How to Save Money on Airfare

If you're planning to take a vacation or need to travel for business, airline travel is often the most efficient way to get to your destination. The costs associated with flying, however, can accumulate quickly. On top of the airfare, there will be taxes and fees. While you may not be able to avoid these additional charges, you can save money by finding the lowest airfare.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Maintain a flexible travel window. By searching one day before and one day after your ideal departure and return dates, you may be able to get a lower airfare and save money. Travel booking websites and airline websites often let you provide flexible travel dates when searching for airfare, letting you automate the search process.

2. Compare the airfare for flights originating at different airports near you. Many areas have multiple airports in close proximity. In addition to saving money by searching for flights at different airports, you may be able to get direct flights by driving to a different airport.

3. Search for airfare prices on travel booking websites (see Resources below). These websites search multiple airlines, letting you see which airline will let you save the most money.

4. Visit the airline's website when you are ready to book your airfare. By directly purchasing your airfare from the airline, you can avoid the booking fee that travel booking websites charge.

5. Book your airfare well in advance of your intended travel date. As the day on which you want to depart approaches, the airfare can increase significantly in price.

Tips & Warnings

• If you need to book a hotel or car rental, you may be able to save money by booking them at the same time that you book your airfare.
• If you do not have a preference regarding the airline or the time of day you will depart and return, you can save money by using bidding websites that allow you to put in an offer for airfare, such as Priceline.com (see Resources below).
• Avoid calling the airline to book your airfare. Some airlines charge an additional fee for paper tickets that must be mailed after you book your airfare on the phone.
• When booking your airfare through the airline's website, you may not find the combination of departure and return flights that you did on travel booking websites. You may need to pay the higher price at the travel booking website if you want those particular flights.

Resources

• Book tickets at Expedia.com
• Get tickets at Orbitz.com
• Bid at Priceline.com