Determine the date and time of when you need to reach your final destination, as well as how many tickets you must book. Use your computer to begin an Internet search of airlines that fly to your destination, as not every airline goes to every airport or country (for those traveling internationally).
Call a travel agent from the airline's reservation phone line, or do the research yourself to find out how much money one-way or round-trip tickets cost with a particular airline company. Play around with the departure and return dates if you have the flexibility to do so, as it is cheaper to fly midweek than it is to fly on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, according to Smarter Travel.
Look into booking "red eye" flights, if you can, because overnight flights often offer cheaper rates on tickets than high-travel traffic times, such as morning and midday flights. Consider flights that make multiple stops along the way, as direct, non-stop flights tend to be higher priced than flights with layovers.
Compare multiple airlines's rates by searching their websites to see which airline has the cheapest airfare. Keep an eye out for special promotions or limited-time deals that the company is offering for discounted tickets.
Ask airline companies about combo packages that can save you money on your trip as a whole, such as booking airline tickets and a rental car or a hotel.
Find ticket brokers who purchase airfare tickets in bulk and sell them at discounted prices. Compare their prices to the prices you would pay by purchasing the tickets directly from the airline company and decide which option is cheaper.
Ask if your frequent flier miles can be applied towards the tickets you aim to purchase. Using frequent flier miles will bring down the total cost of your airfare.
Inquire about corporate, senior, military, student and small child discounts, as some airlines offer special prices for these populations.
