Cheap airfare deals have grown in availability as airlines and booking sites wage war with one another to offer the lowest rates. As a result, travelers are winning out. At any given time, there’s a deal to be found.
Compare and Save
The old adage says: “compare and save” and in fact, it should be your mindset going into your airfares search. Even for a particular site, you’ll find that quotes can change according to the day of the week or time of day. For instance, a quote at noon might become 10% cheaper 12 hours later at midnight. Quotes can sometimes be lower during early morning and weekend hours.
As for airline carriers, it’s also a good idea to check each site’s database individually. Some, such as Southwest, offer specials throughout the year, which essentially amount to low rates for one-way tickets, round trips, or seasonal travel. Visit each to learn what deal might be running that day. Lower airfares are sometimes also offered among smaller carriers, as it’s their way to compete with the bigger, better-known names.
With regards to booking sites, be sure to compare them against one another. It might take a bit more time, but the payoff might be 15% savings or more on cheap airfare – and that’s definitely worth it. These booking sites also offer air + hotel packages (also, car rental), which can mean combined savings.
More Ways to Save
Other ways to save include 1) being flexible with your travel date and 2) combining airfares. If you’re thinking of visiting a city during the summer or fall, try and open up possible travel dates within a three- or four-month period. You might be able to find a cheaper fare just one week beyond your original penciled-in holiday.
And, if your destination can be reached with a few flights, consider booking city to city (to city). If your flight isn’t nonstop, you’ll have to stop in another city anyway. Compare to see if one ticket is more expensive than say, two tickets that go from San Francisco to Chicago; then Chicago to Miami. It’s worth a try and might result in the cheap airfare you were hoping for. Nowadays, it’s become chic to vacation on a dime, and finding the lowest airfare is all part of being totally in!
