Tag: Flights to

Getting started with stillwater fly

The Pacific Northwest is blessed by a very large number of great fly fishing lakes. Many of these are stocked with trout while others have stocks of wild trout, crappie, bluegill, perch or other warm water fish that rise readily to a fly. For the fly fisherman, the difference between native and planted trout is an important distinction since stocked trout have more of a chance of rising to a fly than native trout, particularly in very clear water when the fish can see you. This can happen even in slower moving rivers and streams, however it is more noticeable with still bodies of water.

You can even the tables a little in several ways, with wild trout, while increasing the chances of catching even hatchery-stocked fish.

Use trees and other vegetation to hide you from the full view of the fish. Sometimes this isn’t easy, but with a little practice, you’ll probably notice that it is easier than you think. The extra fish you catch will be an incentive to get even better at it.

Fly fish in the early morning or evening. From a half hour before sun up and an hour after sun up, the shadows will be longer which will help hide your form, and the fish will tend to be hungry. This is also the time when insects will be flying around the surface of the water. The same is true for the period of time from an hour before sun down and a half hour after sun down.

Fly fish when there is a bit of a wind. A wind will usually cause ripples, which breaks up your form, yet which will allow the fish to see your fly easily. Ripples will also give your fly a more life like motion.

Fly fish when the fish are jumping. This is an indication that they are raising to flying insects. If no fish are jumping, they may be hungry, but are probably feeding off the bottom. This will make them harder to catch, though not impossible.

Don’t be afraid to try different flies, and don’t limit yourself as far as the types of flies you use. While they are more apt to strike a fly that closely mimics insects that are flying around the water, this isn’t always the case. Many times I’ve limited out during a hatch out of a particular insect, by using a fly that didn’t come close to resembling the insects that were hatching out. The more you limit yourself, the harder it becomes to catch the fish.

When retrieving your fly, a slightly jerky movement is better than a smooth one as it makes the fly look alive to the fish. This usually makes them strike harder, which is what you want. You don’t want the fish to just taste your fly, because the fish will know instantly that it isn’t real.

If the lake you are fishing allows boats, try fishing from a boat, especially if fishing in the middle of the day. As the water warms up, the fish will move to deeper and colder water, which is usually closer to the center of the lake.

The whole idea is to interest the fish in your fly without scaring them away. The more ways you can do this, the better luck you will have and the more fish you’ll catch. Don’t be afraid to be inventive. You might just find a few ways that are unique but that work very well.

Even a novice can quickly become an accomplished fisherman, catching large quantities of fish, especially in the Pacific Northwest.

How to determine the right fly for the right fish

“The right fly for the right fish is a #18 Adams with the hackle trimmed on the underside!” How about that for straight forward and to the point? Or if you prefer,….”The right fly for the right fish is anything in your box that is pink.” That was the response I got from Simon Bain in Andros Island. The fact of the matter is, this question is ridiculous. The right fly for the right fish is whatever the damn things are willing to eat at the time, plain and simple. I might add that this can and does change in as little as 15 minutes when fly fishing for trout, but may not change in 15 years for saltwater species. The point is still the same. Maybe only a recovered fly fishing guide like myself can appreciate the poetic simplicity of my answer but here is it anyway, “What’s good today, just might suck tomorrow.”

I once cast to a pod of rising trout for 30 minutes, changing flies about every 5, and never once had a single strike. I tried cripples, emergers, trailing shucks, iridescent, foam bodied flip flops, thingamajiggers, and just about every other thing you can think of and still not one single fish would even look at my fly. Finally I pulled out an on old Madison River midge pattern that was given to me by a guy named Greg Blessing. This little black midge pattern was no more than a piece of black rubber attached to a hook. No fancy wraps, no UV sparkle flash, no spent wing bubble butts, bead heads or googly eyes. Just a hook and a strip of rubber 1/4 inch long. And the fish ate. Fourteen beautiful trout in a row to be exact. I know because I only had one “Prophylactic Midge” in my box and we broke it off in the 14th fish’s mouth. The little black prophylactic midge had saved the day for me and at least for that moment, I was the hero. But here is the painful truth of the matter. I’ve never caught a single trout on that fly since and its not from lack of trying. I’ve cast that fly to hundreds of rising trout and no one wants it. I’ve tried to tie them in different sizes, colors, shapes, with different wraps. You name it, I’ve tried it to make that damn fly work and for the life of me, it was a one hit wonder.

