Expert: Stephen Tanenbaum - 3/5/2005

Question
Hello - I'm a single mom traveling with my 7 month old baby boy to Florida next weekend and I cannot find a fare that I can afford!
1) I am traveling with my baby. I do not want to purchase a seat ticket for him, I will hold him in my lap.
2) My destination is Florida - preferably Ft. Myers, but can also fly into Ft. Lauderdale or somewhere close to there.
3) I am a student at the University of Minnesota, and hold a student ID card.
4)I have one family income and it is very low.

Thanks for any help :)

Answer
Hi Heidi:

First off, I am helpless with regard to your iminent travel plight. I never deal with last minute travel which you may agree is often the most costly and difficult way to go.

You might snag todays NY Times Travel section which often has small consolidator ads that might possibly help. In the end your relentless web research may yet turn up something.  Perhaps ebay vis a vis someone 'selling' an airline award ticket. I have not checked recently to confirm such tickets are transferrable.

I can offer some info/advice for lyour next FREE flight. I will refer you to my new Blog web site with my in-depth article on FREE TRAVEL. Following some or all the advice (you may not qualify income wise for a Diners Club card) you should easily qualify for a free domestic flight within the year and that ASLO permits you a second stop anywhere in the U.S. Let me know if you have any questions about free travel strategies. Also, Diners Club is merging, in a month or two, with MasterCard so they may be lowering their income  requirement for new card holders. This will make more sense when you read my article.

Blog site: www.cheapskatetravel.blogspot.com

Good Luck. Steve T.