Domestic

Escaping the Airlines' Minimum-Stay Requirements

Just when you thought your airline ticket couldn't get more expensive, some airlines, to offset rising costs in these turbulent economic times, have increased their 'minimum-stay requirements.

Don't stay over on a Saturday night? That could cost you 50% more for your ticket. Same goes for trips that are shorter than two days. Minimum-stay requirements are really targeted at business travelers who don't spend their weekends on the road and are sometimes forced to pay more to be home by Friday.

Not All Routes and Fees Are Created Equally

Thankfully, not all routes and airlines charge these fees, so be educated about who does and doesn't and you'll save money. Tip: On routes that major airlines such as American and United don't have to compete with low-cost carriers like Southwest, you probably won't be penalized if you return home on Friday instead of Sunday in the same week.

Another way to avoid the minimum-stay fees is to book two one-way tickets on smaller airlines like AirTran, JetBlue, or Spirit. Oftentimes, the same route on American, as an example, could be close to $1000, whereas on JetBlue, it might be around $300 by purchasing two one-way tickets, which exempts you from paying any minimum-stay 'penalties.'

Tips to Avoid Increased Minimum-Stay Costs

When booking your next trip, follow these tips to avoid any minimum-stay penalties:

- Book through an airline's vacation program such as American's AAVacations that doesn't have Saturday-night requirements.

- Be flexible with your flight plans and have a variety of dates on which you can fly. Be sure to also book early to avoid any advance-purchase requirements.

- Be open to connections, as non-stops can be more costly and have more restrictions.

- Bonus Tip: Since mileage upgrades are valid on vacation packages, you could buy an upgradeable economy fare and use miles to get into Business or First Class.

As First Class Flyer reported in its July issue, vacation package deals are the "parallel universe of the fare world." They don't appear on airline websites, or booking engines like Expedia, yet package fares, which you book through an airline's vacation division, can, as First Class Flyer reported, "save you up to 37%. The only catch is that they require booking a hotel and sometimes a car rental, but even so, the total can end up much less than the best published airfare alone."

To get more smart tips on how booking through an airline's vacation division can yield you significant savings, read this feature from First Class Flyer's July issue: Booking Secrets: The Low Fares You'll Never See Online. Click here for details on how to access it. Don't get First Class Flyer yet? Perhaps it's time to. Your subscription is fully guaranteed and you get 11 free Bonus Reports just for trying it. Get more information.

For more insider tips and strategies on how to make your travels more comfortable and productive, visit the Wing Tips archives page.