Research the country that you're planning on visiting. Each country has different requirements that visitors must meet before they're allowed to enter. For example, if you're traveling to India you need to arrange a visa ahead of time, but if you're going on a trip to Turkey you can purchase your visa in the airport when you arrive. Other countries, such as New Zealand, don't require a visa at all if you're only going to visit for 3 months or less. Instead you simply need proof (a return ticket) that you'll be leaving before the time limit is up.
Check which airlines operate out of the nearest international airport. While you'll have no problem finding major American airlines, international carriers can be hit or miss. If the country you're traveling to operates an airline carrier out of the airport you'll be traveling from, booking your ticket through them could make your actual trip much easier. It will be less likely you'll need to switch airlines halfway through the trip.
Choose your travel dates. When flying internationally you may not always be able to start your travel on the exact day that you want since airlines don't fly everywhere every day. Getting your exact travel date might require longer layovers or extra transfers.
Search for available tickets. You can use either airline carrier and discount ticket websites to buy your tickets, but make sure you look at the itinerary carefully before selecting a flight. You have to be especially careful when using discount ticket sites since they're able to offer such low prices by requiring you to switch airlines or have extended layovers. Paying a little bit extra might save you a lot of time traveling.
Follow the website's booking instructions. The website will give you step-by-step instructions on how to purchase your tickets and then send you a confirmation email as proof of purchase.
