Airfarewatchdog watchdog

Airfarewatchdog  watchdog - In the short years in which I've worked in the travel industry, I've been privy to a lot of introductions. Famous travelers, pundits and celebrities have all passed my desk, many with a forced, tight smile and the faint din of one handshake too many.

Few cases have brought true affection and genuine appreciation for one's presence – and most of them were in the company of Browser, the mascot, pet and office mate of the folks over at Airfarewatchdog. High above the tower skyline of Manhattan we used to meet at the AFWD offices, productive music pumping and fares passing across keyboards of the talented, bargain searching staff.

Resource of the Week: Airfarewatchdog Advice

All of which means that seeking out bargain fares is more work than ever. And information is definitely power here. But most of us with day jobs outside the travel industry just cannot keep up with the ever-changing ins and out of air travel. Which is why we need sites like Airfare Watchdog. Any number of travel websites track airfares and offer alerts. Airfare Watchdog offers more -- such as a blog highlighting travel deals and news, and a Travel Q&A, which covers everything from car rentals to currency exchange.

As the summer travel season ramps up, so do the associated frustrations -- especially this year. Airlines have cut back on flights, which means jam-packed planes and less room for carry-ons. But checking your bags is...you, know...cha-ching, and the cornucopia of additional fees runneth over. And this is on top of fares which have skyrocketed since last year -- 24% on the average. Nevertheless, according to the Air Transport Association, roughly 2.2 million folks will fly summer -- an increase of 1% over summer 2009.