| Cheap International Plane TicketsThe best | | | | your checked luggage allowance.Really Cheap |
| place to buy cheap international plane | | | | Courier FlightsSometimes air couriers fly |
| tickets is online. We've tried travel | | | | internationally for free, and almost always |
| agencies and they can't compete with the | | | | very cheap. It is a matter of how badly the |
| discount ticket websites. You can search | | | | company needs you and how flexible you can be |
| google ("cheap airfare South America", for | | | | (can you fly to Paris on Friday?). In general |
| example), or go straight to one of the | | | | air courier opportunities are becoming rarer, |
| well-known sites, like Expedia, Travelocity, | | | | due to the recent heavier regulation of |
| Cheap Tickets, Hotwire or Priceline.I just | | | | international flights. There still are |
| did a quick search for the cheapest airfare | | | | opportunities for cheap tickets, though. You |
| from Tucson, Arizona, to Buenos Aires, | | | | can find out more at The Air Courier |
| Argentina, using the five sites mentioned. | | | | Association Website ( The ACA can also help |
| They ranged from $1221 down to $873, and | | | | you get really cheap plane tickets by way of |
| there were fares as high as $3728. Hotwire | | | | airline ticket wholesalers, discounters, last |
| happened to have the cheapest, but they were | | | | minute specials, and stand-by travel.More |
| the worst of the five when I searched for a | | | | Tips On Cheap International Plane TicketsWhen |
| domestic flight earlier. You cannot say which | | | | searching for fares using the discount |
| service will find the cheapest international | | | | websites, try several different departure and |
| plane tickets from week to week. My number | | | | return dates if you can. The difference of a |
| one money-saving tip is to always check | | | | day or two can save you a lot. There is |
| several websites when shopping for | | | | little logic to airfare pricing, so don't try |
| inexpensive flights.My Accidental $1000 | | | | too hard to figure it out. Just be aware that |
| DiscoveryBefore going to Ecuador, I searched | | | | if you leave on Friday instead of Wednesday |
| several websites that deal in cheap | | | | (or vice-versa), you may save $100.Check the |
| international plane tickets. The cheapest | | | | boxes that say "any time" for departure and |
| airfare from Traverse City, Michigan to | | | | "2 or more connecting flights". Even if you |
| Quito, was $1720. Out of curiosity, I checked | | | | aren't sure that you want to leave at |
| Miami to Quito, and it was only $400. Airfare | | | | midnight, see what your options are-the |
| from Traverse City to Miami was $300. Book | | | | savings might change your mind. Whenever the |
| two separate flights and save more than | | | | search criteria allow you choices, take the |
| $1000! The discount sites aren't set up to | | | | ones that are the least restrictive for the |
| check in this way (yet), so you have to do | | | | airlines. Again, if the savings aren't |
| this on your own.If your first flight is late | | | | enough, you can always book first class, |
| and you miss the second, you may not get a | | | | direct flights, or whatever you prefer.Buying |
| refund, but it is still cheaper (every time I | | | | your plane tickets at least a week in advance |
| checked) to just book a flight to Miami and | | | | is usually cheaper. Also, there can be a |
| catch a flight to Quito without a | | | | dramatic difference (but not always) if your |
| reservation, thus avoiding this problem. This | | | | trip is over thirty days. You may want to cut |
| strategy is best for those in towns without | | | | it from 32 days to 30 to save hundreds of |
| international airports. If you live in Miami, | | | | dollars on your fare. Play with the dates on |
| you already have cheap international | | | | one of the websites mentioned. You never know |
| airfare.Courier FlightsAs an air courier, you | | | | what you might discover.Want To Go Really |
| can get really cheap international plane | | | | Cheap?You can take a bus to a major city, if |
| tickets. Courier companies ship material in | | | | you don't live in one, and then take an |
| the luggage space of an aircraft passenger | | | | international flight from there to save quite |
| because it can be quicker, cheaper, and more | | | | a bit of money. My wife and I recently went |
| reliable than sending the shipment | | | | to Ecuador for six weeks. The cheapest |
| unaccompanied, since checked luggage bypasses | | | | discount website plane tickets we could find |
| many of the typical customs delays. The | | | | were $3400 for the two of us. By taking a bus |
| courier company begins by purchasing airfare, | | | | to Miami ($352 round-trip for 2), then flying |
| and then they resell the plane tickets to | | | | from there to Quito ($622 round-trip for 2), |
| you. In exchange for your luggage space, they | | | | we saved over $2400 - even after the taxi |
| give you a discount on the airfare.An Example | | | | fare from the bus station to the airport. |
| Of A Courier FlightI saved over $150 on my | | | | That's a lot of money to us, certainly worth |
| plane tickets this way when I went to Ecuador | | | | an extra day-and-a-half on a bus. (The whole |
| the first time. I had to walk several | | | | six weeks cost less than $2500.)The bottom |
| suitcases of car parts through customs, but | | | | line is that if you spend a few minutes or an |
| there was a representative of the courier | | | | hour to do some research, you might save |
| company on either end, and I did get to look | | | | hundreds of dollars. Good luck and happy |
| inside the luggage, so I knew what I was | | | | travels.Steve Gillman first hit the road on |
| carrying. I had to carry a plane propeller on | | | | his own when he was sixteen, and traveled |
| the return trip, but it wasn't too much | | | | alone across the United States and Mexico at |
| trouble, and made a good story.Limitations To | | | | 17. Now 40, he continues to travel with his |
| Courier TravelYou generally can only be an | | | | wife Ana, who he met in Ecuador. His website, |
| air courier if you travel alone. Once in a | | | | Everything About Travel has many of his |
| while, a courier company will have | | | | travel stories, plus tips and information on |
| opportunities for flights on or near the same | | | | travel in the U.S. and other countries. Going |
| date. Otherwise, your travel partner can pay | | | | on a volcano tour and camping at Walmart are |
| full fare on the same flight. You also can | | | | some of the more unique experiences |
| usually only bring carry-on luggage, since | | | | documented. |
| the point is for the shipping company to use | | | | |