Travel Tips

How To Find Cheap Airfare

Everyone wants to get the best deal when they travel. Unfortunately, there's no easy way to do it. Just like any other major purchase, the best way to get cheap airfare is still doing a lot of research, and taking the time to shop around. However, if this amount of effort and time is worth it to you, you could save a lot of money the next time you fly. Here are a few tips that might help.

Just like any other kind of bargain hunting, shopping around is the best bet. Never book the first tickets you come across, even if they look like a good deal. Instead, take the time to use multiple travel sites, or a travel search engine, to find out what the current rates are. You'll be able to find out which airlines you can take, and what the going rate is. If you don't see rates you like, wait and see what the trend is. You can't track fares forever, but looking at them for a little while can help you understand what a good price is likely to be.

Pay attention to your timing. Depending on when you make your reservations, you could lose a lot of money. There are several times when airfares go up - three weeks, two weeks, one week, and three days before the flight is due to leave. If you're planning on flying in advance, order your tickets before these windows - usually at least a month in advance. International travelers will want to make sure they book even earlier. Try reserving your tickets three to six months before you fly to get the best deals.

Of course, not everyone can plan this far ahead. Sometimes circumstances prevent you from being able to get your tickets early enough to get a good discount. Does that mean you'll be stuck with exorbitant rates? It doesn't have to. If you can't buy your tickets early, you might be able to buy them at the last minute. This is a risky gamble, so you shouldn't rely on it. However, if the airline hasn't managed to fill the plane, you may be able to get a good price at the very last minute. You might be able to sign up for a newsletter for the airline of your choice, telling you about these kinds of deals. However, this is a stressful way to get your tickets, and you'll have to be really flexible to take advantage of it correctly.

Flexibility can help with any kind of airfare - not just at the last minute. After all, most airlines will give you a discount on Tuesday or Wednesday, but charge more to fly during busy periods. If you're willing to adjust your schedule and fly on the least popular days, you'll get a much better bargain. Likewise, if you're willing to allow yourself to be "bumped" at the airport, you can save a lot on future tickets by taking a later flight. This only works for people who can make changes in their schedules, of course.

If there's more than one airport that's an option, don't be afraid to fly out of a different one than you usually use. Some airports offer lower rates than ones that are equally close. Experiment with all the variables to get the cheapest ticket, and don't forget discount airlines. There are often inconveniences in flying with them, but their rates are extremely low in many cases. Remember to factor in frequent flyer miles, too. It's harder to redeem your miles than it used to be, but it could still save you a lot of money.

There are some less commonly know methods for getting cheap airfare, as well. Did you know that you could ask for a refund if the fare goes down after you buy your ticket? The ability to do this varies by airline, but it never hurts to ask, and you could save some money. International flyers should check for air passes if they're planning to travel a lot in one region, since they can result in reduced rates. Sign up for airline newsletters to get information on all deals and specials, too. You'll be amazed at how often they don't advertise their low rates.