For every great fly you have in your fly box, there are probably 10 “Prophylactic Midges”. These are flies that have worked at some point, but are unlikely to work again. Flies that have been passed over routinely for the newer and more recent additions. These also might include flies that have too big of tails, too small of heads, or too fat of bodies. Flies that are “close” in color, or “”just a bit” too big, or are little over hackled or under dubbed. Whatever their specific deficiency, you have for some reason relegated these misfit flies to the back of the fly box only to come swooping in to save the day when you are truly stumped.

The right fly for the right fish is exactly the question we should be asking I guess. It’s not ridiculous at all to assume that some misfit trout will eat some misfit fly. Maybe there are bone fish swimming around looking for over dubbed, fat, chubby little bait fish. Maybe trout do like the color of belly button lint in their mayfly imitations, or pubic hair in the place of wings on a caddis. Either way, I think it is safe to assume that the right fly for the right fish might simply be whatever you have tied on the end of your line. After all, I’ve been saved by a prophylactic midge, and I bet most other fly fishermen have as well. Fish whatever fly you’ve got, becasue it just might suck tomorrow.

Comparing Flight Prices: Alpha to Omega

Before you go on holiday or away for a business trip, compare flight prices to make sure you are getting the best deal for your money. By comparing airline prices over time and for a variety of carriers, you are far more likely to get a deal on flight reservations. The wide differences in airline ticket prices can be attributed to a number of factors.

Some of these differences have to do with flight density, but others have to do with departure and arrival locations, time of flight, and even which airline carrier you choose. Before you book a flight, compare flight prices. You will be glad that you were a savvy consumer and did your research before you made such a major purchase.

Below is a short list of some of the most common causes for differentiation between airline ticket prices. If you compare flight prices, these factors are likely to have an impact on the prices you will find. Consider what you are looking for in a flight, and then use these tactics to select the airline tickets that most meet your needs.

Location: The location of your departure and final destination can impact the prices of your flight tickets. You will find that more common locations may be more affordable than destinations to which fewer flights are headed. This may be because addition legs must be added after reaching a major city, thus lengthening your flight and adding more transfers in order that your flight is completed.

However, you may also find location working in your favor if you choose a less direct flight to reach one major metropolitan area from another. When you compare flight prices, you will likely find that flying from one city to another is more affordable if you do not do so directly. Direct flights are in high demand, and so can be charged more for. But if instead you are willing to have one or two layovers at more medium sized cities, you will likely be able to reach your destination at a lower price. To compare flight prices, look around to assess your options and find a flight that will be acceptable to you.

Time of day: Often, flights cost more if they depart in the middle of the day. Peak hour flights, you will find when you compare flight prices, can cost a moderate amount more than off-hour flights. Flying very early in the morning or late at night can be more affordable, and earlier flights sometimes stand a smaller chance of being delayed since the day’s flight schedule is just beginning.

When it comes down to it, there is no right or wrong answer as to how to compare flight prices. Consider the factors you are looking for, and weigh them in relation to one another. Do you want the flight with the lowest price? Would you prefer a flight that is the most direct, or takes the shortest amount of time?

Or would you prefer a flight that is on a smaller or larger plane, or with a certain airline? Take all these factors together when you compare flight prices, and this will help you make the airline reservation that best meets your needs.

Flight – History Of Aeroplanes And Steps Of Flying

The invention of flight by the Wright brothers has brought about a revolution in the world. The concept of speed and distance started changing. The impossible started looking possible. The perfect combination of strength, weight, and carrying capacity has been experimented and finally achieved.

The airplanes were previously called “Kites”! They did not have much power and were supplied with a lot of wing area. The streamlined aircrafts came up just before the World War I. they has cleaner aerodynamic shapes and had increased horsepower. During the First World War, the traditional wooden frames were replaced by welded steel tubing. Duraluminum was used to prepare all the assembly-wings, fuselage and tail of the flight.

