Tips if you're flying this fall

Traveling soon? Here are some tips for flying defensively.

Schedule changes

• Provide your airline with a phone number where you can be reached and sign up for its e-mail alerts. Be proactive. Check your itinerary for changes, especially if you've booked far in advance.

Schedule changes are automated to put you on flights that match your original departure and arrival times as closely as possible, but that may not be as important to you as avoiding certain airports, having a shorter layover or flying nonstop at a different time or date.

Call to see what else might be available. Plead your case with a supervisor if necessary.

• Elite members of frequent-flier programs might have more options. The airline might be willing to rebook you on a partner or move your flight ahead or back a day.

• If using Orbitz or Expedia or another third-party booking site, avoid routings that involve travel on non-partner airlines.

Fares

Now's a good time to shop for fares if you're planning travel in the next three months. Beyond that, you're probably better off waiting to find the best deals.

"It never pays to panic, or to give an airline your money too far in advance," says Joe Brancatelli, publisher of JoeSentMe.com, a newsletter for business travelers.

• To get an idea of where fares are headed, do a search on Bing.com. Consult its Farecast "price predictor" feature, which recommends buying or waiting based on a statistical analysis of whether fares are expected to rise or fall within the next seven days.

• If fares go down after you purchase, call your airline. Some, including Alaska, JetBlue, United and Southwest, will refund the difference, without a change fee, in the form of a voucher for future travel, as long as you remain on the same flight and travel dates.

Register on Yapta.com and the site will send you an alert if the fare drops.

Carol Pucci: cpucci@seattletimes.com