International airfare usually comes with a steep price due to the distance of the flight and overseas destinations. Cheap rates can also be difficult to find as flight sourcing is relatively unlikely through reputable, third-party travel sites. But luckily, difficult doesn't mean impossible, and international flights don't have to burn your pockets. With the number of bargain options available online, you can do a little virtual window shopping to find the cheapest international airfare rates around. They are also a few tricks you can use to help with finding the right rates.
Plan at least 3 to 4 weeks before your expected departure date. Early travel preparation, as early as 21 days, can be a great way to grab lower rates.
Try flying out in the middle of a week, if possible. Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays are usually the cheapest days of the week to fly, as travel is usually heightened Friday through Sunday. Mondays are also considered the biggest business travel days, so rates may spike a bit higher than normal.
Consider booking last minute deals. Booking airfare just days before your expected departure can come with very promising prices. When airlines are trying to fill planes, and only have a small number of available seats left, they tend to drop prices to fill the plane to its capacity.
Have an open mind with choosing a commercial airline. Travelers who fly frequently tend to have airline preferences, but that particular airline may not come with your preferred price. So, when it comes to cheap airfare, sometimes you have to bit the bullet to get the best rate you can find.
Visit some of the third-party travel sites like Expedia.com, Priceline.com and Orbitz.com. These travel sites house both domestic and international at the cheapest rates available. The best part about travel sites is that rates are retrieved from all airlines available. It's one of the best ways to window shop and compare rates.
Browse available rates through commercial hubs like American Airlines, Continental, Delta, US Airways and United Airlines. You can get rates online or over the phone, but they may not always be the cheapest available.
Go to the airport and visit the airlines' kiosks. Rates can be obtained from all airline kiosks.
Cash in on frequent flier miles. Frequent flier miles can be extreme life savers for all types of flights if you have them. With the right number of flier miles, you may be able to cut out a percentage on the ticket price or not have to pay anything at all.
Pay when you find the rate. Waiting around to pay for the airfare is a surefire way to lose out on a rate. In most cases, commercial airline and third-party travel sites update their rates every hour, as departure and arrival times are ever-changing and progressing. Have your credit card ready to reserve and pay for your ticket as soon as possible.
