Archive for August, 2010

5 Easy Ways to Secure Dirt Cheap Airline Tickets

If you’re traveling on a tight budget and want to save money on flights, there are several ways you can secure dirt cheap airline tickets from the major airlines. Today, it’s easier than ever to find cheap airline tickets online, and you can comparison shop several ticket providers to find the best rates. Still, there are a few other things you can do to find the lowest price on airline tickets regardless of your destination. Here are just five easy ways to secure dirt cheap airline tickets for domestic and international travel itineraries:

1. Be flexible with your travel dates. Unless you’re traveling for business or a special event that requires you to be at a certain place at a certain time, being flexible with your travel dates means you may be eligible to secure dirt cheap airline tickets. If you can travel and return mid-week, you may be able to get a cheaper rate on your airline tickets.

2. Consider taking a super early flight in. If you are an early bird and willing to catch an early morning flight, you may be able to find more dirt cheap airline tickets to your destination of choice when you fly out between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. Consider taking a really early flight to save some money on your next trip.

3. Avoid flying on weekends. Weekends are peak travel times to almost any destination, so you may be in a better position to find dirt cheap airline tickets when you fly only during weekdays. Weekdays are also great for securing the lowest prices on hotel stays, so keep that in mind when booking a package.

4. Check an airline’s website before you book your flight. In some cases, buying direct from the airline can actually be cheaper than buying through a third-party travel site. Even when you think you’ve found a really great deal on airline tickets from a third-party vendor, you may be able to find an even better deal when you buy direct from the airline.

5. Plan your travel itinerary in advance. If you can plan your trip at least two to three months in advance, you may be able to secure dirt cheap airline tickets more easily than if you wait until a month out. However, in some rare cases it is possible to find cheap airline tickets that is offered as a last-minute deal. When you can plan ahead, you will be in a better position to secure the lowest available rates on your airline tickets.

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Benefits of Shopping Around for Dirt Cheap Airline Tickets

You already know how important it is to start shopping for airline tickets as early as possible and booking flights in the middle of the week, but did you know that you can find dirt cheap airline tickets just by taking the time to comparison shop?

Many people forget that the prices for airline tickets that are listed on third-party websites aren’t the only available fares. If you go directly to the airline’s website, you can find some great deals on airline tickets and packages within a few clicks.

No matter how good a deal may look on one of the major third-party sites and aggregators, it still pays to shop around and look for similar flights. In many cases, you can find a better deal directly through an airline’s website, or by checking sites that list last-minute flights and packages. Always make sure to check at least two to three alternative sites before booking your flight so that you really are getting the best deal.

Another way to shop around for dirt cheap airline tickets is to monitor flight prices over the course of a few months. You may notice patterns where some flights are significantly cheaper on certain days of the week than others. Knowing this, and shopping the major third-party sites and airline sites for the latest prices, can help you make the most informed decision when shopping for the best deals.

Knowing when to make your purchase is just as important as shopping different websites. Some travel websites can send you alerts about fare sales and deals before the flights become available. If you have the freedom to travel at any time, consider signing up for these e-mail alerts so that you can make your purchase at the right time.

Checking the fare history of certain flights and airlines can also help you make a more informed decision when shopping for dirt cheap airline tickets. Some third-party travel sites list the average fares for a certain destination, as well as the fare history for domestic and international flights to various locales. Monitor these sites regularly so that you can keep track of whether your fare is headed up or down at any given time, and book your flight at just the right time.

There are several benefits of shopping around for dirt cheap airline tickets, and when you want to secure the lowest available fare, you can review many listings, review fare histories and turn to the airline’s website to compare rates. Use these tips to get the lowest possible fare on airline tickets as you plan your next travel itinerary.

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