Slowly metal was used to replace the use of wood in preparing the body of the flight. The revolutionary Boeing 247 combined the streamlined all-metal semi-monocoque construction, retractable landing and variable pitch propellers. Whenever there is a war, the nation tries to utilize the best technology. During World War 2, the jet fighter was developed. An all-composite design was appreciated during 1980s. The flight design by Brut Rutan made history by flying non-stop around the world without refueling.

The Voyager’s composite airframe was lightweight and circled the earth in nine days. Not only for transporting people from place to place, certain space shuttle is prepared for space flight. The various mechanical flights include aircraft, aeroplanes, helicopters, airships, balloons and spacecraft. Flying an aeroplane is no easy task. It involves various methods like taxiing; take off, climb, cruise, descent, flight planning, and landing. Some of the early flight pioneers were Abbas Ibn Firnas, Amelia Earhart, Alberto Santos Dumont, Armen Firman, Charles Lindbergh, Richard Pearse and ultimately the Wright Brothers.

A taxiway is used for flights to move from one place to another with the help of wheels, within the airport. The process when the flight, after gathering speed from the runway, leaves the ground and flies into the air is called takeoff. For light flights, usually full power is used. Climb involves getting the flight into the desired cruising altitude. Cruise involved changing the direction of the flight. The landing of the flight by decreasing its altitude is known as descent of a flight. Flight planning is an essential part in both private and commercial flights. Landing the flight to ground level is the ultimate part of safely handling a flight.

Secrets to Finding Cheap Flights to Bombay Online and Save

Finding a cheap flight to Bombay might take a little bit of research online and in person, but you will be glad that you did. Visiting Bombay is one of the most interesting and culturally diverse things that you can do, and many people visit Bombay for quite a few reasons. First of all, finding a cheap flight to Bombay is more than just that making travel arrangements. Bombay is now currently known as Mumbai, and is the capital of the Maharashtra state in India. There are about 13 million people who live in Bombay, so visiting this city is something that is full of big city adventures for lots of people.

A cheap flight to Bombay will take you to an area that is off the west coast of the country of India. The city itself has a natural harbour that is quite deep. This is advantageous for the city of Mumbai, which takes care of more than half the passenger traffic in all of India, as well as most of the Indian cargo. A cheap flight to Bombay will take you to the hub of the commercial and entertainment areas in India, so you will be able to catch a glimpse of both areas while visiting the city. First of all, Mumbia is the commercial capital, which means that the major financial institutions, like the Reserve Bank of India, as well as the Bombay Stock exchange, are found here. Visitors who are interested in the commercial goings-on of India will enjoy their time in Bombay, because a cheap flight to Bombay means being right where the action is, and right in the middle of the business district of the city. However, commerce isn’t all that a cheap flight to Bombay will have to offer you. It is also the entertainment capital of India. This includes the Hindi industry of film and television, which is commonly called Bollywood. Film buffs, as well as history scholars, will enjoy taking a cheap flight to Bombay and visiting this area. This is because Bombay is the birthplace of the entire Indian cinema idea.

With a history that dates back to silent movies made by Dadasaheb Phalke, followed by talkies, the oldest film that was broadcast in India can be dated back to the early 20th century. This historical area of cinema also includes current entertainment, as well.

Mumbia has a large number of theaters and cinemas, and it is also home to the world’s biggest IMAX Theater. This theater shows Bollywood, Marathi, and Hollywood hits.

Not only that, but Bombay is one of the few cities in the world that actually has a national park inside its borders. This is something that is quite interesting to tourists of all types. One of the premier destinations for backpackers, family vacations, and couples is the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. It is not all cinema and park that brings tourists in on a cheap flight to Bombay, however. There are many other reasons that one might want to visit Bombay. Contemporary art is a main attraction in Mumbai. There are several government funded art galleries that are open for viewing. There is also a gallery of modern art, as well as several historical galleries, and a large public library.

With all the arts, culture, and historical books that can be found, a scholar can lose themselves in history and learning on a visit to this great city. For those backpackers and tourists who are looking for well-known historical sites, they will be able to find two UNESCO World Heritage Sites after a cheap flight to Bombay.

