Shop around. Check all of the major online travel sites such as Travelocity or Expedia and compare the rates that they offer. Once you think you've found the lowest price, call a travel agent in your area to find out if they can beat it. Travel agencies can often secure tickets at prices not advertised online, and you may end up with a better deal this way.
Travel in the off-season. Summertime is peak travel season because students are out of school and the weather is nice, and many people want to go on vacation. However, if you travel in the early spring or late fall, the weather will still be decent, but the cost of your flight and accommodations may be vastly cheaper, because the demand isn't as high as it is during the warmer months.
Be flexible with your arrival and departure dates. If you're set on a specific date, you will only be able to choose from available airfares on that particular day, but leaving a day or two earlier or later could be significantly less expensive. Flying standby is also an excellent money-saver if you don't have a certain date you need to arrive or depart. You may get bumped from a few flights before finally landing a seat, but you'll have paid much less for your ticket than the people sitting around you.
Allow yourself plenty of time to plan your trip. As a general rule, the further ahead of time you book your flights, the less expensive they will be. For international flights, book at least 30 days in advance of your travel dates.
Consider flying into a different airport than you normally would. Often, flights to different airports that are relatively close to one another will offer different prices. For example, you may find a several hundred dollar difference in fares to London's Heathrow Airport versus Gatwick Airport, while the two are only about 40 miles apart. The same can be said for flights into places like New York versus Newark, New Jersey, upon your return.
