Three days ago, I discovered that so many people search for “cheap plane tickets” on a Yahoo search engine. That so many people can’t be specific and are making a foolish mistake.

Today, I discovered an Yahoo Travel article (which was essentially written by Travel + Leisure). The article is called Top Travel Myths. After reading, I have to say the author is clueless on multiple counts. It feels as if the  author was living  during a time of no frequent flyer programs and regulated airlines. Here’s where I politely disagree:

Current Advice: Never assume prices are cheaper because they’re in a store marked “duty-free.”

Sure, not everything is bargain at a duty free store, but during many occasions, I’ve found buy one- get one free deals, even buy one- get two free for things like chocolates or other food items. At the same time I’m not paying tax, so the savings do add up. Whenever I buy cologne, I immediately convert (in my head) the price to US dollars and recall how much I would pay at Bloomingdale’s or Nordstrom and I’ve found savings ranging from $10 to $30 per bottle. Maybe it’s not 70% off, but the author of the article is arguing that we should avoid duty-free stores, because the prices are higher than regular stores. Simply not true!

Next, Brad Tuttle (the author) argues that you should never buy packages to save money,

Current Advice: Booking à la carte is often the smarter option.

I always book à la carte, not because I get savings, but because it’s more rewarding in the sense of loyalty programs. Let’s say I book a US Airways flight, a Hilton Hotel and an Avis car through US Airways Vacations. Not that they’re a bad company, because they’re not, but I wouldn’t get any Hilton points or miles for the Avis car rental. You only get points if you book directly from them.

But let’s talk about price. Vacation packages often offer things like a $300 Mastercard Gift card, free tickets to events or meals included in the hotel package. For those who don’t want to rent a car, a transfer is already included to and from the hotel. Vacation packages also offer discounted insurance, and for families with kids who can get ill or something comes up before the trip, it is very helpful. Last, but not least, companies like US Airways Vacations buy the rooms ahead of time, so sometimes you won’t find the room available through Marriott, but it’s still available as a package through a different outlet.

Still, when I book separately I have the ability to customize a little more= you can cancel hotel, change to another, book different type of car. Plus you get all the benefits/rewards.

Current Advice: Let children run around in the airport to burn off some energy, so that there’s a chance they will sleep on board. One parent may want to board early, to set up some books in the seatback compartment and store bags in the overhead bin. The other parent can take care of the kids and be among the last people to get on the plane.

I don’t think so! Rules are meant to be followed. Don’t let children run around. It’s an airport, not a playground. That kid bumps into something or gets hit by a door in the head and you’ll want to sue someone, when you are the who to blame. Who are you going to sue? The airline, the door manufacturer, the airport authoriy, city or the state?

Kids MUST preboard with their parents so they can sit down, get buckled up before the general masses board. It’s pretty simple:

• Buckling the kids up and stowing your stuff while no one is boarding and trying to do all that while 200 people are waiting behind saying “Let’s go, let’s move it!”
• Having the kid sit before anyone else in that row sits or having the kid climb over someone who already boarded
• Walking through the aisle hitting empty seats with your bags/totes or walking through the aisle hitting people’s faces and arms, because you can’t take the stuff off of your shoulder

Virtually every major booking engine and hotel chain, airline, and car rental agency guarantees that its Web site has the absolute lowest price available, and typically backs up the claim by matching prices and offering additional discounts or coupons if proved wrong.

Right, except before they do that, airlines charge a $150 fee for domestic price adjustments and $250 for international, so unless your fare drops by $200 ($300 on international), don’t even bother. Again Brad, what guarantee were you referring to?

Current Advice: While booking, keep it quiet that you’re getting married. Feel free to announce your nuptial status, however, when checking in at the airport, the car rental counter, and the hotel. By then, reservations are set, and there’s an outside chance a friendly counter agent might give you an upgrade at no extra charge.

Not true at all, buddy. If you don’t prepare yourself in advance with miles and you don’t plan you won’t get anything done at the airport. Absolutely no chance of getting thestuff you mention for free, especially with all those elites upgrading. You want First Class? Pay for it, or use miles in advance to upgrade. You want the nicer hotel room? Use points for a basic and pay the difference. You want better a rental car?Pay the difference. Sweet talking people is especially shallow if it’s such a big deal like a honeymoon!

I have to say Brad, you saved the best for last laugh! Here is what you say:

Myth: Airline loyalty program members are likely to be upgraded.

Reality: In the old days, a frequent-flier member wearing a nice suit had a fair chance of being bumped up to business or first class if the flight was overbooked, or simply if a seat up front wasn’t filled. These days, in an era when so many travelers belong to airline loyalty programs — and when airlines are considerably stingier with rewards — membership has lost its prestige and its value. Carriers tend to give upgrades on the spot only when forced to, due to overbooking. If that’s the case, upgrades go to the most elite loyalty members — typically die-hard business travelers with thousands of miles they will never have the chance to use.

Current Advice: Regular travelers have almost no chance of scoring a free upgrade. If your heart is set on sitting up front, accumulate points however you can (airline credit cards are the easiest way), and book a first- or business-class seat. Or, check out airlines offering less expensive business-class seats.

Ha! Elite members are likely to be upgraded is a myth? Maybe it’s a myth that you are writing for a Travel magazine! You say that airlines only upgrade due to overbooking? Hardly!

So the fact that a Chairmans’ Preferred with US Airways can upgrade seven days before departure is a myth? Then why have I done so for the last two years. I haven’t felt what a coach seat feels like for two years now! It was pretty similar when I was a gold- three days out I got my upgrade most of the time, but very rarely at the gate! And your theory on getting a credit card to get a huge bonus and spend it on a one time First Class flight? I doubt that will even get you a one way domestic First Class ticket since they now cost 25,000 miles, and most credit cards give you an opening bonus of 20,000!

Your article glistens with advice that has an overall theme of “getting it done last at last minute”. You want kids to board last, honeymooners to get free upgrades at the last minute, non-elite members to get upgraded at the gate and waiting until the last minute to buy a ticket. Who are you kidding here?

Readers, these types of articles get me really upset. So many knowledgeable people to write about airline rewards programs and policies, but they pick someone who probably usually reviews a beach or a restaurant. Brad, even on a beach you get need to get their earlier to get a primo spot. You can’t show up last and hope someone will give you the best patch of sand.

Have a nice clicK life,

-Mark