When it comes to air travel, the bumpy ride of 2008 is over, and the relatively cheap ride of 2009 is taking off.
With just a few minutes and a computer, we found a $39 one-way fare from Austin to San Francisco and a $79 round trip to Orlando — both trips that often cost more than $100 each way.
Prices are coming down, thanks largely to a recent drop in fuel prices. At the same time, airlines are aggressively trying to recoup losses from the last year and convince wary passengers air travel is still a good deal.
“They’re trying to get people on the planes,” said Bill Wodarski, owner of Above & Beyond Travel in Northwest Austin. “People have cut back because of the economy, so their discretionary income has dwindled a bunch. If they have some, now is a good time to travel.”
Wodarski says deals are available on most major routes, as long as passengers are flexible about travel times and dates. The cheapest flights are typically on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
“All your popular destinations,” he said. “You go to San Francisco. You go to Los Angeles. You go to Orlando. They all have cheap deals on air fares.”
He says some deals in Orlando give customers several free nights in a hotel when tickets are bought to nearby theme parks.
In addition, he found an Austin-Los Angeles round trip for $172, and an Austin-Orlando round trip for $93.
“For these deals that are going on now, you have to travel before Aug. 17, and then Lord knows what’s going to happen,” Wodnarski said.
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