How to Find Low Prices on Air Fare
Have you ever discovered that the person sitting next next to you on an airplane paid less than half what you did for the same flight? What's the difference between seats 13A and 13B? Nothing, except one passenger knew how to shop for a great deal on airfare while you forked over full fare. Keep some easy tips in mind, and you'll be on your way to a sunny beach, a bustling city or other destination for less money.
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Instructions
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Do your research for a great deal on airfare.
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Choose your destination and survey the field. This doesn't mean making a toll-free call to your local airline. Instead, hop on the computer, and pull up some of the most widely known travel sites, such as Expedia, Travelocity and Orbitz. Then, pull up the wwbsites of a few individual airlines. Type in your travel dates and destinations and take note of the cheapest fares.
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Consider whether your travel dates are flexible. If they are, pick the cheapest two airlines, and enter in new dates. For instance, if you had originally entered Friday for your travel departure date, try putting in Thursday. Oftentimes, flying on a different day of the week can drastically change the airfare. Use a website such as Kayak to search your destination and a range of departure and return dates. Consider trying a name-your-own-price service, such as Priceline or Hotwire.
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Choose your flight while keeping in mind the tricks of the airline trade: Usually, it's cheaper to fly midweek than it is to fly at the beginning or end of the week. Why? Because business travelers usually depart on Fridays and return on Sundays or Mondays. If you're a leisure traveler, consider flying out on a Tuesday and returning on a Saturday. Also, some airlines offer cheaper fares with a Saturday stay.
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If you've found a great deal, don't hesitate: Buy the ticket. Airline prices can vary widely just within just a few minutes. If you haven't found the best deal, don't fret. Keep checking back -- especially during off-hours, such as late night and early morning. Oftentimes, airlines lower prices at the spur of the moment, and you'll want to snap up a great deal.
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Tips & Warnings
If the price seems too high, you might consider waiting before purchasing your ticket Don't purchase tickets over the phone. Airlines almost always charge more for over-the-phone tickets, and they'll also usually charge a booking fee for tickets bought over the phone. Consider joining a frequent-flyer club to earn points. Sometimes, booking flights many weeks in advance doesn't actually save you money. Airlines oftentimes run last-minute specials within a week of travel dates if they have a glut of unsold seats.
