Flying to Dallas? There’s nothing worse than forking over a lot of cash for your plane tickets, and then being forced to scrimp on hotels, restaurants and attractions.
With a little research and flexibility, however, you can get you a great deal on a flight – and put some cash back in your wallet for your visit to the Big D! Follow these tips to get the best deal on your flight to Dallas.
Tip #1: Know your airports.
Dallas is served by two major airports: Dallas Fort-Worth Airport (DFW) and Dallas Love Field (DAL). DFW is a major national and international hub, and chances are your flight search may begin with DFW. Don’t overlook Dallas Love Field, however. Depending on where you are traveling from, you may be able to get a better deal on a flight into DAL.
Three major airlines – Southwest Airlines, Continental Express, and Delta Connections – fly in and out of Dallas Love Field. Thanks to over 100 daily flights to 17 destinations (and connecting flights to cities across the country), you may find that flying in and out of Dallas Love Field is cheaper than flying to DFW.
Start your low-cost fare search with Southwest. Keep in mind that their fares are only available on their website; if you search Expedia, Travelocity or Orbitz, you won’t be seeing Southwest fares (at the time of this writing). Southwest’s low-cost flights to short-hop destinations in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas are popular and affordable options for Love Field passengers.
And while you can get a great bargain on Southwest into Love Field, you can also save big on airlines flying into DFW. A major national and international hub for American Airlines, DFW is also served by many major carriers including Continental, Delta, Frontier United and US Airways. Depending on when you want to visit Dallas, these airlines may have special promotional fares. Also be sure to check low-cost carrier Air-Tran, which flies into DFW.
Finally, if you’re in Minneapolis or nearby, Sun Country Airlines flies direct from Minneapolis/St. Paul to DFW five days a week starting at $142 each way.
So with all these different airlines (and two airports!), how can you ensure you get the best fare? A great flight comparison service is Kayak.com. Kayak allows you to compare hundreds of travel sites at once, even searching over an extended period if your dates are flexible. You can also set up a price alert for your preferred route (more on that later).
Tip #2: Be flexible.
With a little flexibility in your travel dates, you can save on airline fare. First, consider the time of year you are planning to visit Dallas. For example, October is a popular time to visit Dallas, as many people come for the State Fair and the Red River Rivalry show down. Consequently, airline fares in October can soar. If you don’t need to be in Dallas in October, consider a visit in late September or early November. The weather will be beautiful, they’ll be fewer tourists, and you’ll pay less on airfare.
And while Dallas can be scorching in the summer, you’ll also find equally hot trip deals. Airfare for June, July and August is typically less expensive than spring and fall since these summer months are considered ‘off-peak’ travel periods.
Finally, try to fly midweek. Midweek flights (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) are usually less expensive.
Tip #3: Sign up for a fare price alert.
Sign up for a fare price alert. Online sites such as TripAdvisor and Kayak offer free price alert services. These sites will monitor airline fares and send you an email when the fare falls below a certain level that you chose.
To set up a fare, simply select your departure and arrival airports (such as LAX and DFW) and a price point for a round trip ticket ($250). Anytime fares are $250 or less, you will receive a ‘fare alert’ email that tells you the price and airline. That definitely beats having to check fare prices online everyday yourself!
Remember, your visit to Dallas doesn’t have to break the bank. In addition to affordable airfare, Dallas has lots of great attractions that you can enjoy for free! And be sure to check out the special deals on a visit to the Dallas Aquarium and the Dallas Zoo.
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