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Airfare Expert: Scoring a cheap ticket

Which airline will I fly?

If you fly to Orlando, you will probably be sitting on a low-cost carrier; Southwest alone controls about a quarter of all seats flown into Orlando International, and the trifecta of Southwest, AirTran and JetBlue fly half the seats to the city of theme parks.

Should I buy now?
With oil nearing $110 per barrel, it's hard to recommend anything but buying as soon as possible, especially since ticket prices have been trending due north for the past four months. But a word of caution! Before you run to your computer to book your summer tickets, you should know that you can shop too early; the airlines are only now beginning to release some of their cheaper seats for late June and July travel, and the number of these discounted seats is limited.

When should I buy?
Due to the dominance of Southwest Airlines and its penchant for filing airfare sales on Monday evening (and the same is true for the soon-to-be-merged-with-Southwest airline, AirTran), Tuesday is the best time to start shopping, specifically Tuesday at 3 p.m. Eastern. By that time, other airlines have matched the discounts posted by their competitors. Note that these sales typically last three days, meaning your optimal shopping window is Tuesday to Thursday. If you shop on the weekend, you will likely pay more.

Factor in the Bag Fee
AirTran's pending merger with Southwest plus JetBlue's recent growth spurt means about half of all Orlando bound passengers have a shot at getting at least one free checked-bag.

• AIRLINE FEES: Know before you book

If you are a heavy-packing non-elite flier who will not be flying a "free bag" airline, be sure to factor in an additional $50 roundtrip per person when comparing flight quotes. For better or worse, luggage charges are part of the new "airline fee generation," which means the total cost of your trip can vary wildly depending on your packing habits. I always recommend using a carry-on.

Which days and times are cheapest?
Many of the lowest fares to Orlando are restricted to departures on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, which are typically the cheapest days to fly to any destination. If this doesn't work for your schedule, try to fly on one of these days, so at least you reap half the cost benefit.

Other ways to maximize savings are to avoid flying on Fridays and Sundays, and resign yourself to early morning flights. I know, such days and times are anathema to vacationers who want to maximize their time at Disney or Universal, but the airlines are well aware of this, and you'll pay a premium for more convenient flights. Remember also that early morning flights are the least prone to delays.

What else should I know about flights to Orlando?
Delta's pull-back from Orlando in recent years has been a boon for taller passengers, as the airline dropped most regional jet service in favor of roomier 737 and 757 aircraft.

In the past 4 years, Washington D.C. has added eight additional daily flights into Orlando as many other cities were losing service, so even if you don't live in or near the nation's capital, you may well find yourself on a flight connecting through one of its airports.

Source:http://travel.usatoday.com Click USATODAY.