morning.
>>> WE KNOW MANY FAMILIES HAVE
THEIR EYE ON THE FIRST SUMMER
VACATION SINCE THE START OF THE
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. >> BEFORE YOU BOOK, HERE’S WAYS
>> BEFORE YOU BOOK, HERE’S WAYS
TO SAVE BIG MONEY ON AIR TRAVEL.
>> REPORTER: AFTER MORE THAN A
YEAR OF BEING STUCK IN THE HOUSE AND STUCK IN HOUSTON, JANET
AND STUCK IN HOUSTON, JANET
HORTON, A MOTHER OF THREE IS
PACKING UP AND FLYING AWAY TO
MEXICO.
>> WE ARE GOING TO MEXICO.
I’M EXCITED.
IT’S ONE OF OUR FAVORITE PLACES.
>> WITH COVID-19 CASES FINALLY
ON THE DECLINE, MILLIONS OF
AMERICAN FAMILIES ARE PLANNING
SUMMER VACATIONS THIS YEAR. >> WE HAVEN’T BEEN ABLE TO TAKE
>> WE HAVEN’T BEEN ABLE TO TAKE
A FAMILY TRIP IN QUITE A WHILE.
WE ARE EXCITED FOR A CHANGE OF
SCENERY, A BIT OF NORMALCY.
>> REPORTER: THEY ARE ALSO
FLYING OUT WITH THEIR FAMILIES
AND NATURALLY HAVE CONCERNS.
>> MY CONCERN BEFORE BOOKING MY
TRIP WAS HOW OPEN WAS WHERE I
WAS GOING GOING TO BE.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I COULD
CANCEL LAST MINUTE WITHOUT ANY
CHARGE. >> REPORTER: NOW WE HAVE FOUR
>> REPORTER: NOW WE HAVE FOUR
WAYS FOR YOU TO GET THE BEST
DEAL ON SUMMER TRAVEL WITHOUT
GETTING BURNED.
SHOP FOR PRICE FIRST BEFORE
DECIDING WHERE AND WHEN YOU WANT
TO TRAVEL.
THAT’S THE DIFFERENT THAN HOW
MOST OF US SHOP FOR AIR FARE. >> WHERE ARE THEIR CHEAP
>> WHERE ARE THEIR CHEAP
FLIGHTS, WHAT DATES WORK FOR MY
SCHEDULE.
MY SETTING PRICE IS THE TOP
PRIORITY.
THAT’S HOW YOU ARE ABLE TO GET A
LOT OF CHEAP FLIGHTS.
>> REPORTER: STRATEGY NUMBER TWO
COMES FROM HEATHER KELLER.
INSTEAD OF BUYING THROUGH MASS BOOKING SITES LIKE THESE, BOOK
BOOKING SITES LIKE THESE, BOOK
DIRECTLY WITH THE AIRLINE TO
AVOID ANY TROUBLE CHANGING
TRAVEL PLANS.
>> THEY ARE GOING TO OFFER YOU A
FULL CREDIT TO CHANGE YOUR
FLIGHT AT ANY TIME.
>> REPORTER: BEFORE DECIDING
WHERE FLY, CHECK THE TOURISM
BOARD.
>> EVERY CITY AND COUNTRY HAS
THEIR OWN WEBSITE.
THEY HAVE WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO
ENTER, TO LEAVE AND WHAT’S REQUIRED ONCE YOU GET THERE.
REQUIRED ONCE YOU GET THERE.
THEY WILL ALSO TELL YOU WHAT’S
OPEN.
>> REPORTER: AND NUMBER FOUR,
USE GOOGLE FLIGHTS WHICH SHOWS
YOU WHICH DAYS OF THE MONTH ARE
THE CHEAPERS TO FLY.
>> MY FAVORITE PLACE TO SEARCH
IS GOOGLE FLIGHTS.
GREAT WAY TO SIFT THROUGH FARES.
BUT THEN WHEN I BOOK A FLIGHT, I
LIKE TO BOOK DIRECTLY WITH THE
AIRLINE.
>> REPORTER: JUST WHAT ARE SOME
OF THE CHEAPEST FLIGHTS OUT OF HOUSTON?
WE PUT THIS LIST OF DOMESTIC
DESTINATIONS TOGETHER.
PHOENIX, DENVER, CHICAGO, MIAMI
WILL COST YOU $97 ROUND TRIP NOW
THROUGH THE END OF MAY.
AND AS LOW AS $157 JUNE THROUGH
SEPTEMBER.
IF YOU ARE HOPING TO FLY
INTERNATIONALLY, NONSTOP FLIGHTS
TO COSTA RICA, MEXICO CITY ARE
ALL LESS THAN $300 ROUND TRIP.
NOW THROUGH SEPTEMBER.
GOOD STRATEGY FOR FAMILIES, NOT
JUST THINKING ABOUT GETTING
AWAY, BUT ACTUALLY DOING IT THIS
SUMMER.
>> TO GET OUT, HAVE A CHANGE OF
SCENERY, MAKES YOU FEEL NORMAL.
>> REPORTER: ONE MORE IMPORTANT
TIP, ALL OF THE MAJOR AIRLINES
ARE ALLOWING YOU TO CANCEL YOUR TRIP OR MAKE CHANGES AS LONG AS
TRIP OR MAKE CHANGES AS LONG AS
YOU BUY TICKETS THAT ARE MAIN
ECONOMY OR HIGHER.
IF YOU BUY BASIC ECONOMY, IF YOU
NEED TO MAKE CHANGES, YOU WILL
BE OUT OF LUCK.
MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT KIND OF
TICKETS YOU ARE BUYING.
RENTAL CARS ARE A BIG DEAL.
THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF THEM.
WE HAVE A WHOLE STORY ON HOW TO