Deals

Price drops in travel follow a rhythm. This archive files the fare sales that were genuinely cheaper, the booking windows that let you change your mind, and the "last chance" countdowns that were never discounts at all. The two posts worth starting with are the weekly fare check and the refund survival guide — the gap between a refundable and a non-refundable rate is usually the whole value of the deal.

Two habits worth copying. When the dates are fixed and the price is fair, pay the flexible rate; when only the destination is fixed, take the cheapest and let the schedule bend. And never pay for a seat request you could have picked free at check-in — the seat swap piece explains how airline seating actually gets allocated.