Steps to Getting Cheap Airfare
- Rule number one when it comes to finding cheap airfare is to remain flexible with your travel schedule, according to Cheapflights.com.
Avoid focusing in on your desired departure and arrival times and instead let your travel agent or your travel search engine know that you can leave at any time that day. For better results, be flexible enough so that you can leave a day or two before or return a day or two before.
Be aware of other surrounding airports. Departing from an alternate airport may save you hundreds of dollars in some cases. If you are flexible enough that you can drive two hours to get to another airport to save $300 per person on your cross country flight, then it is probably worth it to make the effort. - Book an itinerary with multiple stops, according to StreetDirectory.com. Buying tickets that are non-stop is one sure way to increase the price you'll pay. If you are prepared to spend the larger part of the day dealing with the airports, then a stop in Cincinnati and Memphis on your way to Dallas may be beneficial to your budget. The difference in non-stop and multi-stop tickets can be hundreds of dollars in some cases.
- If you think a flight is going to be overbooked and it corresponds to your travel plans, then this is the ticket you want to buy, according to StreetDirectory.com.
Arrive at the airport early and check in. At the gate the agent will announce that the flight is overbooked. Immediately go to the counter and ask to be put on the next available flight. Negotiate for a free ticket, reduced fare or free first class upgrade in exchange for your "inconvenience" and the airline will likely comply. Free tickets are usually not refunds on the current flight, but they are usually good for a round trip anywhere within the country. - Do not forget to check the special deals on all the websites of airlines that service your airport. All it takes is a few minutes and an Internet connection. You may save significant amounts of money booking online, and the airlines are constantly updating discount deals.
- If you are traveling internationally, sign up to be a casual courier. If you are willing to accompany a package overseas and drop it off at its destination once you get there, then you can fly very cheap, according to MichaelBluejay.com.
Sign up to be a courier at courier.org and you will have access to information on how to drastically reduce your airfare if you are working as a courier. Thirty-day roundtrip tickets from the U.S. to Asia for less than $700 and $169 one-way tickets to Europe are among the cheap tickets described on the website.
