Finding airfares at reasonable prices can seem like a game at times, requiring insider knowledge and skills. The truth, however, is that there are many ways to compare prices and end up with competitive fares to choose from. It takes more than a little patience and some careful planning, but the tools are within the reach of any traveler willing to invest the time and energy into saving money for the things that count after reaching your destination.
There are many opportunities online for comparison shopping when it comes time to book flights for your upcoming journey. Start your search by visiting independent booking sites such as travelocity.com, expedia.com or orbitz.com. These sites allow you to input your departure and arrival cities, as well as your preferred travel dates. You will be able to see which carriers service the routes, what their fares are and what schedules are available. In addition, there are websites such as kayak.com and farecompare.com which allow you to compare flights from various venues, watch the flights for future changes and get fare alerts.
Once you have determined which air carriers service the route you need, go directly to the airline's website to see if they offer lower fares than the ones advertised at independent booking sites. The carriers often have open seats projected for certain flights and may offer them only to those visiting their site directly. If you have flexibility on your dates, check the option for viewing a range of dates. If this option is not offered, input various dates yourself into the booking engine to view the price comparisons. Check for discounted fares on "redeye" flights that depart late at night or in the early morning hours.
After determining the lowest airfare available on your dates of travel, check to see if booking a package deal could save you some money overall. This would apply if you will be needing a hotel or rental car after arrival. You can sometimes get a better deal if you book them all in a package that includes your airfare as a component. Most major air carriers have departments which help you book package deals. Alternately, you can work with independent travel agencies who have contracts with many suppliers.
Flexibility is one of the biggest factors for finding the least expensive airfares. If at all possible, book your flights at least eight weeks ahead of time. If fares drop between the time you book and your departure date, many airlines are willing to refund the difference for you, depending on the restrictions on the type of fare you booked. Pick dates when flights are generally priced lower, which include traveling on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The dates that you make the booking matter as well, with mid-week purchases on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays often giving you access to promotional fares that are released on the previous Sunday and Monday.
