Like any other type of purchase, finding a good deal on an international flight can take some effort and research. Shopping around is a way to ensure that you'll find the best flight at the time, and can be a good tool when looking for flights. Thankfully, shopping around for flights is made easier through the internet, as many travel websites compare airlines, prices on other websites and the flight cost over a variety of departure days. Using online tools, and following a few basic guidelines, can ensure that you'll find the best and cheapest option for your international flight.
Book your flight earlier when possible -- flight prices tend to increase 21, 14, 7 and 3 days before the flight date. Booking your flight before these times, can usually ensure that you'll secure a lower price.
Check multiple sites and airlines to compare prices, or use a website that compares multiple sites and airlines for you. According to Online Travel Sites Review, SmarterTraveler, Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity and Kayak are the five top airline comparison sites.
Check the prices for similar flights leaving from neighboring airports. If you live near several airports -- or are landing in a city with several airports -- booking a flight into or out of a smaller, local airport can sometimes lead to a much cheaper ticket.
Be flexible on your departure dates. Similar to how flying out of neighboring airports can result in lower fares, so can flying on days surrounding your original date. Most notably, flying on weekdays can often result in a lower fare than flying on weekends.
Search for discount airlines flying to the area you are looking for a flight to. Several airlines specialize in discount prices, but are not always included in search results on external travel websites.