These are the Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus and the Elephanta Caves. Both these attractions are highly popular, and are among the primary reasons that people choose to visit Bombay.

For backpackers, these are two of the most popular destinations in India, and the hotels around them are usually quite cheap as well. In fact, cheap hotels and hostels in Bombay are so available that many people come and stay longer than they may have planned. They can take advantage of all there is to see and do, while having a cheap place to stay, as well. There are also several popular areas in the city that one might visit on a cheap flight to Bombay. These include Nariman Point, Chowpatti Beach, and Juhu Beach, as well as Marine Drive. These are all sites that are listed in travel guides and in other guidebooks that you can purchase beforehand or after you arrive in Bombay. With all that can be found in Bombay, it is no wonder that many people choose to spend a few pounds on a cheap flight to Bombay. There are many attractions in this bustling city, which is a treasure trove of history, culture, and life.

Flights Information

Flights Information entails notification of details concerning the arrival and departure of flights, availability of tickets, and the information regarding the various flights available to major cities around the world. In this fast paced world, where people are constantly on the move, they need to keep a constant tab on their flight schedules. The time of arrival and departure of flights as well as information in case of any delay or rescheduling is also made available. To help the passengers reach their destinations on scheduled time, flight information updates have been made available on the Internet as well as on various cell phone networks.

The technological advances have enabled all the major airliners to go on the World Wide Web and provide their passengers with the facility to book flights. People from all across the globe can check the availability of seats of their choice and make on line flight reservations. Prior on line reservations ensures a hassle free journey.

Air transportation has been made easy and affordable in recent years. Almost all major companies operate cheap flights to various parts of the world. The introduction of cheap flights has increased the number of passengers availing flights even for short distances.

Flights from different parts of the world fly to the Big Apple or New York. Cheap flights to New York are also available. New York City is served by John F. Kennedy International Airport, the Newark Liberty International Airport and the La Guardia Airport. JFK serves as the hub of the Delta Air Lines, Jet Blue Airways and American Airlines. Flights to New York are also available from all the states in the Unites States of America.

Las Vegas, occupying the Western coast of the North American continent, is one of the popular tourist destinations in the world. Las Vegas is served by the Mc Carran International Airport. As many as 125 flights to different cities in the country operate from the Las Vegas Airport. It is in fact one of the busiest airports in the world in terms of air traffic and passenger movement. Flights to Las Vegas connect the city with other parts of the world.

The national capital of Washington DC is served by several airports. These include the Baltimore-Washington International Airport, the Washington Dulles International Airport and the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport better known as the National Airport. Flights to Washington are conducted by several airliners. These airlines include the Midwest Airlines, US Airways and Northwest Airline KLM. Some of them also conduct cheap flights to Washington.

Flights to Paris mainly serve a couple of airports namely Charled de Gaulle Airport and the Ory Airport. Tourists flock the French capital in large numbers each year. Almost 500 flights from 132 different nations fly regularly to Paris. They carry almost 75 million passengers to and from Paris on an annual basis.

Cheap Consolidator Airfares: 7 Sure-Fire Ways To Get Them

Looking for those cheap and rock-bottom international consolidator airfares?

Well, in the diverse world of air travel ticketing, there is no one way to guarantee that you will get the cheapest fares out there but your odds to get discount airfares are certainly many times better if you seek the consolidators tickets rather than the airlines official published airfares.

Remember that discounted consolidator tickets are very much just like a normal published airline fare ticket with the major difference being just that the price is not typically printed on the consolidator tickets.

Airlines basically do not admit they sell discounted tickets to consolidators, which are against the rules anyway and hence explains the no-pricing printout above.

Apart from the cheaper airfares, consolidator tickets have other advantages, usually requiring no advance purchase and no Saturday-night stay (typically for the US market).

In addition, you can normally still get cheap consolidator tickets at short notice unlike the inflated last-minute published air fares that could cost you a fortune.

Even then, you have to make sure you get those reliable consolidators that will offer the best airfare prices, and remember that not all consolidators sell to the general public.

Still, if you want to pay at least 40%-60% cheaper airfares than the guy sitting next to you on the plane, here are 7 sure-fire tips to be able to do just that.

