Travel Tips for 'Long Distance Races'

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If you're like me, you're planning a race that requires long-distance travel. My destination is most accessible by air, so in about a month I'll start shopping airfares in earnest. I've managed over the years to save a significant sum by combing Web sites almost daily for weeks, sometimes a full month, waiting for a sudden, fleeting drop in ticket prices.

Turns out even the experts are with me on this. An expert on ABCNews.com recently offered tips for finding decent fares in the coming year. Among his tips:

Don't Procrastinate -- Start shopping for airline tickets about four months before departure. This is when airlines begin actively managing and releasing cheaper seats and you'll also be more likely to catch a system-wide airfare sale.
Travel the Cheapest Days -- Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Travel the Cheapest Times of Day -- First flights out, after lunch and dinner and last flights out.
Shop Online Monday Afternoon Through Thursday -- Sales are typically launched and matched by other airlines early in the week and expire on Friday.
Consider Connecting Flights -- Airlines charge a premium for coveted non-stops.

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