: Cyclists, wine lovers, surfers and hockey teams. The rest of us should just forget about it.
We've talked about renting cars off-airport to avoid excessive fees. But if you're stuck at a downtown hotel, you can avoid the usurious valet parking fees by parking at a nearby lot yourself. I just parked on the street in Seattle on Monday night. Of course, I had to get up early to go plug the meter, but the money I saved helped me pay for a nice breakfast.
While the occasional traveler remains fixated on the price of the air ticket, the car rental and the hotel, frequent travelers are more apt to shell out a few bucks to make the trip more comfortable. More airlines offer the option of a little more legroom or a first class upgrade for a fee. I like noise-canceling headphones. They really make a difference on a long flight. And I pay to belong to the airport lounge. It helps me decompress after the mandatory shakedown by the TSA.
Scott McMurren is an Anchorage-based travel marketing consultant. E-mail him at www.alaskatravelgram.com
Scott's tips
• TRAVEL GOODIES: Magellans is one of my favorite online travel stores. Hi-tech travel vests, portable umbrellas, rolling luggage, the works. All sorts of accessories.
• EARN MORE MILES: You have to pump up your mileage account for emergencies. The Alaska Airlines Visa card is good for that. I have two of them. The $50 companion fare is worth the $75 annual fee in my opinion.
• ANCHORAGE AIRPORT: Yes, the airport still is under construction. Check ahead to see if your airline is at the north or south terminal. Find the "cell phone lot" to wait instead of driving around and around while your friends collect their bags.
www.anchorageairport. com
SCOTT MCMURREN
TRAVEL