In the first quarter of 2012, the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, a branch of the U.S. Department of Transportation, collected average domestic airfare data from the top 100 airports in the United States. Rates ranged from an average round-trip ticket price of $526.25 in Cincinnati to $156.57 in Atlantic City, per domestic itinerary. The national average was an average of $372.75 across ticket prices, meaning that a family of four will pay an average price of $1,500 to take a round-trip domestic flight. If you're looking to avoid these high prices, you can take one or more of a variety of steps to help find the best deal on your flight.
In nearly all aspects of reserving cheap airfare, you'll find that the best deals are available for a small window of time. The Airlines Reporting Corporation reported that the magic number for booking tickets in advance is about 42 days. Travelers who booked their flights six weeks in advance saved 5.8 percent on average. Predictably, the study found that prices rise steeply as you get closer to your departure date. More surprising was that prices are also higher when you book further out. At 98 days out or more from your date of departure, the price has stabilized around the national average.
Fare Compare (farecompare.com) reports that the best time to buy your airline tickets is at 3:00 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesdays. If you're skeptical of this precise window, just compare the rates a few times throughout the week; you will immediately see the difference. The cheapest time to fly is on a Wednesday. If you're buying a round-trip ticket, schedule both flights for Wednesday when possible to net the greatest savings.
You may not typically associate airfare with sales, but you can get great deals by holding out for a price reduction. This tactic works best for flexible travelers who are casually looking for a destination that catches their eye for a future vacation. At the time of publication, for example, Southwest Airlines briefly offered tickets for as low as $136 round-trip, or $68 one-way. Deals like this don't happen often, so if you see something cheap, you should snap it up as quickly as possible.
Get creative in your cheap airfare search. Instead of looking at the airport closest to you or nearest your destination city, consider airports in the surrounding area. It may be cheaper to add bus or train fare to your flight if it gets you to a less-expensive airport. Cincinnati, Ohio, for example, had the highest average airfare in the country in the first quarter of 2012, at $526.75. Four hours away in Akron, the average was $321.26. Dayton, Ohio, just an hour from Cincinnati, had an average airfare of 371.61. Settling down with a calculator and a map could save you hundreds on your flight.
