By Lisa Steinkamp
The days of discounted senior airfares seem to be (almost) over, or at least seriously restricted. Most airlines have dropped senior discount fares altogether, and the few remaining senior programs seem to add up to, well . . . not so much.
Can Seniors Still Get A Bargain? A Qualified Yes
There are senior bargains of a sort, but you have to dig for them, and, be consumer savvy. Go to American Airlines website, for example: it says the airline MAY offer senior fares in SOME domestic markets. Not exactly an unequivocal yes.
Senior Fares Have Restrictions
Now, go to Southwest’s website, and you see that this airline does offer senior discounts on all their flights. However, Southwest puts a cap on the number of senior fares per flight, so forget about that group trip to the Grand Canyon with all your pals. And, Southwest admits its senior fares may not always be lower than their standard adult fares.
Should Seniors Bother Looking for Senior Fares? Maybe Not
Its a good question: many senior fares are discounted only from the walk-up coach fare, which can still be more than a regular adult fare you can find online. According to the AARP website Older Americans can still find bargain ticket prices because generally, airfares remain deeply discounted. Yes, there are still some senior fares out there, but make sure you read the fine print. The sweetest deal may not be a senior fare, but a regular online fare.
Senior Fares Do Have SOME Advantages
True. Heres a few examples (but note: these advantages may not be true for all senior fares; you must confirm with your airline):
- Senior fares can be fully refundable
- Senior fares can be purchased at the last minute (up to an hour before departure)
THE LIST: Airlines That DO and DO NOT Offer Senior Fares:
- Air Tran, Delta, Jet Blue, US Airways, Spirit and Virgin America - NO senior discounts.
- American, Continental, Northwest and United - 10% discounts for seniors 65+, but in limited markets only, and with newly added restrictions.
- Southwest - Discounts for seniors 65+ in all regions, but with limited seats on each flight
BEST TIPS: How To Be a Savvy Senior Air Fare Purchaser
- Research online with FareCompare. We give you step-by-step directions on how to find the cheapest air fares.
- Buy online: FareCompare can direct you to purchasing sites (like Travelocity, etc.) or go directly to your airlines website (don’t book by phone; airlines typically charge you extra for that service. Delta, for one, is raising its over-the-phone booking fee to $20 this fall).
- Skip the travel agent; they charge fees, too.
- If you’re not computer savvy, ask a friend to help.
- Look for package deals designed for seniors that include hotel, dining, and activities; you could save some real money. Check out these links:
- http://www.eldertravelclub.com/
- http://www.suddenlysenior.com/airfareseniordiscounts.html
- http://seniortravel.about.com/od/thetripofalifetime/tp/10myths.htm
So Why ARE Senior Fares Disappearing?
Senior airfares are only one of the many amenities airlines have cut in response to fuel surcharges and a declining number of travelers that occurred after 9/11. We all know about bringing our own food on board! But, despite the fact that the number of travelers is back up, airlines don’t seem to be moving towards reinstating senior fares (or other amenities) anytime soon.
And many speculate that, as the 77-million Baby Boomers in the U.S. are hitting their 60s, the last thing airlines want to do is honor millions of new senior discounts!