1. Get a reliable travel agent who deals with a range of consolidators if you do not want the hassle of looking and doing the arrangements with the consolidators them.

A trustworthy travel agent is worth his weight in gold to you especially an experienced and knowledgeable one, much more than the small commission they charged nowadays for getting you a really cheap consolidator airfare.

Note that not all licensed travel agent do business with a whole range of wholesale consolidators, so try the specialised ones in the field to ensure you get all the cheap fare options on the table.

For more country-type trips or special itineraries, consider to look for the so-called “ethnic agency” consolidators that deals with only one country or region, since many have contracts with carriers based in the home country, such as Air India or EgyptAir.

2. Check airfares quoted by the travel agent with online discounters or consolidators, especially since these are the ones that you can check as they deal with the general retail public.

Obviously, you have to check the credentials of these companies as there could be many fly by night consolidators which may not have a strong financial background. Some of the strongest online consolidators include names like Onetravel.com, Flights.com, Faremax.com, Airlineconsolidator.com and Airgorilla.com.

3. For reliability, make sure the agents or consolidators are registered with national or international travel authorities such as the American Society of Travel Agents (http://www.travelsense.org) or accreditation with the International Air Transport Association (http://www.iata.org) or the Airline Reporting Corp http://www.arccorp.com).

Note that some unreliable consolidators have known to go bust big time at one point in the past, hence do not go for the cheapest consolidators without checking.

4. You can then check the best consolidators airfares against those specialised online sites that offer cheap airfares on their own. Most of these sites basically aggregate deals from the consolidators themselves like Hotwire.com and Priceline.com but some are the consolidator companies themselves that have evolved to serve the general public.

5. Check out also the aggregators. These are companies that typically scout for low airfares and then direct you to where to buy them. Some of these aggregators include Cheapflights.com and Kayak.com.

6. Try to be flexible and explore all the options. For example, some wholesale consolidators are also retail tour operators, and their tour package will thus tend be cheaper as they book in bulk for the tickets, hotel rooms and car rentals.

7. Finally, check the consolidators cheapest pricing against that of the airlines themselves. Most of the time, you will find that the consolidators offer you the cheapest airfares available.

However, on some occasions, the airline published airfares could actually be cheaper especially where there are intense price wars in a particular market or there are new promotions to attract demand for a new route or market.

These could cause the airlines to break their pact with the consolidators and charge even lower fares than the latter.

Consolidator airfares are now part and parcel of the airline ticketing industry and like it or not, consolidators are probably the best option you need to explore to get cheaper airfares.

Reasons to tie your own flies

There are so many reasons why an avid or novice fly fisherman should get started in fly tying. Reasons such as saving money, becoming more prepared, the ability to better match local insects, curing cabin fever, and of course the sheer enjoyment of catching fish on a fly that you created.

Saving money is a great reason to start tying your own flies but initially it can be costly. However, in the long run you will generally save hundreds if not thousands of dollars compared to the money you would spend in buying flies, with the average cost per fly being $2. I recommend buying startup kits they come with all the tools you need and usually come with some materials. After that many of the materials you will need are very cheap (well under $10 and the portions tie hundreds of flies) and your only other investment will be hooks. Usually a box of 100 hooks is around $10, compare that to the price of 100 flies which will cost about $2 per fly and if you don’t have a fly shop close by throw in the price of gas and it’s easy to see how you will be saving money.

Next is becoming more prepared, nothing leads to more success when fly fishing than being prepared for anything. Fishing conditions change constantly, whether it’s different insects hatching throughout the course of the day or year, or changing water levels or temperatures. With the ability to tie your own flies and load your fly boxes with patterns that work, you will meet with more success.

Matching flies to local fisheries is something many people don’t take into account when purchasing flies. Insect’s size and coloration may change from stream to stream and lake to lake. Some streams and lakes may have different communities of insects than others. Having the ability to correctly match the insects or prey on the body of water one is going to fish is of huge importance. A quick example, my local trout stream has a great abundance of Slate Drakes, or Isonychia, but they tend to be on the small size about a size 14. The fly shops closest to me only sell Slate Drakes in sizes 10 and 12. Being able to tie a size 14 Slate Drake that exactly matches the local hatch has increased my success with the larger, finicky trout.

