About Cheap Airline Tickets
- Air fares are based on supply and demand and prices can change quicker than shares of stocks. From the time you find a discount fare, to the time you have handed over your credit card information, you may find that prices have changed.
Prices are set so that business travelers pay the most. If you want cheap flights, you need to stay at your location for several days and over the weekend. Mid-week or single-day trips will be costly.
You will find better fares at the airline's website than at the discount booking sites. You should still use sites like hotwire, kayak, and Travelocity first to find out which airline to go to for the best price. - Even after you have secured a cheap flight, the airline can cancel it and not offer you a new flight at the same price. It may, instead, only give you a refund, causing you to start the search all over again.
- Start shopping 30 to 60 days before your flight for the best price. The magic number of days before travel for purchase is 21 days with the exception of holidays, which requires you to purchase your ticket further in advance to save money.
- The definition of "cheap airline tickets" has changed drastically over the past decade. There was a time when a family of four could travel across the country for under 600. Now the same flight can cost $1,200 to several thousand.
- Sign up for fare alerts through Hotwire and similar websites so you will know the most recent prices in case your airline cancels on you.
Sometimes last-minute flights are a good thing, but there are no guarantees and you need to be incredibly flexible.
Name-your-price flights will give you the best rates, but you will have no control over your schedule and number of connections.
Get a package that includes rental car and hotel to make your overall trip cheaper.
Volunteer to give up your seat if asked. It will get you a free seat for another flight.
Find out about student, senior and military discounts.
