Stephen Dolan asked:


If you’re planning on taking a trip on an airplane, no matter where, it’s likely that you can benefit from airfare deals. There’s not many of us that would turn down a cheap airfare if we could one, that’s for sure. Gas prices have risen substantially, and all transportation costs are now following, so unless you’re rolling in money, getting a great deal on your airfare is very important.

After 911, there was a long period where you could find cheap airfares quite easily. People were frightened of terrorism, and nervous about the possibility of a breach of security. So nobody was keen to fly, which left the airlines with a big problem – lots of empty seats. So to try and get their planes full of passengers again, airlines started offering great airfare deals. They were almost begging people to get back in the air again.

Cheap Tickets in a Competative Market

Things have changed since then with planes flying at 90% full instead of 70% after 911. Also, now that the economy is shrinking and people are keen to save a few dollars, finding cheap air tickets is extremely important. Very few people are willing to pay the regular ticket price, which is why Internet sites that offer great airfare deals are booming.

A couple of the most popular are expedia.com and kayak.com, with a staggering number of visitors every day. Don’t be fooled, though. Just going to one of these sites and checking their deals isn’t always the way to get the best airfare deal. In reality, they have to make money somehow, so their fares are marked up.

Certainly the prices will still be cheaper than regular fares, but you could possibly buy the same airfare for quite a few dollars less if you go directly to the airline website. Check the deal sites first, then see if you can do better on the airline’s site.

Going Direct

Personally, I visit the discount fare websites, pick out half a dozen really good fares that fit my travel plans, make a note of which airline they’re with, then go and visit the airline website and compare prices. I almost always end up buying my ticket directly from the airline to get the best deal.

If you regularly fly between two places, you’ll find before long that there’s usually only one or two airlines that consistently offer good deals on that route, so you can start keeping an eye on their websites only and save yourself some time.

Smaller Airlines

Another way to get cheap airfares is to look at some of the smaller carriers that travel to your destination. Sure, the big airlines will probably go there, but you might be able to find one of the smaller airlines, or even a charter airline that’s keen to get business and so offers cheap fares. Doing things this way might limit you from acquiring more frequent flier miles, and it may mean there’s only a couple of flights to choose from, rather than dozens, but it’s still a great way to get cheaper airfares.

Getting the best airfare deals doesn’t have to take a lot of time, but you will need to do some homework. If you do, however, you’ll be rewarded with cheaper flights. Have a great trip!



Tony

Anthony Kristovich Iii asked:


Cheap air fares are easy if you keep these 8 tips in mind. Airlines aim to make as much money as possible. They are not going to put the cheap air fares out front, so you need to know how to find those gold mines yourself.

There are basically 8 rules I use on a regular basis when booking flights to be sure I get to my destination the cheapest way. These are tips that every person can easily use, frequently cutting the price in half you pay.

1. Make your reservation as early as possible. At least 14 days in advance. After this time, the air tickets can easily more than double in price and cheap air fares may not be available.

2. Be flexible with your travel time. Changing the day or the time of day can drastically reduce the price of your air flight. The best day to fly on is Wednesday, which is also the best day to book the flight on. The cheapest time to fly is early morning or late evening.

3. Fly during the off-season. Prices are a direct result of supply and demand. As demand goes down, prices go down as well, benefiting flyers.

4. Shop all the airlines. This is the most possible using a couple of key air travel websites that I recommend on my site at the bottom. Being able to check all the airlines side-by-side can make it really easy to get those cheap air fares you’re after.

5. A stopover instead of a direct flight can result in huge savings.

6. Membership in some clubs like AAA can get you discounts.

7. Look into air travel packages. Purchasing your air travel, hotel, and rental car through the same place usually gives a massive discount. Using a bigger air fare website will allow you to get both cheap air fares and cheap hotels in the same place in moments. I have recommendations for this on my site as well as to which are the easiest to use and take the least time to book the flights and anything additional.

The prices on air fares are a direct result of competition, inventory, and demand. Competition is the airlines competing with each other. Inventory is how many seats are left open on a given flight. Demand is how many people are looking for air travel tickets.

8. By choosing the least-crowded flights that are the least in demand, you get the cheap air fares you want. It’s really that simple.

As you can see, there are many ways to get better prices. If you use a good air fares website and choose the best days and times to fly, you can often get cheap air fares and save a hefty amount of money in the process. Most of this is easier in practice for the well setup sites to compare all the airlines side-by-side. The cheaper prices stick out like a sore thumb. There are also many hidden deals also that don’t get as known, so I have done the leg work to find you the best site to book everything from cruise ship vacations to cheap hotels to cheap air fares, all in one place. Also I have tracked down running specials on the cheap air fares, some as nice as 50% off the prices of the cheap air fares giving you deals that simply can’t be beat.



Chantal

Rupal Patel asked:


Students use travel around the world to supplement their educational experiences in a constructive way. Whether travelling during a break or studying abroad for a semester, students encounter new cultures while learning to deal with a complex world on their own. Before heading to a new place, students need to find cheap airline fares in order to maximize their limited funds and get to the place they want to go.

An important step in finding cheap student airline fares is to determine when and how long a travel party will be away. Online and traditional travel planners are able to get better rates for students who travel during off-periods including mid-week flights and overnight travel. Some airlines offer student travellers a discount if they are gone for an extended period of time or utilize one-way fares.

Student travellers also need to consider where they are travelling when they search for cheap airline fares. Popular destinations like Cancun in Mexico or Benicassim in Spain fetch a high price in terms of airfare, hotel accommodations and other expenses. University students should consider less traditional destinations in those countries and elsewhere to save some of their hard earned money.

Inexpensive airline fares for students are available for larger groups who are heading to the same place. A student can gather their apartment mates or fellow students during a break from university to save themselves hundreds of pounds. The key factor that determines these savings is when a student begins to plan their trip. A good time to plan a trip is six months in advance to take advantage of quality travel rates.

Another way for students to find cheap airline fares is to arrange for a package deal that includes air fare, hotel rates and a rental vehicle. These packages may seem expensive at face value but students who have their minds set on a particular destination will find savings in the long run. Students need to play around with arrival and departure times with packages to take advantage of varying rates.

While price and destination are important for student travellers, it is important for inexperienced travellers to find an airline with quality service. Students should seek out information on around-the-clock service and contingencies for cancelled trips from an airline before planning a trip. Part of the learning experience involved in student travels is finding the right deal and getting the best value for limited funds.



Tomas