Tying flies is also a way to cure cabin fever during winter months or anytime you know that you won’t be able to fish for a while. Sitting down and tying flies is a great hobby by itself. Many people find it very enjoyable to create things and that is exactly what you are doing. Outside of just the enjoyment of tying you will be helping in preparing yourself for the upcoming season or just your next outing.

Finally, and my personal favorite, is the sheer enjoyment you will receive by landing a fish on a fly that you have created. Until experienced, it is one of those wonderful things you come to enjoy from tying your own flies. The joy could come from the fact that you experimented in the fly you tied, or the fact that you precisely matched the hatch, or simply in knowing that what you created worked.

For all the fly fishermen who have been thinking about tying flies hopefully this gives you a reason to get started. My only regret with my own fly tying is that I should have started at an earlier age, don’t make the same mistake!

Cheap Airfares: Understanding The Basics Of It

As a smart traveller, you should always be looking for ways to travel cheap and getting cheap airfares is the first thing you need to plan.

Savings on cheap airfares means you can save your money for something more luxurious you can enjoy on the trip – like a hotel suite or a first class flight or simply a free second trip.

And if you travel by air, you would already know that airfares cost typically forms the dominant chunk of your travel bill be it leisure or holiday.

And so, it goes without saying that saving something like 30%-50% on those airfares on average, every time, will go a long way to put extra money into your travel itinerary – that otherwise would have gone into the hands of airlines and their shareholders.

But it can get really confusing out there when people talk about cheap airfares.

Everybody is advertising cheap airfares nowadays and what you thought you might have gotten a great deal may turn out to be second or even fifth best after you found out how cheap airfares in the industry really works.

Airlines, travel agents, tour operators, travel advisors, everybody wants a chunk of your travel money and unless you know how the airfare system works, you will simply not getting the best deals in town.

And it does matter where, why, how and when you are flying because your airfare savings depend on all of the above.

And it also matters what you prefer:

– cheapest airfares without any comfort,
– cheap airfares but with comfort and style, or
– cheapest but you are actually not getting those cheapest airfares.

The best is obviously the middle choice. The first one is not exactly one that a typical traveller would choose for obvious reasons and the last one is just a throw-down and plain deceiving.

Flying on cheap airfares with comfort and style is what most of us would go for.

Well, to get the cheapest airfares but yet fly in comfort and style, you just have to understand how the airline and air ticketing industry work.

While the whole industry airfare intricacies are obviously not comprehensible by just an explanation in this one article alone (the travel industry is one of the biggest sectors in the world), travellers can still get cheap airfares and good air ticket savings by getting a basic understanding of the industry first and how all the players fit in.

One of the most important distinctions is that a deregulated market airfare system like in the US is far different from the international airfare market. The rule of thumb is that it’s certainly harder to exploit cheap airfares in a deregulated market.

This does not mean you cannot get cheap airfares in these markets, note this carefully, it just means compared to the average other Joe traveller in the market, you do not really get that significant a major advantage.

That said, there are loopholes of course, and cheap airfare tactics and strategies to exploit.

Note that there are more opportunities to get cheap airfares comparatively on international travel and it is a shame that common travellers do not exploit even these avenues.

Most sites will be advertising their cheap airfares gimmick but after understanding how the industry works, you are likely to wise up to these low airfare tactics.

Essentially, there are two major types of fares that is published and unpublished fares and this determines whether you get the cheap airfares that you want.

Published airfares are those which are available on the computerised reservation systems used by airlines and travel agents and which list down most of all the published airfares approved and filed with the respective countries’ governments.

For international airfares, these are regulated by the one sole dominant body called the International Air Transportation Association (IATA). These airfares got to be registered and approved by IATA and the respective governments who have aviation agreements between them.

IATA is the monitoring body of these agreements.

As a condition of membership in IATA, airlines agree to sell their air tickets only at IATA-approved prices. IATA regulations strictly forbid the direct discounting of air tickets directly to passengers.

In case you are pondering, more than 90% of the airlines companies worldwide are members of IATA.

The good news however is that airlines do discount their airfare prices unofficially off their published prices to travel agents/sellers who buy in bulk and get the large discount from the airlines. Right, that is where you can really get cheap airfares.

