Prior to purchasing airfare, preauthorize travel to obtain a UCSD travel event number. Then follow the step-by-step instructions for purchasing airfare for business travel.

Find out how to receive discounted rates on airfare by booking online with Connexxus.

• First-time Connexxus users, see Setting Up a Connexxus Traveler Profile.

Best practices for purchasing airfare:

• Contain airfare expenses as much as possible.
• Purchase in advance to receive the lowest fares.
• Avoid changing an original ticket or itinerary because changes incur extra costs.
  • Airline change fees are typically $35–$150 per ticket, in addition to any increase in the new fare.
  • For non-refundable tickets, most airlines apply a substantial change fee and require changes be made within a certain time limit, or the ticket loses all value.
• Find lower fares and save costs by:
  • Booking connecting rather than non-stop flights and using the same carrier whenever possible. Fares for non-stop flights are generally higher than flights with connections.
  • Exploring options using a broad window of departure/ arrival times, using alternate airports, or booking midweek travel.
  • Requesting ticketless travel to reduce the need for paper ticket delivery, saving up to $20 per ticket.
• If you are booking simple flights, the Web may offer cost savings. Before you book fares on the Web, be aware of the drawbacks reported to UCSD Travel:
  • Refunds prohibited
  • Changes not allowed after ticketing
  • Upgrades not allowed
  • No advance seating
  • Frequent Flyer miles did not apply
  • Tickets not accepted by other airlines when weather problems arose
  • No assistance en route when problems surfaced
  • The time expended researching fares on the Web was not cost-effective

Questions? Contact UCSD Travel or an individual Travel Team member.