10. PLAN ON TRANSATLANTIC FARE WARS
Airfares across the pond have plunged lately and are expected to stagnate as long as the price of oil stays down. FareCompare CEO Rick Seaney predicts that transatlantic tickets this spring and summer will cost at least 10 to 15 percent less than last year; in competitive East Coast markets they may be a third lower. Ryanair has announced plans to someday offer service to Boston from London and Dublin for $13, which is sure to launch price wars on those routes.

11. LOOKING FOR TRANSATLANTIC COMFORT BUT CAN'T AFFORD BUSINESS CLASS? CONSIDER PREMIUM ECONOMY
If you're headed to or can connect in London, British Airways has been selling upgrades to premium economy for only $300 round-trip, Virgin Atlantic for only $400. Between New York and Paris or Amsterdam, new transatlantic carrier OpenSkies has a premium economy cabin that is "every bit as good as business class on Delta or Continental," says Brancatelli, yet it costs only $1,200 round-trip. "It's the best value in the sky right now." Premium economy varies widely from carrier to carrier (while OpenSkies' premium economy seats have 52 inches of legroom, for instance, British Airways' have only 38), so check the Premium Economy Comparison Chart on SeatGuru.com for details on legroom and other vital statistics.

12. WATCH FOR SALES WHEN AIRLINES INTRODUCE NEW ROUTES
Thanks to the slump in business travel, the low fares that carriers offer on introductory routes should be even lower than usual. Minneapolis fares will go on sale when Southwest begins service between it and 60 U.S. cities in March (indeed, Minneapolis-Chicago fares will be cut in half, says Seaney), and flights to and from San Francisco will get a lot more affordable when Virgin America (voted best U.S. airline by Condé Nast Traveler readers last year) expands service from its San Francisco hub.

13. NEED TO FLY WITHIN THE UNITED STATES AT THE LAST MINUTE? CHECK FIRST-CLASS FARES
First class could be cheaper than full-fare coach, says Seaney: Airlines these days tend to save one or two discounted first-class seats (called Y-ups) rather than upgrading coach passengers into those seats. Another last-minute trick? Buy your ticket as part of an airfare-plus-hotel package. For high-traffic leisure destinations (Las Vegas, Orlando), "the package can actually be cheaper than the full-fare ticket you would buy on your own," he says. "Just toss the hotel part."

14. TURN THE GLUT OF NEW HOTEL ROOMS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE BY LOOKING FOR LOW INTRODUCTORY RATES
The hotel construction boom (planned three to five years ago, when the economy was better) has unleashed an abundance of inaugural deals. Read the fine print, though: Last fall, one brand-new property in Miami Beach was charging $129 for the first night and $279 for each night thereafter. For the lowest price at any high-end chain hotel, use its Web site (as opposed to a third-party site such as Expedia or Travelocity). Remember that many chain-hotel sites now sell low nonrefundable rates the same way airlines do; they often require a 14- or 21-day advance purchase. For the lowest rate at an independent city hotel, try Quikbook.com.