Kerwin’s 2023 Holiday Travel Hacks To Save Money

Updated for 2023

On December 12, 2018, KHOU 11 Houston aired a segment about Holiday travel hacks to save money. I’ve embedded the video below as well as added some additional tips to help you with your travels.   

 

 

Quick Tips

1. Be Flexible

Sometimes, just traveling a day earlier or later or even getting up earlier can save you a lot of money.

2. Travel during the off season if you can (outside of Holiday periods)

You get the best deals during these times as there are not many people flying and the travel brands are eager to fill the beds and seats.

3. Join the loyalty programs of the travel brands you use

Get credit for every stay, rental, flight, etc. But remember to watch the expiration dates of the points/miles too.

4. Stick to a major airline Alliance

This allows you to accumulate points for future trips. Plus upgrades when you accomplish elite status. Major airline alliances with affiliated U.S. airlines:

• oneworld (Alaska Airlines (AS) and American Airlines (AA)
• SkyTeam (Delta Air Lines (DL))
• Star Alliance (United Airlines (UA))

5. If you can, get a credit card that gives you miles/points for each dollar spent

Don’t leave money (points) on the table.

6. Be courteous

Treat the people who serve you like a friend.

7. Get travel insurance

No trip should be done without this option. It’s a small price to pay for peace of mind.

8. Know the rules of what you bought

Check cancellation policies, change policy, fees for seats, bags and meals. The cheapest fares usually have a lot of restrictions and sometimes by the time you’ve added in the extras, the fare is the same as a regular fare.

9. Don’t always buy the cheapest fare

This ties with number 7 above. If the fare is cheaper, there will be a lot of restrictions. Also, you may not get the full mileage/points credit you’re looking for.

10. If you can buy your airline ticket directly from the airline

If there is a change the airline has more flexibility to make the change without a fee than an online agency. Also the airline does not have control of the ticket before the day of travel or check-in, so all changes has to be done through the online agency from whom you bought the ticket.

International Nonstop Flights From Houston And The Airlines Who Fly Them

Houston-Intercontinental (IAH)

Asia

1. Taipei, Taiwan (TPE) – EVA Air (BR)
2. Tokyo-Haneda, Japan (HND) – All Nippon Airlines (NH)
3. Tokyo-Narita, Japan (NRT) – ANA (NH) and United Airlines (UA)

Australasia

1. Auckland, New Zealand (AKL) – Air New Zealand (NZ)
2. Sydney, Australia (SYD) – United Airlines (UA)

 Canada

1. Calgary, AB (YEG) – Air Canada (AC), United Airlines (UA) and WestJet (WS)
2. Edmonton, AB Canada (YEG) – United Airlines (UA)
3. Montreal, QB (YUL) – Air Canada (AC)
4. Toronto, ON (YYZ) – Air Canada (AC) and United Airlines (UA)
5. Vancouver, BC (YVR) – United Airlines (UA)

Caribbean

1. Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (GCM) – United Airlines (UA)
2. Havana, Cuba (HAV) – United Airlines (UA)
3. Kralendijk, Bonaire [Dutch Caribbean] (BON) – United Airlines (UA)
4. Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ) – United Airlines (UA)
5. Nassau, Bahamas (NAS) – United Airlines (UA)
6. Oranjestad, Aruba (AUA) – United Airlines (UA)
7. Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (POS) – United Airlines (UA)
8. Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (PLS) – United Airlines (UA)
9. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ) – United Airlines (UA)
10. St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (STT) – United Airlines (UA)

Central America

1. Belize City, Belize (BZE) – United Airlines (UA)
2. Comayagua, Honduras (XPL) – United Airlines (UA)
3. Guatemala City, Guatemala (GUA) – Spirit Airlines (NK) and United Airlines (UA)
4. Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR) – United Airlines (UA)
5. Managua, Nicaragua (MGA) – United Airlines (UA)
6. Panama City, Panama (PTY) – United Airlines (UA)
7. Roatan, Honduras (RTB) – United Airlines (UA)
8. San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) – United Airlines (UA)
9. San Pedro Sula, Honduras (SAP) – Spirit Airlines (NK) and United Airlines (UA)
10. San Salvador, El Salvador (SAL) – Avianca (AV), Spirit Airlines (NK), United Airlines (UA) and Volaris El Salvador (N3)
11. Tegucigalpa, Honduras (TGU) – United Airlines (UA)

