Air travel is a necessity in this global world. Whether we travel for business or pleasure, we all want to arrive at our destination for as little money as possible. Airfares have and will always fluctuate due to supply and demand, but deals are available if you look hard enough. Most discounted airfares are found online and are often not too much cheaper than other offered prices.
Keep your options flexible. Whenever possible, be flexible on the dates you are traveling and do not plan to travel on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday. Keep the times open as well. Many airlines offer cheaper "red eye flights" that will fly during the middle of the night. In addition, consider flying in or out of other nearby airports that may be cheaper than your first choice.
Define what a typical cost is for your flight. Contact your preferred airline either by phone or online to search for your flight. Simply note the price that is offered.
Compare this price to other major airlines (discounted and top carriers). Use an online service such as Expedia.com, Hotwire.com, Travelocity.com or Priceline.com to comparison shop. Make a note of the cheapest prices available, which service you located them on and the specifics regarding date, time and airline.
Change your options to lower the price. Search different days, times and other nearby airports to decrease the price. Many online search engines allow you to do this in your initial search, providing you with the prices over a range of dates.
Search for specific deals. Travelzoo.com scans the Internet daily for the best deals on airfare, hotels, etc. If your dates are flexible, you can search by your location and book your trip to correspond to a specific deal. In addition, you can use Travelzoo to comparison shop by performing a "Super Search". Check major carriers' individual websites for deals to your destination that may not be published on other sites.
Consider using two forms of transportation. If the airfare to a nearby airport within 2 hours driving distance is significantly cheaper, search the price of a rental car. You may be able to save money in the long run by driving part of the way.
