Congratulations to all the class of 2008 graduates. It seems like only a few weeks ago I was boogying away at my brother’s high school graduation. In a few more weeks I will be boogying away at a different kind of party… his going away party.

My brother has decided to embark on his new college career 4,200 miles away from home in Alaska. Every since he was in middle school, he has had dreams of leaving home. He said that as soon as he got the opportunity, he would move as far away from home as he could. The farthest away he could imagine at that time was Alaska. And since then, he has been dead set of going there.

I just figured that he was going through a teen age boy thing… you know… “I can’t wait to get out of my parent’s house!” While I always knew that he would eventually leave, I thought he would reconsider this Alaska thing. The child has never seen snow nor experienced temperatures below 60. Seriously, he doesn’t even own a coat.

I thought the Eskimo and igloo thing would deter him. But nope, now six years after his initial plan… the child is still hell bent on getting to Alaska. I have got to give it to him, the boy’s tenacious. When he sets out on mission, he follows through. And in a few weeks his mission will be accomplished. So Alaska here he comes.

Luckily for me, I am not my parents. Not only do they have to put another kid through college, but they also have to foot the large bills to get him back and forth to school. Ain’t no car go’n get him back for mama’s fried turkey and home cooked dressing when he’s 4,200 miles away. Flying is the only alternative.

So in an effort to soften the blow to my parent’s wallet, I decided I would help them look for the best prices on airfare. Since my brother is a student, he’ll be eligible to fly at a discounted rate. In most cases, the student verification process is simple. All he has to do is present a student id. Or having an email address that ends in .edu works too.

There are many sites that advertise student’s rates, but what they may really offer is the cheapest regular rates. There are a few trusted sites that specialize in student fares. The ones I like most are:

Student Universe

Travelosophy

STA Traveler

Student Traveler (sign up here to be informed of their lasted specials)

American Airlines also offers students a 10% discount of airfare

International travelers could benefit from an ISIC card. Right now it’s only $22 and comes with lots of perks such as discounts and even medical benefits.

The Student Air Travel Association has partnered with 80 airlines to guarantee low rates for student travelers

And if he doesn’t want to come back home to get some of mama’s turkey… he can find other exciting events to go to here.

Even though great deals can be found using these sites, it’s important to read the small print. Important things to look for are refund policy, cancellation fees, and any other fees that may be incurred. These sites vary differently, so it’s good to know all the tidbits before the final ticket purchase.