Senior Discount
 

Do you know if there is a special discount available for seniors who are flexible and willing to travel stand-by? We would like to help pay for my inlaws to visit us in February and are wondering what options we have. The flights are currently high and would like to find the most practical and economical way to do this since they are so flexible. We are looking on Northwest, Southwest, or Continental. Thank you!

Do not know specific answer, but are you flexible about dates? If so, check dates that are not near third Monday in Feb (Presidents' Day) and they may be a little less expensive.

I have not heard about any such discount in years - but I am currently getting emails from JetBlue and AirTran offering good deals for winter travel to/from various destinations.

Have you tried a site such as kayak.com to try to find cheapest fare - you book directly with airline, but this site is good for research.

Continental does offer some senior discounts - there is a box for seniors on the page where you make reservations online.

Thanks for sharing this info. Yes, I will check with Kayak and Continental also. The dates are flexible so we can work with the less busy flights. Karen

Seamus - The "senior" fare on CO always come to the same as "adult". I have never seen an exception.

Whenever I tried Southwest senior rates even well in advance, they were either not available, or higher then internet special.

Maybe check every day at midnight to see if you can get a deal?

Also, the airlines have a button that allows you to see several days around your dates to pick a cheaper one.

Weekdays are usually cheaper then weekends. Just keep searching!

For Southwest, the senior discount will be useful if there's no more cheap fares available, and one has to buy a full fare.

Thanks again! I saw where Southwest has an internet special that looks good but we are looking at the end of February and hope there may be other specials after the holidays. Since we are flexible, we may take a chance and wait. Karen

According to the Southwest airlines website, senior fares are fully refundable, which is a big plus:

"Travelers 65 years of age or over may get details on fares, limitations, and any restrictions via Reservations on southwest.com, from a Southwest Airlines Reservations Sales Agent or a travel agent. Fares are subject to change until tickets are purchased, but Senior Fare tickets are fully refundable."

Southwest prices go up and down. For example, for our flight in January I reserved tix $74 each. Then they went down to $69. Then to $59.

Each time Southwest allows to switch to lower price without penalty. Now they are up to $69. We have $30 on account to use for future trips.