Tips for Saving on Airfare

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by Renae Chiovaro on February 16, 2012

Plane tickets are down right expensive. I suspect that prices will only go up as the fuel prices rise– they usually go hand in hand. If you are planning on flying this summer, start looking for plane tickets now. I fly several times a year and I am pretty good at tracking down the best price.

My tips for saving on airfare:

  • Start by using a travel site such as Expedia, Cheap Tickets, Kayak, etc. If your travel dates are flexible, use the flexible planning tool. Usually flying midweek is cheaper than flying on weekends.
  • Once you get your search results, take a look at what airlines pops up as the lowest price. For my trip I just booked, American Airlines was the cheapest. Instead of booking through Expedia though, I went and searched the same trip over at American Airlines. It was the same price- but sometimes you will find it is cheaper booking through the airlines directly.
  • It is always best to book directly with the airlines if they have the cheapest price. I found it is easier to make changes or ask questions if the tickets are booked directly.
  • Search for tickets everyday. Prices for plane tickets change rapidly. I search for several days before I actually buy.
  • If you do find a decent price, see if you can hold that ticket. American Airlines and I think United allows you to hold the ticket for 24 hours at that price. For the tickets I just bought I was able to hold the ticket two days in a row. This allowed me to continue to look for the best price. It was a good thing I held the price because the tickets actually went up!

So start researching airfare now for future trips. Get a feel for what the ticket prices are and start tracking them daily. Use the travel sites as tool to tell you which airlines is offering the best deal.

Let me know if you have further questions about booking airfare online or if you have a travel tip!

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Renae Chiovaro

Renae is a married working mom of two handsome boys. She works as a registered dental hygienist by day and blogs here at How to Have it All by night. She enjoys cooking from scratch, working in her vegetable garden and functional training.

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