

                  Let the airline pick up the tab

               How can you fly from point A to point B
          without ever opening your wallet? You've got to
          know your way around an airline.
               The easiest way to fly free is to get yourself
          bumped.
               Airlines typically overbook their flights by
          10% to 30%, knowing that a certain number of paying
          passengers will not show up for one reason or
          another. Sometimes, though, their calculations are
          off, and they're faced with 200 seats and 205
          passengers, five of whom are likely to become very
          annoyed unless something is done in a hurry.
               That's where you come in. You made a
          reservation on that flight, because you knew it was
          very overbooked. And you are standing at the end of
          the check-in line, observing airline officials as
          they realize their predicament. So, you step out of
          line, find an airline representative, and offer to
          be bumped from the flight. You're doing the airline
          a favor -- and in return, it will do you the favor
          of allowing you to fly to your destination free on
          the next plane out. What's more, the airline will
          put cash in your pocket for your trouble. (The
          amount varies, depending on the airline and the
          circumstances.)

          The frequent flyer story
               Many airlines offer frequent flyer programs
          that allow passengers to accumulate points every
          time they take a trip with that airline, and then
          redeem them in the form of free tickets to selected
          destinations. You have to fly a lot of miles to win
          any free trips, but for the business traveler, this
          is an easy way to arrange free travel.
               The main problem with Frequent Flyer programs
          is that they change their rules or become
          discontinued altogether faster than you can say,
          "I'd like a round-trip ticket to Cabos San Lucas,
          please." The best way to get up-to-date information
          is to contact the airlines themselves.
               If you know you won't travel enough in any
          given year to accumulate enough points as a
          Frequent Flyer to earn a free trip, you can still
          take advantage of Frequent Flyer miles. Coupon
          brokers buy these Frequent Flyer awards and resell
          them to the  public at very low prices. Coupons are
          especially good deals if you want to fly first or
          business class or if you will be flying a very long
          distance. Generally, you must wait five to six
          weeks to get the coupon issued in your name.
               But you must be careful when dealing with
          coupon brokers. Airlines are not fond of what
          coupon brokers are doing and are on the lookout for
          tickets purchased from them.  For the past several
          years, airlines have been confiscating tickets
          issued by coupon brokers and leaving the ticket
          buyers stranded at boarding gates all over the
          world.
               It is not illegal for coupon brokers to
          operate in most countries, but it is illegal in
          some. It is, however, against the airlines' rules
          in all countries, which prohibit the sale of
          Frequent Flyer coupons.
               But if you're willing to take the risks, you
          will be rewarded with a very cheap airline ticket.
          You will usually find coupon brokers advertising in
          the travel classified advertising of major Sunday
          newspapers around the world.

