VIP Travel - We'll take you there

Clients are always asking “What if I wait” or “Can I pay tomorrow?” for airline tickets. The answer is - If the price seems fair to you, buy it today. In five minutes the price could go up or it could go down. Prices tend to increase more often than decrease. So I say, if you think it’s a good price buy it and if not, wait and see what happens. After all, it is your money you are gambling with.

Airlines will only guarantee the price the day it is booked. Travel consultants can hold the reservations for 24 hours, but the price is not guaranteed. Prices are always subject to change until paid in full. Airlines are quick to increase prices, but when they decrease them, they no longer make that retroactive. So don’t expect a refund if your fare does decrease after you have purchased it.

Even after all the years I have been in the travel industry, over 24 years to be exact, I still can’t figure out how airlines figure out their prices. It is not unusual for a fare to be higher going a shorter distance. Right now, fares internationally are cheap; however, the taxes are not. Often times, the taxes, security fees and fuel surcharges are MORE money than the actual fare of the ticket! For instance right now the fare from Chicago to Amsterdam in January is $297.00, but the taxes, government fees and fuel surcharges is $719.00, so the ticket total is $1019.00! Unbelievable that the airlines will only get $297 (plus the fuel surcharge) to fly you round trip from Chicago to Amsterdam and the governments and airports get the rest of your money.

Once upon a time, last minute deals were a good idea. Today the airlines have cut flights to a minimum and their planes are usually pretty full. So they don’t make those great last minute deductions. My advice is to plan ahead, (at least 4-6 months in advance of any major holiday like Christmas and Spring Break), but your tickets when you see a fare you are happy with and then stop looking. You will just drive yourself crazy!

Happy traveling!