Businesses use Twitter to tweet cheap deals

From freebies to financial advice, a rush for Twitter-exclusive deals has the micro-blogging world all in a flutter.

Twitter.com is a social network where users can send 140-character messages or "tweets" to friends, family, and followers. Twitter is being used to communicate about one's day, and to keep up to date with social relationships.

However, the benefits of Twitter don't stop there. The service is also used to find or promote deals, coupons, and savings for consumers.

David Erickson, director of e-strategy for Tunheim Partners in Bloomington says, "When you offer extraordinary value, people will spread it. They'll do the marketing for you. They'll retweet (share the discounts with members of their social network) the deals on Twitter and share the deals on Facebook."

Many local companies use Twitter to connect with the neighborhood and promote their company's deals. To find and follow a business on Twitter, simply log in (or sign up) and search for the company's name. Then click follow. Your Twitter screen will show their updates and promotions from there on out.

Consumer United is currently using Twitter to promote samples and coupons for consumers as soon as we come across them. Follow Consumer United on Twitter for daily savings and updates!

Looking to score an incredibly cheap flight? JetBlue currently offers $9 flights. Check out United Airlines and JetBlue on Twitter.

JetBlue auctions flights on eBay

Want to save hundreds of dollars on your next flight? Cheap JetBlue flights--with a starting value as low as 10 cents--are being auctioned off on eBay.

JetBlue, known for being a low-cost airline, is auctioning off flights on eBay. More than 300 flights are being offered and 20 aiports are covered. Aside from these, there are six mystery packages that are receiving much higher bids.

All flights are departing on Thursdays and Fridays and return on Sundays and Mondays. The flights leave from major metro areas such as New York or Boston and connect to vacation destinations like Southern California or Salt Lake City. Specific times and flight numbers show on the screen once bids are placed.

Read the full story here, and then head to eBay to book your flight!

Savings 101: Tip to fly for less

Are you sick of paying loads of money to travel by air? Here are four new airline fees... and ways to get around them.

*Beverages
Implemented on August 1, '08, airlines are now charging for soft drinks and bottled water. Paying for a soda seems reasonable. However few consumers are OK with having to pay for a glass of water during a flight, especially since the water on tap is rarely potable.

Solution: Bring an empty water bottle with you through security. Once you are past the security clearance, hit up the nearest water fountain. Bottled water is sold at the airport, but it will probably cost more than on the plane itself.

*Checked Luggage
American, United and US Airways are making you pay for the first checked bag. Their excuse? The rising cost for fuel. According to the CNN report, airlines have been waiting for an excuse to add extra charges for a long time. If fuel costs decrease, the price of a checked bag will most probably stick.

Solution: Continental and Delta Airlines have a free first bag allowance. Try to book a flight on an airline that won't charge you to check a bag. If that's not the case, you could ship your bags, or carry on your bags. Do the math, a $15 charge for a bag might be a bargain compared to what The Postal Service charges.

*Award Tickets
Airlines have added "fees" to award tickets and frequent flier miles, and have raised the number of miles required for free tickets. on August 15, '08, Delta is adding a $25 surcharge for award travel.

Solution: Cash in your frequent flier miles, or use them for something else. Your award tickets depreciate over time, so take the cash.

*Unaccompanied Minors
These fees have always been in place, but the fees are now rising. Alaska Airlines raised its fee from $30-$75. Spirit Airlines raised its fee from $50-$75. Many legacy airlines have raised their fees to $100.

Solution: Accompany that minor this summer. It will probably end up costing the same, and you can take a vacation too. You can also choose an airline with lower fees. Jetblue charges $25 less than big airlines.