Finding discounted airfare tickets can be a challenge, and a mystery to anyone not familiar with the airline industry. There are several strategies to use to make sure you get the best airfare next time you are flying.
Most airlines enable tickets to be purchased about 11 months ahead, and it can often pay you to book that far ahead, especially if you are traveling to Europe over the summer or to the Caribbean during February. However, it can also pay you to keep an eye on the airfare, as it can fluctuate right up to departure; most travel sites allow you to sign up for airfare alerts, and will track the airfare to a specific destination on specific dates. Airfares can sometimes decrease closer to flight time if the flight isn’t full, as the airlines’ goal is to sell every seat.
Whichever approach you take, it can be something of a gamble, and a good rule of thumb is to decide what you think is a reasonable fare and then buy your ticket when the fare is close to that figure. Some airlines will issue a refund of the difference if the fare goes down after you buy your ticket, although there are exceptions to this rule and you shouldn’t count on it. Some popular markets tend to have lower fares anyway; including flights to Florida, Las Vegas, London and Bangkok.
Most international fares also differ according to the season; a high season fare to Europe, for example, can be quite a bit higher than the same flight taken off season, during winter or autumn. And as a general rule, if you fly midweek – Tuesday to Thursday – fares are lower than if you fly at the weekend. It’s also worth considering taking a connecting flight when possible, as these can often be cheaper than a direct flight. Most travel websites will allow you to easily compare the costs of both options. Also, flying into a nearby airport can often help when looking for discounted airfare tickets; Brussels instead of Paris, Newark instead of New York’s JFK; Long Beach instead of LAX.
And if you have airline frequent flyer miles, you may not have enough miles for a free ticket, but those miles can often get you a discount on the airfare. A fairly recent development has been the ability to cash in miles for a one way ticket, and it’s worth exploring your options, especially for a complex itinerary or a costly ticket. Always book online if possible; there is nearly always an extra charge for booking your plane tickets over the phone.
