The busiest travel week of the year is just eight weeks away as TSA predicts more than 3 million passengers plan to fly between Nov. 18-25.
If you've been planning a trip, you've likely noticed those sky-high prices on all things travel -- especially airfare.
But what about a hack for cheaper flights?
A travel agent can help with getting you the best deals and member benefits, no matter how you travel. 3News spoke to AAA East Central travel adviser Marita Williams who recommends finding a travel agent before booking your next holiday trip.
"A travel adviser can be priceless if you find the right one," Williams said. "They don't charge anything additional for their services with one exception: We do charge if we're doing an air-only ticket. We have a service fee for that."
3News found the latest trend across travel blogs and social media claim the best way to get the cheapest tickets are to buy them at the airport ahead of time.
But there's a catch. Only select airlines offer over-the-counter ticket purchases in advance. At Akron-Canton Airport, it's only Breeze Airways. At Cleveland Hopkins Airport, this option is available from Frontier and Spirit Airlines.
Corey Verchio, a frequent flyer, says he banks on getting more bang for his buck.
"The last time we went to Orlando, we flew roundtrip for $27," Verchio said.
Verchio drove all the way from Kent to Hopkins last week in order to purchase two roundtrip tickets to Orlando for the holidays.
"We probably saved about $300 today between the two of us," Verchio said. "I mean, it cuts your flights in half. You've still got to pay for your checked bag, which you don't get a discount, but at the same time you're paying nothing for your flight so that's $30 for your bag."
3News broke down how much you would spend and save by comparing prices: Buying online vs. buying ahead at the counter.
If you are looking to buy one adult roundtrip ticket to Orlando from Cleveland Hopkins online from Nov. 18-25, your total through Spirit Airlines comes to $417.96.
So to test the hack, we went to the Spirit Airlines counter at Cleveland Hopkins for a price check. The price for the same ticket at the Spirit Airlines counter was $247.80. Which brings the total savings to nearly $200, making the price of a roundtrip flight for the holiday cheaper by buying at the airline's counter vs. buying online.
Some more travel tips AAA travel adviser Marita Williams shared with 3News:
- Pack light if you can. You don't want to rack up all the money you saved on checking a few bags of luggage.
- Use your rewards and loyalty programs if you have them. Download all of the travel apps that you may need in advance so you can stay updated if anything changes and try to book shorter stays to save more money.
- Using a travel agent for a more extended stay if you plan to travel with a larger group. Travel agents can help you score the best deals and member benefits.
