Cheapflights.com 2008 Travelnomics Report Debunks ''No Travel Deals Left'' Theory

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With gas prices maintaining never-before-seen levels and airlines simultaneously cutting flights, reducing perks and increasing fares, many consumers have been left to wonder if the days of cheap travel are over. Not so, says Cheapflights.com, the search engine that continues to make it easy for travelers with flexible schedules to find cheap deals to destinations around the world. In its just-published report entitled “Travelnomics: Getting a Good Deal in Today’s Economy,” Cheapflights offers easy-to-understand analysis and advice behind the multitude of challenges facing the travel industry. A number of strategies for consumers looking to score a good deal are also outlined in the report.

Summertime fares between 13 of the most popular U.S. routes searched on Cheapflights.com were analyzed to determine what, if any, significant changes exist between May and June, 2008. The result – average round-trip airfare between three of those routes increased less than $15, while one market actually decreased nearly $10. Furthermore, recent data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics included in the report revealed that, although average airfares in Q4, 2007 were four percent higher than a year earlier, they were still 2.7 percent lower than the record set in 2000.

“Good deals do exist; don’t let today’s gloom and doom news get you down and deter you from taking that well-deserved vacation with your family,” said Carl Schwartz, chief travel officer for Cheapflights.com. “By taking the time to search for a deal, you will find something that works for you. Keeping your options open will go a long way toward finding something that makes everyone happy without breaking the bank.”

Several suggestions for finding the best airfare bargains this year are highlighted in the report. Among them:

• Be flexible on travel dates. The first flights of the day, along with flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays generally tend to cost less than their evening or Monday/Thursday/Friday counterparts.
• Consider alternate, but similar destinations. For example, if you’re looking for a warm coastal destination to simply relax poolside and drink cocktails, check out places like the Dominican Republic where the U.S. dollar is still strong and flights are generally less expensive, instead of pricier Caribbean destinations.
• Compare prices from nearby airports. If you live in a major metropolitan area like Boston, for example, check to see if cheaper flight prices are available out of Manchester, N.H., Providence, R.I. or Portland, Maine.

• Check the one-way fares. In some cases, you can find a cheaper flight by booking two one-way destination tickets. This is usually the case if you aren't planning on staying more than three nights or are planning a Saturday night stay.
• Sign up for multiple “deals” newsletters. Cheapflights’ Deals Alert, for example, has news and deals including cheap airfares, vacation packages, short breaks and hotel stays.

Additional details, advice and the full report are available for download at www.cheapflights.com.

About Cheapflights.com

Cheapflights.com is the best place to find cheap flight deals and up-to-date travel information. As a leading U.S. travel search engine, the site publishes one of the largest selections of airfare deals available online from a huge range of flight providers. Every day, travelers can search more than one million flight deals from both traditional and low-cost airlines, as well as smaller specialty-travel providers, plus handpicked deals and flight offers exclusive to Cheapflights.com. The site’s Flight & Travel Info section and Flight News blog are packed with destination travel guides, travel tips, news and information to help flyers enjoy the best possible travel experience, every time they fly.

Cheapflights.com
Erin Mullaney, 617-830-2933
erin.mullaney@cheapflights.com
or
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David Cumpston, 415-277-4917
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