Keep Your Eye on the "Southwest Effect"

What an interesting airfare article from David M. Rowell, aka The Travel Insider:

The 'Southwest effect' is described as the two things that happen when Southwest starts flying into a new city. Airfares drop across the board as established carriers match Southwest's typically lower fares, and air travel increases in response.

Here's an interesting example of the other side of the Southwest effect. For reasons best known to itself and to no-one else, Southwest only publishes its schedules (and therefore fares) a little way into the future, unlike most airlines that will accept reservations up to 11 months in advance (and even further in advance for group type bookings).

So guess what happens on the particular day when Southwest's future bookings stop being available? Yes - airfares typically rise on other carriers. Here's a wonderful example of this in chart form, courtesy of farecompare.com - at present, you can book with Southwest through until 6 March 2009.

Look at the leap in fares on United that occurs on 7 March - from an average of about $385 up to an average of about $440.



If you're flying anywhere in the US, plainly it is best not to book further in advance than Southwest has its schedules published for.

I Can Fly Without an ID?

A lot of people don't realize it, but there are no laws that say you must show a valid ID to board a domestic flight in the U.S.

Of course, it makes things much easier to just show your license, then pass more quickly through the security checkpoint.

But TSA cannot stop you from boarding the flight. That is a fact.

Today, however, USA Today is reporting how TSA has been compiling a list of flyers who do not show an ID when attempting to board a flight. Read the entire story here.

How to Save Money on Off-Site Events

Orbit for Business recently posted a list of cities where airfare prices have actually gone down, and some of the cities are great for off-site events, sales meetings, etc., including Salt Lake City, San Antonio and London.

Room rates have also gone down in several cities, including New York, San Francisco and Boston.

So keep those prices that directly affect your traveling attendees in mind before you sign that next event contract!