Consumers are already seeing an abundance of travel deals in what experts expect to be a great year for bargains amidst a struggling economy, however there is more under the hood.

Travelocity's most recent poll shows consumers will very likely miss out on true savings by putting too much emphasis on airfares while ignoring other, ultimately pricier components of a trip. Travelocity experts have coined this preoccupation with airfare "flight fixation."

Eighty-five percent of poll respondents said declining airfares would have the greatest impact on their decision to travel in 2009. While softening demand and lower jet fuel prices will likely lead to decreased airfares this year, travelers waiting for big drops may miss out on hotel and package deals that typically have an even greater impact on the overall cost of a trip.

"We all want to get the lowest airfare possible, but travelers need to start concentrating on the total cost of their vacation to take advantage of the greatest savings," said Genevieve Shaw Brown, senior editor of Travelocity. "Focusing too much on airfare at the expense of other trip elements often costs travelers money in the long run."

With 65 percent of poll respondents planning to travel "as frequently" or "more" this year compared to 2008, knowing how and where to find value is the key to affordability. Fifty-eight percent of respondents said price was the most important factor when booking a flight, while only 48 percent said the same about hotels, even though accommodations are typically the most expensive part of a trip and offer the greatest opportunity for savings. In fact, a recent look at hotel data for spring showed domestic average daily rates in top destinations down as much as 28 percent from the same time period last year.

Travelocity experts encourage travelers to combine these discounted hotel rates with a package deal to maximize savings. "Packages are the easiest way to save money and let the traveler pick every element of the trip, from airline to room type," said Brown, adding that Travelocity's most recent study on air + hotel packages showed an average savings of $315 when compared to booking the elements of the same trip separately. "The savings can be tremendous – sometimes negating the cost of airfare all together." Surprisingly, only 12 percent said they would book a package in order to save, even though this often yields the greatest savings.

Travelocity's survey also revealed another misconception on how to cut costs while traveling this year. Forty-one percent of respondents said they will use airline rewards and points as the number one tactic to cut down on the cost of travel.

Meanwhile, the cash-strapped airline industry has made redeeming rewards miles more difficult than ever with more blackout dates and fewer opportunities for redemption.