Budget Travel Terms

Filed in archive Flying high on August 29, 2007

Knowing some travel lingo could help you find the best deal there is - whether you are checking online or talking to a travel agent. Here are a few terms which you should memorize:

Back-to-back Ticketing - when you buy two sets of discounted tickets and combine its use (switching starting and ending points) in order to avoid the 1 weekend night stay requirement. This is illegal so be careful. Don't do it too often. Hehe.

Base Fare - ticket fare before taxes. If you see an offer that is too cheap to be true, check again. The price indicated may be just the base fare.

Bucket Shop - It's where you can look for discounted fares; British English for Consolidator.

Bumping - when airlines overbook, several passengers can volunteer or be chosen at random and get bumped to another flight. Keep in mind that if you get bumped, you are entitled to compensation.

Shoulder Season - the season that lies between the peak and the low season. You can also expect prices during this season fall between the low and peak seasons.

For more travel terms, check out the Air Travel Lingo compiled by Arlene Fleming of About's Air Travel.