I love the new way to search for flights. Booking a flight is simple. Gone are the days of talking on the phone and having a verbal fight with an airline ticket agent trying to figure out which flight was the right flight and then hanging up and wondering, maybe there is a better flight. Now, I just find an online search engine to search all the flights at the same time. Of course, as this indicates, if I search for all flights, the reasoning is that I also search for those flights on all airlines. Most of the time that is the case and I can also see all the prices. I can even search for flight and hotel packages and this saves money on a trip. Plus, I do all of this in the same amount of time it takes to get a phone book and look up airlines, find a specific airline to call, and the time it takes to dial the phone. Right now, if I’m online, I’m already booking a flight.

It’s fast in this information age we live in. I go to my favorite search engine and put “search flights” or “search all flights” and even “book last minute flights” if I’m going fast. I instantly get a full list of travel-related websites, and most of them have some sort of search engine. I choose a site that looks cool, staying away from the bigger organization, just because I like to help those little ones. I find a site, and if it seems easy enough, I’ll continue, bookmarking the site for future reference. Some of these sites that I have found incorporate search engines from reputable sources within their site. I have seen Travelocity, Priceline and various other search boxes on various sites. There is a clear advantage in these applications.

You see, when people are affiliates or partners of bigger sites, they use the bigger site’s tools. These affiliates are online sellers or sellers. I search through these search “widgets” as they are called, and am redirected to the main site, which reports all the options as if I had started on their site. I look for all the reception times of flights, airlines, layovers and any other relevant information, and I mean now! If I want to search for flight and hotel packages, I get two different option lists for each entity, flights and hotels, but when I choose, it’s one transaction to book all trips. (Did I mention you save money when you choose this option?) I view options from multiple providers and consider the services offered, check prices, read customer reviews, and can even check maps to ensure comfort. So, I can “Make an informed decision and travel smart.” The good thing is that the original site receives a small commission for initiating the transaction, but this does not affect the price one bit. By conducting business in this way, the purchase is the safest transaction possible. Priceline, for example, has maximum security with its transactions encrypted through secure networks. The result is peace of mind as I print my itinerary and boarding pass at the time the transaction is complete.

Having a pre-printed boarding pass when I arrive at the airport has a huge advantage. I check my bags, on the sidewalk, first. I then proceed directly to the door. I walk right past that long line at the ticket counter with all those people who have yet to figure out the convenience of that, what I’m telling you. By the time I get to the door, there’s plenty of time to find the Starbucks or a lounge if you prefer. When I fly out of Nevada, I have time to play a little. I once made enough money for the whole trip and ended up taking the next flight because I had to wait to get paid. Remember that if you win big you will have to wait to get paid. My result was an additional 4+ hours at the airport. The winnings were worth it, wisely avoiding the machines while waiting.

Anyway, today is a carefree process, booking a flight. Flight and hotel packages are just as simple, as there is a special widget just for that purpose. When you search for all flights, and thus search for all airlines and perhaps hotels, you receive a comprehensive list of travel options. You can review this information from the comfort and low-pressure atmosphere of your own home or office. From these lists with time to consider, there is no excuse not to “make an informed decision and travel wisely.” Enjoy your trip!