Europe

1. Amsterdam, Netherlands (AMS) – KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL) and United Airlines (UA)
2. Frankfurt, Germany (FRA) – Lufthansa German Airlines (LH) and United Airlines (UA)
3. Istanbul, Turkey (IST) – Turkish Airlines (TK)
4. London-Heathrow, England (LHR) – British Airways (BA) and United Airlines (UA)
5. Manchester, United Kingdom (MAN) – Singapore Airlines (SQ)
6. Munich, Germany (MUC) – United Airlines (UA)
7. Paris-Charles de Gaulle, France (CDG) – Air France (AF)

Mexico

1. Acapulco (ACA) – United Airlines (UA)
2. Aguascalientes (AGU) – United Airlines (UA)
3. Cancun (CUN) – Frontier Airlines (F9), Spirit Airlines (NK), Sun Country (SY) and United Airlines (UA)
4. Cozumel (CZM) – United Airlines (UA)
5. Guadalajara (GDL) – United Airlines (UA), VivaAerobus (VB) and Volaris (Y4)
6. Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo (ZIH) – United Airlines (UA)
7. Leon/Guanajuato (BJX) – United Airlines (UA) and VivaAerobus (VB)
8. Manzanillo (ZLO) – United Airlines (UA)
9. Mazatlan (MZT) – United Airlines (UA)
10. Merida (MID) – United Airlines (UA)
11. Mexico City (MEX) – AeroMexico (AM), United Airlines (UA), VivaAerobus (VB) and Volaris (Y4)
12. Monterrey (MTY) – spirit (NK), United Airlines (UA) and VivaAerobus (VB)
13. Morelia (MLM) – United Airlines (UA)
14. Oaxaca, Mexico (OAX) – United Airlines (UA)
15. Puebla (PBC) – United Airlines (UA)
16. Puerto Vallarta (PVR) – United Airlines (UA)
17. Queretaro (QRO) – United Airlines (UA)
18. San Jose del Cabo (SJD) – United Airlines (UA)
19. San Luis Potosi (SLP) – United Airlines (UA)
20. Tampico (TAM) – United Airlines (UA)
21. Veracruz (VER) – United Airlines (UA)

Middle East

1. Doha, Qatar (DOH – Qatar Airways (QR)
2. Dubai, United Arab Emirates (DXB – Emirates Airlines (EK)

South America

1. Bogota, Colombia (BOG) – United Airlines (UA)
2. Buenos Aires, Argentina (EZE) – United Airlines (UA)
3. Lima, Peru (LIM) – United Airlines (UA)
4. Quito, Ecuador (UIO) – United Airlines (UA)
5. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (GIG) – United Airlines (UA)
6. Santiago, Chile (SCL) – United Airlines (UA)
7. Sao Paolo, Brazil (GRU) – United Airlines (UA)

Houston-Hobby (HOU)

Caribbean

1. Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ) – Southwest Airlines (WN)
2. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ) – Southwest Airlines (WN)

Central America

1. Belize City, Belize (BZE) – Southwest Airlines (WN)
2. Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR) – Southwest Airlines (WN)
3. San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) – Southwest Airlines (WN)

Mexico

1. Cancun (CUN) – Southwest Airlines (WN)
2. Cozumel, Mexico (CZM) – Southwest Airlines (WN)
3. Mexico City (MEX) – Southwest Airlines (WN)
4. Puerto Vallarta (PVR) – Southwest Airlines (WN)
5. San Jose del Cabo, Mexico (SJD) – Southwest Airlines (WN)

Frequent Traveler 101 Course

I’ve created a course to help you get the most out of your travels. Check it out at https://cruisinaltitude.newzenler.com/courses/frequent-traveler-101

Where To Search for Travel Deals

Flights

1. Google Flights – http://www.google.com/flights

Car

Check out Car Rentals at https://www.passrider.com/car. You can book with the individual car companies, but this page shows you all the available options.

 

Hotel

HotelsCombined – https://www.passrider.com/hotelscombined. This page looks at all the online hotel booking sites and shows you the best deals from all of them.

Tours

I used to hate tours, but having done a few, they do work as you get to hear a little more about what you’re seeing. Check out how to find Tours when you travel here.

Newsletter

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