Sitting 120 miles south of the 10th largest airport in the U.S. is a mixed blessing. In less than two hours travelers can be in Phoenix and take advantage of over 600 daily departures. This greatly increases the number of discount seats, and frequency of flights, available. However, assuming it's cheaper to fly from Phoenix rather than Tucson can be a mistake. It is often not the case, especially when fliers factor in wear and tear on the car, parking fees, and the value of their time.
Technology now adds a new dimension to the adventure of finding the best fare.
Computers allow airlines to track fares system-wide moment by moment enabling them to adjust fares instantly. On a 160-passenger plane, it's not inconceivable to find 160 different fares. The home page also connects to our airlines with links directly to their web sites. It takes only a few minutes to get on the subscription list for weekly specials offered only on the internet. Some airlines, United for example, post not only their schedules and fares, but also those of other airlines flying the same route.