Do the Airlines Ever Waive Their Pesky Regulations? Darn Tootin'!

The airlines don't want you to know this. But the truth is that sometimes they have a heart.

They especially would prefer that you never learn the specifics of their little secret, their inner conscience that even major travel agents are reluctant to discuss for fear of angering them. But we're going to tell you because every budget-minded traveler should understand the following: If you face a serious emergency out of town, or even a business crisis, a family dispute, or a medical problem falling short of "emergency" status, you nevertheless have a good chance of flying at a rate far cheaper than the exorbitant fares the airlines charge for last-minute reservations. You can occasionally get them to waive the normal cheap-fare requirement that you book a certain number of days ahead (7, 14, or 21) or stay over a Saturday night. We're not talking about those discounted ...