Several online travel companies compare the rates of a variety of airlines according to your destination, departure date and budget. Check with expedia.com, hotwire.com or travelocity.com to find discounted airfare. These websites find deals and seasonal discounts with relative ease, instead of researching each airline or using a travel agent who charges a commission. Sign up for email alerts when available to stay on top of the flight rates as they change as you search for the best rate. Plan ahead for your trip and you will have plenty of time to search among websites and airlines for discounts. The earlier you can find and purchase your plane ticket, in almost every scenario the flight will cost less than if you buy your ticket at the last minute.
If you are a member of the United States military, retired from service or are a family member to a serviceperson, you can take advantage of a service called Space Available Travel, also known as military hops or Space A, according to military.com. This service works best when you do not have a specific date or time you need to arrive, since you are on standby for an available military plane. However, you will be able to travel for free. Some major airlines also provide military service discounts available upon request.
Some airlines offer discounts for college students who are under 25 years old. For example, American Airlines give students a discount of up to 10 percent on airfare and up to 5 percent on land components such as baggage and airport fees. CheapOAir gives student fliers a $10 discount on all flights, as well as student discounts for flights to study and work-abroad programs. Group travel for students offers an opportunity for discounted airfare as you can receive a group rate. A student can also contact her university to find out if her school has access or information pertaining to any special discounts for flights.
