Airlines Cut Back; Book Now For Best Price

COLUMBUS, Ohio—At Port Columbus, things aren’t as bright going into 2009 as they were in 2008.

NBC 4’s Patrick Preston reported on the bottomline Monday.

What a difference a year can make.

Skybus and JetBlue both were flying out of Port Columbus this time last year. At this point, they’re no longer flying into Columbus. Instead, AirTran is offering service to the southeast, Atlanta, Ga., Orlando Fla., and Fort Myers, Fla.

Passengers said they’ve noticed a difference with airlines cutting back on the number of routes they’re flying. And less competition has led to higher fares, they said.

In total, there are 43, or 20 percent, fewer daily departures compared to a year ago at Port Columbus.

Ryan Sullivan of Lancaster was disappointed with the loss of JetBlue.

“The terminal here is gone now, which is a lot tougher for me because I go back and forth from New York, and that was a good price,“ Sullivan said.

Sullivan also said it’s harder to get less expensive flights.

Angie Tabor with the Columbus Airport Authority said she’s seen a drop in passengers.

“Certainly, this is the largest drop in passengers that I’ve seen since I’ve been here for about eight or nine years, she said.

Tabor said fewer passengers will fly early in the year—before the travel season picks up for spring break and summer.

Will there be more service cuts?

“What we’ll have to see now is what happens to the national economy in 2009. Do people have the extra money to fly to destinations that maybe they could drive or fly to?“ Tabor said.

Port Columbus currently has 11 operating airlines.

How can you find a good deal for your future travel?

Preston talked with travel agents about 2009, and they recommended booking early. Deals will be found early in the process. Travelers should book their flights as soon as possible.

And Skybus’ collapse didn’t impact prices as much as you might think.

“They went to such off-the-beaten-path airports. They didn’t fly to Seattle; they flew to Bellingham. They didn’t fly to Boston; they flew to New Hampshire,“ Heather Blakesley said. Blakesley is with Premier Travel.

Her advice is to book now. She said the deals are out there but everyone is grabbing them up early, and there are few from which to choose.

TRAVEL TIPS
Don’t fly on Sundays. It’s the most popular travel day. Fridays and Saturdays are close behind.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday will be better for lower fares.
Check secondary or nearby airports in bigger cities. For example, fly into Ft. Lauderdale or West Palm Beach instead of Miami. Give Burbank a try instead of LAX.
If you’re planning a getaway for spring break or summer, prices are posted now.
Price hikes are based on demand, not calendar dates.

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