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American Morning
Finding the Cheapest Airline Rates Online and Elsewhere
Aired July 31, 2001 - 09:39 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: A round-trip ticket from San Francisco to Dallas for $204 on American Airlines -- how about that? That's just one example of some of the travel bargains that we found on the Internet. Airlines are cutting fares to attract leisure travelers right now.
Here's some other examples we found: New York to Chicago on United, $185; and Vegas to Miami on Delta Air Lines for $196. You would put a few coins in some slot machines for that, wouldn't you?
Well, joining us now to talk about some air travel bargains is Terry Trippler of OneTravel.com. He's in Minneapolis this morning.
How are you?
TERRY TRIPPLER, ONETRAVEL.COM: Just fine, Leon. Yourself?
HARRIS: Oh, not too bad. Not too bad.
TRIPPLER: Good.
HARRIS: Are we going to see much more of this fare-cutting this summer, do you think?
TRIPPLER: You know, Leon, I really think we are. The airlines are hurting. The business traveler has really cut back. Corporate America cut very deeply, more so than anyone expected.
And the airlines are doing what they can to get the leisure traveler in the seat. And cutting fares is one way to do it. And they are cutting fares. There are deals out there all over the place. You've got to look for them, but you will find them.
HARRIS: Well, which ones are the airlines more concerned about? Are they more concerned about the leisure travelers or the business travelers?
TRIPPLER: Well, they really want the business traveler. They are the ones that are responsible for two-thirds of the airlines' income. But the business traveler has cut back dramatically. And after Labor Day, we do expect to see business travel pick up, as it generally does.
And it depends on how heavily it goes. In other words, if business travel does well, well, the pleasure-travel sales will be there. If business travel after Labor Day is not real good, I think the floodgates will be open and we'll see deals like we haven't seen in a long time.
HARRIS: Right. Before we get to that, then, is there any one reason behind the cutbacks in travel to begin with?
TRIPPLER: Well, the business travelers -- corporate America have cut back, with earning estimates down. And many of them are laying off people, etcetera. And I think they are somewhat panicked because everyone started talking about the economy slipping a little bit more than it did.
And business travelers that are traveling, some of them are moving to the low-fare carriers. And, Leon, you can travel transcontinental, a walk-up fare for a business traveler on the majors for about $2,200 nonstop. Now, ATA will take them there $200 with one stop in Chicago. Now, that's like, when you land in Chicago, someone comes on board and gives you $1,000 each way. Business travelers are taking a look at that now.
HARRIS: I don't think just business travelers would take a look at that. I think we leisure travelers would as well.
Let's get right now to some tips that you've for people. We went to your Web site and picked out a couple -- and see if we can put those up on the screen right now.
Now, you say always look for fares as far in advance as possible. That is not always easy to do. How far in advance is it do you have to go to get the best bargains?
TRIPPLER: Well, generally, 21 days is the max. Every once in a while, an airline has a 28-day advance purchase. But 21, 14 are the two advance purchase dates that generally offer the best discounts.
HARRIS: All right. Next, you say we have to be as flexible as possible. I'm assuming you don't mean stretching on the plane, right?
TRIPPLER: That's right. We wish we could, but imagine.
(LAUGHTER)
TRIPPLER: Blood flowing to all extremities while in flight -- that's a wish.
But be flexible with your dates and be flexible with your city. Maybe instead of going to Detroit, Toledo is only 60 miles away. And it may be cheaper or you may be able to get a better seat there. So be flexible in your dates and maybe your destination.
HARRIS: Now, the next one here, you say: Follow up, follow up and follow up.
What do you mean by that? TRIPPLER: Once you purchase a ticket, keep checking, keep checking, keep checking, because you never know when that fare is going to drop. And if a new fare comes along that you qualify for, you can get a voucher for the difference. That's on most fares on most airlines. So keep checking once you've done it.
HARRIS: You know, we found those fares that we mentioned at the top of this interview segment here -- we found them on the Internet ourselves. Are you recommending that more and more people do that vs. going to travel agencies?
TRIPPLER: Well, there are three ways to buy a ticket. One is through an airline. One is through a travel agent. And one is through the Internet. And I recommend people go and compare all three. Sometimes the travel agent is going to have a better deal, sometimes the airline. Sometimes you'll find it on the Internet.
So you've really got to check. The Internet allows you to sit at home in your leisure at night and do some checking. That's why I think it is very popular. And they have some very good Internet deals.
HARRIS: OK, on the way out this morning, do you have one very special just gold-plated bargain that you are going to take advantage of this summer?
TRIPPLER: Well, I saw a round-trip from Minneapolis-Saint Paul to the West Coast for $178. And I think that's a pretty good deal. I think that right now, the airlines are hoping that we are all in the family mood, that when we get that rebate back from Uncle Sam, we will take that money and go visit rest of the relatives. And that's what I think I'm going to do.
HARRIS: Geez, $178, that might get Donna's hair done!
(LAUGHTER)
HARRIS: That's a bargain -- that and an oil change? That's a good deal.
Terry Trippler, thanks much for the advice. You helped Donna out big time this morning. We appreciate it.
TRIPPLER: Thank you.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: Go home and get my hair done, huh? Very funny, Mister.
HARRIS: Just picking with you.
KELLEY: That's all right.
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