As rising fuel costs push up the price of airline tickets, air travelers need to be constantly on the hunt for special rates. Such deals have become tougher to find because many airlines have merged with their former competitors in search of higher profits. But if you're flexible about your travel plans, you can still nab a dirt-cheap deal.
Let your travel agent do some legwork for you. She has access to a database of almost all the flights you could possibly take, so leverage your time and have her do the work to find those dirt-cheap airline tickets for you.
Plan your trip early and book your airline tickets as soon as possible. The more time you give yourself, the cheaper your airline tickets will be. Sometimes the difference can be in the hundreds of dollars.
Be flexible about your departure and return times to find better deals. Travel in the middle of the week to find cheaper flights.
Visit website for all the airlines you would want to travel with, and sign up for their promotional discounts. They give out promotions daily to various locations around the country. Some airlines, such as Southwest, will allow you to place a little icon on your toolbar at the bottom of your screen and alert you every time a new deal is happening. Jump on those, and you'll give yourself the best chance to get in early and save tons of money.
Search for flights with notoriously discounted airlines, such as JetBlue or Southwest. They only go to a few select airports, but the savings can be tremendous.
