The Best Ways to Buy Airline Tickets
- Buy tickets online to get the best price.airplane#2 image by krynio from Fotolia.com
The best ways to buy airline tickets are to understand how airline ticket pricing works and how to get the best possible ticket price. Travelers should always fully research prices before booking a flight. - Airlines set their ticket prices according to the current prices of their competitors; therefore, ticket prices are subject to change. Start searching for airline tickets online at least one month before your trip. Compare airline ticket prices to online travel companies such as Priceline, Travelocity, or CheapTickets, which provide up-to-the-minute travel packages and deals.
- Buy last-minute tickets, also called standby tickets, for about half the price of pre-purchased tickets. Airlines will offer these if they need to fill empty seats. Last-minute tickets may also be purchased through your airline's e-fare service. The trade-off, however, is that these special discounted rates are never guaranteed, and they give travelers less flexible travel options than tickets purchased in advance.
- Buy airline tickets for off-season travel to get the best rates. Flying during holidays and peak seasons can leave travelers vulnerable to high ticket prices and long lines. Also, opt to buy airline tickets for travel on weekdays for even lower prices.
- Use one specific airline at a time to avoid unnecessary travel expenses. Buy airline tickets through the same agency, airline, or online travel service for round-trip travel. Purchase package deals and take advantage of promotional offers to get the most out of your money from that particular agent or airline service. In most cases, the package deal or promotional offer will cost much less or about the same as purchasing an individual, one-way ticket.
- Sign up for e-mail alerts on travel deals from airlines and travel companies that you like. Alerts will keep you aware of current special ticket rates. Keep in mind that these special rates are subject to increase by the hour or during the next few days, so it is encouraged that travelers act quickly. Visit Web sites like AirFareWatchDog.com to set up a travel itinerary.
