Moving Target

I've said it before. I'm saying it again. Airfare is a moving target. Yes, there are great deals. Yes there are overpriced tickets, but truly it's all supply and demand and you, the consumer, make the choices.

What is the perfect combination for you and your vacation plans? It's all about priorities. Does it have to be a direct flight? Are you loyal to one airline only or will you consider others? Can you travel on Tuesday rather than Wednesday to save $50? What if you were saving $200?

There are milk-run flights,  (flight with 2 or more stops) that can be really cheap. But what is your time worth? What if there is bad weather in Utah on that day? What if you are delayed hours and miss your connection... was it really worth saving $75?

All things considered, it's a mind boggling choice.  I was watching 2 particular routes this week and there were about 100 different ways to come and go, based on the 4 airlines I would consider. The prices varied as much as $100 per direction during this time, on individual airlines.  It caused my blood pressure to rise. But, ultimately, I'm very happy with the choice I made.  Flight times are important to me. For the right times, I'm willing to compromise on price a bit.

My favourite Apple Store APP is called "on the fly". You can download it to your iPhone or tablet. But be warned... it's highly addictive. In mere seconds it analyzes, sorts and reports all the available airlines, routes and prices.  It takes the leg work out of researching all the airlines yourself. But it is not a booking tool. For that, go directly to the source. I book on-line with the airline themselves.

It's like chinese food really. You have so many options. So many ways to fill your plate. You just have to pick and choose what is right for you.