These discounts are passed on to consumers in the form of cheaper airfares. Note that strictly under IATA rules, airlines are not actually allowed to do any discounting of their approved published air ticket prices.

But it happens nonetheless as not all airlines seats are sellable at 100% their published prices.

These cheap airfares agents/sellers are known in the industry as consolidators/bucket shop/discounters (the terms are typically used interchangeably although there are subtle differences between them). Basically, you need to find these sellers for a truly cheap airfare deal.

The rule of thumb is that you should always seek out cheap unpublished fares from a consolidator especially on international routes. The next time you buy air tickets, ask your travel agents to seek out the cheapest consolidator airfares first and then compared them to the published airfares directly from the airlines.

Or buy online yourself from these airfare consolidators. Most of them don not sell to the general public (only to registered travel agents) but increasingly, many do.

Some of the good ones include www.onetravel.com, www.flights.com, www.priceline.com, etc., which are some of the largest ones in the US. You can save as much as 40%-60% of the typical published airfares and be amazed.

Delayed and Cancelled Flights

How can I avoid flight delays?

– Research the Airlines on-time ratings and use the Airline with the best rating.

– Keep up with the news and see if your Airline is facing any upcoming labor negotiations. If they are in negotiation near the time you are planning your trip, you might want to use another Airline in case yours has a work stoppage or slowdown.

– Avoid peak travel time.

– Check the weather conditions that are common along your route to see if you can plan your trip to avoid periods when foul weather causes delays.

– Fly nonstop or with the least amount of connections possible. Each time you land and take off you increase your chances to encounter delays.

– Take early morning flights. Early flights are less likely to be delayed and if they are delayed you will have more options remaining through out the day to complete your trip.

– Avoid the last flight of the day since a delay might force an overnight stay.

– If you fear you will suffer from a flight delay, consider using a paper ticket over an electronic ticket. If you need to transfer to another Airline to continue your trip, a paper ticket can save you time. Most Airlines are not yet able to transfer passengers flying on e-tickets without first taking the time to switch them to a paper ticket.

What should I do if my flight is delayed or canceled?

– If your flight is delayed or canceled, work with the Airlines counter personnel to book you on another flight. Being nice and working with the agent will often bring much better results than losing your temper.

– If there is a line at the counter, call the Airlines reservation center directly to book another flight instead of waiting in line for the few people available to help. See if they can guarantee you a seat on another flight.

– If you have another person traveling with you, spread out with one in line and the other on the phone. Try to stay within eyesight of each other in case one of you needs to wave the other one over. If you have a cell phone, call the Airline while you are standing in line and see who can help you first.

– See if others in your party belong to any premium clubs that will help to get you special consideration.

– Ask to be protected under the Airlines own written rules in the tickets conditions or contract of carriage for dealing with missed connections, delayed and canceled flights so you are given all the consideration you are legally due. This section of the contract is often called Rule 240, but no matter what it is called, they will have a section that specifically spells out what action they must take to help you continue your trip and what compensation you are due, if any.

The U.S. Department of Transportation mandates that a copy of this contract be available to passengers at the Airlines ticket counter. Many Airlines also provide this information on their web sites so you might print it off and take it with you in case you need it.

Some Airline employees will try to tell you to that they no longer use Rule 240, but no matter what they call this section of their contract they still have to honor their written guidelines in the contract of carriage. These guidelines are part of the legal contract that deals with you. Both you and the Airline agreed upon these terms when they sold and you purchased their ticket. The Airline cannot choose to disregard part of a legal contract and enforce a different policy.

– If other Airlines are still operating, see if your Airline is willing to find you a seat on another Airline. Although, their contract may allow them some time to first find you a flight on their own Airline, most state that when they fail to do so, they will try to find you a seat with another Airline. Know that many Airlines limit your potential choices of other Airlines only with certain Airlines that have existing agreements with your Airline. Your option probably wont be to find any other flight at the airport that works. It will be to find another flight from a list of specific Airlines.

– The Airlines Rule 240 may state that, if you so choose, you are entitled to an involuntary refund for any unused portion of your ticket, even if you purchased a nonrefundable ticket.

