Over the past few days there have been a handful of people asking me for advice on booking the cheapest airline ticket. When it comes right down to it there are only two things to remember. Indulge me while I take a moment to impart my wisdom (small as it may be) on finding a cheap fare.
BE FLEXIBLE.
The more flexible you are with your travel plans, the cheaper the ticket will be. Ex: A friend is traveling with his family (total =4) from St. Louis to Orlando in July. He's renting a condo from Saturday to Saturday, but he has a place to stay on an off night if the flights need to be adjusted. Because of his flexibility in flying, he saved almost $300 PER TICKET. That's huge in airline dollars.
BOOK NOW.
If you know you have travel plans coming up, book your tickets now. It's unlikely the price of fuel is going to come down so drastically that the airlines will slash prices. Also, by booking now, you will avoid any new upcoming fees that airlines may impose. Ex: American Airlines announced they are charging passengers to check bags. However, if you read the fine print of your e-ticket contract, you'll note that if you purchased your ticket prior to this announcement you do not have to pay that fee. Book now to avoid any additional fees!
The airline industry is not in the best shape but there are cheap tickets to be found. Be patient, be flexible and plan ahead.
(Shameless plug: I just finished an article on ways to stretch your travel dollar - check it out for extra travel savings on your next trip!)
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