Buy your tickets at the right time. Travel experts state that airlines begin selling tickets at discounted prices in the middle of the week, meaning that ticket prices typically cost less Monday night through around Thursday.
Shop around. Don't limit yourself to just one airline or one airline travel website when searching for tickets, and don't assume that a travel website will provide you the cheapest tickets. Sometimes you'll find that airfare purchased directly through your airline is less expensive than it is through any travel sites. Compare prices on multiple airlines to get the best deal.
Fly during the week. Travel experts state that Wednesday is the least expensive day to fly. As long as your travel plans aren't set on a particular day, consider changing your departure date by a day or two to cut costs.
Stop procrastinating. The longer you wait to purchase tickets, the higher your chance of paying far more than the person sitting in the aisle seat to your right because she booked her ticket two months before you. The ideal time to purchase is three to four months prior to your departure date, according to Rick Seaney, CEO of farecompare.com.
Ask for a refund if the price of your ticket drops after you've already made your purchase. This doesn't work with every airline, but some major airlines will offer a refund to passengers who ask for one if the price of tickets drop soon after you make your purchase.
Fly off season. If you're planning a vacation that doesn't depend on the weather during a certain time of year -- such as a tropical vacation to the Caribbean where it's just as warm in March as it is in October -- consider waiting to travel until off-season at your destination. Once the rush of tourists has gone home and the slow travel season has arrived, many destinations will drop the price of not only airfare but hotels and car rental rates as well.
