Tip of the week: How to cut travel costs

Buy on Tuesday. Most airlines begin their sales Monday evenings, and rivals usually match the lowered fares by the next day. It pays to look for sales three to four months before you travel: That’s when airlines “begin to look closely at which route may need a sale to fill the seats.”

Ask for a refund. Many airlines offer a partial refund if a fare drops after you purchase a ticket. Yapta.com “helps get you that refund” by sending you an e-mail or Tweet when the price drops. AutoSlash.com offers a similar service for car rentals.

Save when you park. BestParking.com “steers drivers toward the cheapest parking” at off-airport lots near 79 domestic airports. Rates are updated frequently, and the site offers a free app for smartphone users.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Don’t pay to check a bag. Using American Express’s Delta SkyMiles–branded credit card allows you to check a bag at no cost.

Source: The New York Times