Ding! Cheap Flights
June 16, 2008
I don't like to travel. I don't like to fly. I don't like airports. So, when I have to fly somewhere, I prefer to fly really cheap.
Most of you know that Southwest Airlines is cheap. It flies out of less crowded airports. It is also the best airline, or close to it, in customer satisfaction.
It offers a great program: Ding. Ding is the airline's way to fill empty seats on flights that have not filled up. The airline has figured out that something is better than nothing. What an insight!
Go to the airline's website. There is a page for Ding. Identify which airport that Southwest uses is nearest to you. You can select more than one. Then, when discount seats are available on planes flying out of the particular airport, the computer sends your computer a message. When it arrives, you hear a ding.
Pretty smart. The sound reminds you to look at the list. Who knows? There may just be a deal today on a flight to somewhere you were not thinking of going. At some price, you will consider it.
You have to download a special piece of software to receive the message. The software installs an icon on the system tray bar at the bottom of your screen. Click it at any time to see what deals are available.
Sometimes, you get only a one-way fare. So, you must pay full price coming back. But a $50 a fee is common. Combined, it's under $200. These days, that's good.
Summer is a good time to sign up. Do it here:
This is one case when it's nice getting dinged.