- 1). Use online search engines such as Kayak, Yahoo Travel and Farecast. These sites return the best airfare prices from multiple airlines. Other online travel sites to check include Orbitz, Expedia and Cheap Tickets.
For sites that allow it, register to be alerted when the ticket price fluctuates on your selected routes. And, be sure to check the same sites frequently before you book, since fares often change. - 2). Check fares on the Southwest Airlines website, which does not share information with search engines and often provides some of the most competitive pricing.
- 3). Look for exclusive online discounts and specials offered on the Delta, US Airways and Jet Blue websites. Many of the major airlines also have "fare saver" alerts that will be sent to members of their frequent flyer programs.
- 4). Book two one-way tickets in lieu of one round-trip ticket when you can. Southwest and Jet Blue have separate prices for each part of the flight.
- 5). Select a secondary airport in your departure or destination city. Many cities throughout the world have small secondary airports that may be slightly further from the city than the main airport. These airports are frequently used by budget airlines to save money on operational costs, and their savings are reflected in their fares.
- 6). Be flexible with your travel dates and times. Ticket prices can vary by a few hundred dollars depending on the day of the week and time you travel. Prices are usually cheaper right after the holidays. Late night and early morning flights also tend to be cheaper, as these are off-peak travel times.
- 7). Be flexible with your routing. While non-stop flights are the most convenient, they also tend to be the most expensive. If you're given the option, and you have the travel time, search for flights that have one or more stops, as those are generally cheaper than the non-stops.
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