Flights

I buy my flights at least 6 months in advance.

International (from USA)
For international flights, among existing companies I have flown Air France, Lufthansa, and United.

My favorite is Air France

Pros: huge selection of French movies, decent food, decent customer service

Cons: from the US most flights go to Paris, which, given recent security concerns, one may view as a risky place to which to travel.

Lufthansa has had recent bouts of sudden strikes which can leave passengers stranded.  Their food is so-so, their movies are way better than United but not as good as Air France.

United sometimes doesn't even provide individual seat-back movies for international flights!  Avoid if at all possible.

Word to the wise: Regardless of what your chosen airline is, beware of codeshare flights, i.e. you buy a flight from airline X but due to its partnerships even though it has a flight number for your preferred airline, in FINE PRINT it will say "operated by ZZZ Airlines" which might be the evil company you despise.  Beware!  I lost a lot of time and maybe a few gray hairs due to computer problems between Lufthansa and United.  I had bought what I thought was a Lufthansa flight, but United was operating it, and United's computer system reversed the flight order sent by Lufthansa's computers such that I could not check in for my flight 24 h prior to departure.  Needless to say I got bounced around like a ping pong ball on the phone and even at the airport.  Caveat empor!  It took one heck of a savvy United agent to decode my flight so that I could *finally* check in.  And, to boot, the code-share companies don't correctly transfer or receive your diet order, so vegans can expect to starve, slowly, on the 10+ hour flight unless you call ahead to confirm they got the info correct (assuming they correctly identify you as their customer for the correct flight number...see above how even 24 h before flight no guarantees that will even happen).

I have paid just above $1200 round trip to Europe off-season in winter and usually around $1500-1600 for sort of off season fall trips.  In peak season like summer, expect to pay more.

Domestic (USA)
For domestic flights in the US, among existing companies I have flown American, United, Southwest, and Jet Blue.

My favorite is Southwest.

Pros: free check-in luggage (with limits), reasonable fares, free snacks, open seating, usually upbeat staff (though I've had a rude attendant once), free on-board online TV if you have a laptop, tablet, or other device that can connect, decent on-board magazine with interesting stories

Cons: sometimes rates might not be the lowest; only goes to major cities in US

The other major airlines tend to be pricier, nickel and dime you for on-board food (though United is now providing snacks but still of inferior quantity and quality vs. Southwest), luggage, flight change fees, etc. and they are notorious for poor customer service, overbooked flights, etc.

The latest Transportation Security Administration news is they're cutting down on security agents, so folks should get to the airport at least 3 hours prior to departure for domestic flights.

In their heyday I used to snag a Southwest deal for $49 one-way trip along the west coast and a cross-country trip for $200!  Nowadays one-way cross country trips are $200 if you're lucky.

Welcome! Herzlich Wilkommen! Bienvenue! Benvenuto!

Follow me in budget travels across the globe while maintaining my pocketbook, sating intellectual curiosity, and maintaining a primarily vegan diet.  From the preliminary planning to the logistics of transportation and the activity itinerary, you will learn from my experiences and avoid my mistakes!