Savvy travel shoppers demand cheap airline flights for summer getaways and holiday excursions. Whether you prefer to dig up deals online or save while you spend with a travel agent, here's how to buy cheap airline flights without breaking the bank.
Buy cheap airline flights from travel consolidators. No need to become a travel agent or ticket consolidator to save when globetrotting on a budget. A travel consolidator will buy blocks of airline seats left over from the major air carriers at a big discount. The Association of Special Fair Agents (see resources below) will list reputable consolidators who sell cheap tickets for budget travelers.
Cash in your frequent-flier miles. Whether you rack up points on a credit card or buy miles from a friend, flier miles are a great method to obtain last minute fares for flights. Use this insider tip: Skip the internet if you want to cash in your miles. An airline's website may show that the free seats are already booked. But the truth is the airline may hold on to a few seats closer to the flight date. Call the frequent flyer hotline number, ask to speak to a supervisor who can override any holds for the free seats.
Become a courier. Use your checked baggage allowance to carry goods for companies and save money on airfare. Save between 50 to 85 percent on airline tickets when transporting goods for legitimate businesses as a courier. Call or visit the The International Association of Air Travel Couriers for special deals on low fare international flights for courier clients.
Scour the web for cheap travel deals. Websites for last minute airline travelers and savvy airfare shoppers feature deals everyday. Sign up for free online newsletters and email alerts that will send you messages featuring up-to-the-minute discounted rates and cheap airline tickets. On the web visit SmarterTravel and Lastminute.travelocity to take full advantage of cheap travel flights and cheap airline deals.
