You can save hundreds on your next airline ticket by following these simple rules and secret travel tips.
1. Staying over a Saturday night typically gets a better deal on a round trip ticket.
2. If you are traveling to an international destination and then on to another destination from there, purchase the second ticket from within that country of origin. The fare will be much less.
3. Be flexible with your travel dates. Changing your departure date or return date by just one or two days can mean a difference of hundreds of dollars.
4. Travel to major hubs. Airlines offer discounts if you travel to their major hubs and you can even take advantage of connecting flights this way.
5. Even if you are traveling one way, a round trip ticket may be cheaper, simply land and throw away the return ticket.
6. Search for price mistakes online. Airlines change fares frequently and sometimes they make mistakes. If you find a fare that is unusually low, buy it quickly before the airline realizes the mistake.
7. If you are searching for tickets online, delete your cache and cookies from your browser before each search, otherwise you may see old pricing.
8. Compare prices with the airlines, online booking sites, travel agents and consolidators.
9. If you are traveling to a specific international region of the world, find a consolidator that specializes in that region. For example, if you are traveling to London, find the travel agent that deals with the British locals as they typically have the best prices. You may find the consolidator who specializes by checking a newspaper that targets that community.
10. Purchase your ticket at least 2 weeks in advance for the best fare. Waiting until the last minute will cost you dearly and buying too early, ( one month or more) will not help you save much unless you find a fare mistake.