– Rule 240 also specifies what, if any, other compensation you are due because of the flights delay or cancellation. The compensation due will usually vary depending on the reason for the flights delay or cancellation.

– If it looks like lots of people are going to be stuck for a long time, consider booking a hotel room and/or a rental car before everyone else grabs them all.

– Look into other practical forms of transportation such as trains, buses, or rental cars. The airport may close, but that does not necessarily mean the highways and railroads are impassible.

– Move quickly, a closed airport will mean that other forms of transportation and hotel rooms will sell out quickly.

– Update any future reservations with Airlines, hotels or rental cars that will be effected by your delay.

What type of compensation will I receive if my flight is delayed or canceled?

You may think a delayed or canceled flight will get you complimentary meals and a free hotel stay, but thats not always true. However, you can take some actions to make sure you are given all the assistance and compensation you are due.

– Being nice and working with the agent will often bring much better results than losing your temper. You can let them know you are upset without turning your anger toward them.

– You might have to rely on your negotiation skills to cover some expenses caused by the flights delay or cancellation. This is where being professional can help.

– Ask to be protected under the Airlines Rule 240, so you are given all the consideration you are legally due. Rule 240 refers to the Airlines own written rules in the tickets conditions or contract of carriage for dealing with missed connections, delayed and canceled flights. Rule 240 specifically spells out what action they must take to help you continue your trip and what compensation you are due, if any.

– The U.S. Department of Transportation mandates that a copy of this contract must be made available to passengers at the Airlines ticket counter. Many Airlines also provide this information on their web sites so print it off and take it with you.

– Some Airline employees will try to tell you to that they no longer use Rule 240, but no matter what they call this section of their contract, they still have to honor their written guidelines in their contract of carriage. These guidelines are part of the legal contract that deals with you. Both you and the Airline agreed upon these terms when they sold and you purchased their ticket. The Airline cannot choose to disregard part of a legal contract and enforce a different policy.

– Most Airlines will first try to reschedule your flight or offer you coupons good toward future flights. However, many, although not all, Airlines “Rule 240″ state that, if you so choose, you are entitled to an involuntary refund for any unused portion of your ticket if you decide not to travel on the rescheduled flight, even if you purchased a nonrefundable ticket.

– Its always a good idea to pay for your plane ticket with a credit card. It usually makes it easier and quicker for you to get your refund and, if the Airline gives you hard time about refunding your unused ticket, you can ask your credit card company about the possibility of a charge back.

– If the Airline requires you to mail in your unused ticket before they will issue a refund, be sure to make a copy of your ticket before you put it in the mail.

– “Rule 240″ also specifies what, if any other compensation you are due because of the flights delay or cancellation.

– The compensation due will usually vary depending on the reason for the flights delay or cancellation. Compensation for delay will also vary depending on the amount of time that you were delayed.

– If the delay or cancellation is caused by issues beyond the control of the Airline, often referred to in a “Force Majeure” clause, any compensation you are due may be limited or eliminated.

– “Force Majeure” is a big catchall phrase that identifies many possible situations whether actual or threatened that cannot be foreseen by the Airlines and/or are beyond the control of the Airline. Many situations can qualify under “Force Majeure”, but some that are often listed include, the weather, acts of God, government regulation, terrorism, wars, hostilities, security and safety concerns, strikes, work slowdowns, labor-related disputes, shortage of labor or fuel.

– Depending on your particular circumstances, you may be entitled to compensation for an overnight stay in a hotel, meals, phone calls or other transportation costs. However, there are limits and restrictions on all these forms of compensations. Many Airlines will not pay for an overnight hotel stay at the origin point or destination of your flight and many even deny paying for a stay if your flight is stopped at an airport near your homes main airport.

– If you are late checking in, you may have waived your right to any compensation you are due, including your right to an involuntary refund.

– Keep all receipts for expenses caused by your delay or flight cancellation. No matter what their rules say, you can always make an appeal to the Airlines customer service department and you will want the receipts to back you up. Send your Airline copies of the receipts and keep the original receipts.

– Even though, your Airline may not be required to give compensation, they still may provide you with something to keep you a happy customer.