TripHip - Travel Tips and Advice for Traveling on a Budget

If you live apart from your family, sudden sickness or a death in the family can see you having to book a last-minute flight at top dollar.

Airlines do have a policy for compassionate flights. Phone the airline and explain the crisis. You will have to fax documents proving critical illness or death of a family member but airlines will generally offer exceptionally low prices in these circumstances. They will also allow a change of return date without incurring the usual fee.

Isn't that good to know, just in case.

You may think you have got yourself a bargain flight, but check all the add-ons and small print before booking a 'bargain' flight.

Discount airlines will charge a booking fee, a fee for booking a specific seat (more for window and aisle seats), fees for check-in luggage, carry-on luggage, adding a pushchair or even taking along a wheelchair. Food and drinks are also costly, so add up ALL the fees before counting your savings.

When searching online for flights, check out mid-week flight prices. Mondays and Fridays are popular with Business travelers, with appropriately higher prices. Weekends are popular with vacationers, but Tuesday through Thursday is usually the best and cheapest option.

No-one wants to fly on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day so you can pick up a bargain on these dates.