GO Airport Express, which provides airport shuttles to and from O’Hare International Airport and Midway Airport, polled its customers nationwide about how they save on air travel. Booking in advance topped the list, with 82 percent of the 702 respondents checking this option. Participants were allowed to provide multiple answers.
Using frequent flyer points and reducing the amount of luggage tied at 25 percent. Seventeen percent noted they fly during off-peak times, such as on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Some travelers opt for increased travel time over convenience; seven percent save by booking a connecting flight vs. direct. Just five percent noted they wait for last minute deals. Six percent responded “none of the above” and seven percent checked of “all of the above.”
Some respondents provided their own tips, such as using buddy passes; online comparison shopping and using a corporate program through their employer.
“With fluctuating airfares and a still shaky economy, finding ways to reign in travel costs seems to be a priority for most people,” says John McCarthy, president, GO Airport Express.
GO Airport Express, one of the oldest companies in Chicago, traces its founding to 1853 and the Parmelee Transportation Company, which provided a carriage service between Chicago’s railroad stations and the downtown hotels. It is a founding member of The GO Group LLC, the nation’s largest airport transportation provider, serving some 60 airports in North America, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe and transporting more than 13 million passengers per year.