It is important to have flexibility when looking for cheap airplane tickets. Before starting your search for tickets, research all of the airport options in your area. You might be able to find cheaper flights out of one airport than the other. For example, if you reside in the Los Angeles area, consider flying out of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Burbank Airport or Long Beach airport. Do not restrict yourself to just one. Also, the more flexible you are about the date and time you can leave, the easier your quest for cheap tickets will be. Weekday travel is generally much cheaper than weekends.
Try to purchase tickets through a discount travel provider, such as Cheaptickets.com, Travelzoo.com, Expedia.com and Kayak.com. These websites generally provide information for the cheapest flight deals from all of the major airlines. If you want to fly even cheaper, be open to making a lot of stops and changing planes. Direct flights are significantly more expensive. Do your research and check all of the discount sites for the lowest prices.
It is important to get your tickets early. The more you procrastinate, the more expensive your plane tickets will be. This is especially applicable during times of peak traveling, such as the Christmas season and in the middle of the summer. Try to get your tickets reserved three to six months ahead of your intended travel time.
Look into low-cost, smaller airlines. To save significant amounts of money, buy tickets from a cheaper, "no frills" airline. Many budget airlines cut costs by not offering extra amenities, such as in-flight meal service. Fly a budget airline and bring your own food onto the plane -- maybe buy something at one of the airport terminal restaurants.
If you travel a lot, it might be a good idea to get signed up for a frequent flier loyalty program. With these programs, the more you fly, the more bonus points you can receive toward future traveling. A lot of different credit card companies feature frequent flier programs that allow customers to receive double the airline miles for everything they buy.
