If we look at stock returns, United Airlines, with 13% returns this year, has fared better than American Airlines, up 0%, and the broader S&P 500 index, up 11%.
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When my friends and colleagues see me and my travel friends jetting off to Asia for an extended weekend, or enjoying a first-class flight to Europe, they often wonder how we do it.
Is it because of our extensive knowledge of miles and points? Do we spend days on end looking for great airfare deals? Do we simply blow all of our discretionary cash on travel? There are probably elements of truth to all of the above. But for the majority of our travels, here is our secret:
We travel opportunistically.
How Most People Travel
Most people plan travel based on a desire to go to a certain destination at a certain time: A trip to Florida for spring break; a visit to relatives during Thanksgiving; a two-week summer trip to Italy. If there is some flexibility, it might involve flying out a day earlier or returning a day later, or maybe shifting the entire trip by a week or two.