How to Find Bargain Flights

Finding bargain flights is not difficult once you know where to look.

If flying is the only way to get to your destination and you have a limited time frame for travel, then your flight can take up a large chunk of your travel budget. But if you do your research, you can often save money on airline fare. Bargain flights are there for the taking if you know where to look.

Instructions

1. Research travel options using an online travel consolidator. Many travel consolidators specialize in finding potential passengers the right flight at the right price. For example, the website Kayak has hundreds of links to bargain flights each day. Kayak allows users multiple travel options. You can choose an arrival date, departure date and the cities you wish to travel between. Users can also manipulate the data in other ways. You can narrow your choices down to a specific time frame within a given day as well as a specific airport or you can choose to view flights to more than one city. Once you've put in the parameters of your search, a list of available flights will pop up with information about the cost, airline involved and any necessary transfers between flights.

2. Work with a travel agent. While airlines list many flights online, they may hide others from general public access. A travel agent often has access to such flights. Airlines know that travel agents can bring them customers and may reserve specific bargain flights for their use only. A travel agent can also be of use if you have a special situation, such as travel to a more offbeat destination or travel with children.

3. Be flexible. Travelers who are flexible about the dates and times they can leave or arrive can find airplane trips at lower cost. Flying on a weekday can be cheaper than flying on a weekend. If you are willing to take a red eye flight, you can also save money on airline travel. If possible, select your flight times first and then pick out accommodations after you've settled on a specific flight.

4. Investigate less popular airports. Major airports can be more expensive than airports that are out of the way. Many large cities have multiple airports and an airport that is slightly farther away from the city center often has bargain flights. If you are traveling to an area that is close to several major cities, consider flying to the cheaper airport and then taking a train or bus to your final destination. The extra savings can easily exceed what you'll pay in transit fares.

References

• Kayak
• The Traveler's Notebook: Ten Reasons to Take the Red Eye Flight