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Finding the best airline fares (and flight times)
for golf vacations is easier with Kayak.com
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Except for when commercial air travel first, ahem, got off the ground, it has never been a particularly pleasant experience. And, given the turmoil in the airline industry today, it has gone from bad to worse. Not only are delays at an all-time high, published fares are up and restrictions are commonplace, from surcharges for even one piece of checked baggage, to the return of the requisite Saturday night stay-over.
As you might expect, I travel quite frequently, and there are a few tricks of the trade that can help make your golf vacations a little better. Today, I am going to share with you one of my secrets for finding not only the best airline fares, but the best flights for your golf vacations.
I always start with the website Kayak.com. Unlike other sites, such as Orbitz or Expedia, that only show airlines that pay them commissions, Kayak shows flights (and fares) from every single airline — yes, even the discount carriers like Southwest and JetBlue. Even better, Kayak.com gives you incredible flexibility to filter your search results. One of the best features is the ability to view flights that depart or arrive within certain time windows. As you might guess, this is great when planning golf vacations.
Let's say you have a morning tee time and you know you can't make it to the airport until noon, but you need to be back for an 8:00 pm dinner. With Kayak.com, you can view flights that depart after 1:00 pm and land by 6:00 pm. If you are more focused on finding the best airline fares, you can expand your search to nearby airports and different days.
Once you find the best airline fares that meets your particular time constraints, you can either book through Kayak.com or link directly to the airline's website or in many cases, one of the online consolidators such as Expedia or Orbitz. [Editor’s Update: Due to a contractual dispute, on August 1, 2008, Kayak removed fare search results that link directly to American Airline’s website. AA’s search results will still show up in Kayak’s online travel agent sites, such as Orbitz and Cheaptickets.]
Give it a try. My guess is that Kayak.com will start to become the first place you turn when seeking the best airline fares for not just your golf vacations, but all your air travel needs. In the next Golf Vacation Insider tip, I will let you in on my secret to finding the best airline seats, no matter which carrier you fly.
Did you know?Golf Vacation Insider and Golf Odyssey are the world's only golf publications that travel anonymously and do not accept advertising, discounts, or "freebies" from golf courses, resorts or restaurants in order to provide you with expert, unbiased, and trusted advice.
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