Shop around. The days of calling a travel agent or airline to purchase plane tickets are a thing of the past. Internet sites such as Expedia, Hotwire, Orbitz and Yahoo offer consumers a chance to compare rates of different airlines all at once. You can search by price, number of stops or airline.
Try the airline websites. Often the airline websites will feature last-minute deals for travelers as well as online booking discounts.
Flaunt your memberships. AAA cardholders, AARP members or U.S. service men and women or veterans can sometimes get discounts just by showing an ID or a membership card. These discounts usually range from 5 to 10 percent.
Be flexible. According to the Fare Compare website, Wednesdays are the cheapest days to fly. That day is followed by Tuesdays and Saturdays. Major holidays and weekends are generally the most expensive times to travel by air.
Plan when you will purchase. The Fare Compare website says the best time to purchase flights is at 3 p.m. EST on Tuesdays.
