The last few years have been hard on airline travelers. Increases in airfares, additional mandatory fees for checked baggage and reductions in service and frills contribute to make air travel seem inhospitable. There are discounts out there to help take away the sting of air travel costs. With some flexibility in schedule dates or airports, you can find cheap or discounted airfares. Alternate discounts for students or members of select clubs and groups are also available.
Search for airfares using a range of dates. Many air and travel websites offer links for flexibility in travel. As a general rule, the more flexibility you have, the better your chances of finding discounted or cheaper air travel. For example, if you want to travel on the fifth of a certain month but have the ability to fly out and back within three days on either side of your determined dates, your chances of getting the discounted fares go up.
Book travel dates midweek. Many business travelers (usually on expense accounts) pay top dollar to fly on Monday and Friday. Avoid these fares and fly on a Tuesday or Wednesday, traditionally some of the least expensive days of the week for discounted airfare. Also avoid booking travel dates one day before or after major holidays as they are usually the most expensive days to fly. If you can, fly on the holidays themselves and receive cheaper fares.
Book your tickets through discounted student fare consolidators. This is an option for those currently in college or a trade school. Proof of enrollment to a college or school is typically required.
Use alternate airports in larger cities for discounted airfares. Examples of such cities include Chicago, with O'Hare and Daily Field; Los Angeles with LAX, Burbank and Orange County airports; Montreal with Pierre Trudeau and Mirabel airports; and New York City with Newark, Laguardia and Kennedy.
Use a round trip airfare check even if you want to fly one way. Very often, a round trip is cheaper than a one way ticket. Use flexibility in travel dates and check round trip fares to find cheaper prices.
