Can you negotiate airfare

But special purchases can often be made with more satisfactory terms if you're willing to try negotiating. Airline tickets even allow some room for negotiation if you're not satisfied with the results when you search for cheap tickets.

If you spend a lot on airline tickets every year, and are part of an airline's frequent flier program, you have more leverage than someone who rarely travels.

Also, even if you can't get a break on price, other parts of the flying experience are negotiable. For example, you could ask for an upgrade, or a day pass to an airport lounge. Alternative Types of Airfare Haggling Have you ever purchased a plane ticket and then noticed that the price dropped after you bought it?

You can ask for a refund or credit towards future airfares. In most cases you must purchase through the airline website to be eligible for such a reimbursement. Another tactic for negotiating airfares is to get someone else to do the haggling for you. Travel agents can often negotiate much better deals that individuals, especially if you're willing to book a hotel and rental car at the same time. You'll usually get the best results if you're traveling to a popular destination like Las Vegas, Orlando, or New York.

If you plan to do the haggling yourself, be prepared to spend time on the phone with a representative at the airline's toll-free number. If you get a representative who is not amenable to negotiation, you can always hang up and try again. You may get a different agent who is more open to negotiation. You'll want to avoid overseas call centers, simply because many of the representatives are less experienced and less willing to deviate from scripts with which they have been trained.

While FareCompare readers can always find terrific deals on cheap flights , a willingness to haggle politely with airline representatives gives you one more tool for ensuring you're getting the best deal. Are you missing out on the cheapest time of year to fly? You could be if you don't know the dead If you have a less-established program, aim for back-end rebates on travel once you demonstrate a specific volume.

Negotiate discounts on travel to a large event in a single city. You might have to commit to a specific travel or dollar volume to satisfy the airline. Be persistent. Tap into resources both inside and outside your company to assist with negotiations; your procurement department, your travel management company or consultants, for example. Talk to multiple airlines, but be wary of nondisclosure agreements in contracts. Ask your corporate legal department or a knowledgeable attorney to review your contract before signing.

Manage your airline program to ensure your next negotiations are smooth. Communicate preferred airlines and policy to your travelers. Monitor compliance, and consider mandating traveler booking behavior to direct travelers to the discounted airline.

Look for negotiating opportunities outside of fares. You probably will not be able to negotiate ancillary costs such as checked baggage fees, but you might be successful in negotiating upgrades, lounge access or VIP services. Do not agree to volume requirements unless you are certain you can meet them.

Her articles reflect expertise in legal topics and a focus on education and home management. Video of the Day. How to Book Open-Ended Flights. How to Confirm a Flight on Frontier Airlines. Share on Facebook. Customer Service In an attempt to negotiate airline ticket prices, it is usually best to call the airline directly and speak with customer service.