How to Find the Best Airfare

Although buying an airline ticket can sometime seem like a bit of a gamble, here are some tips that should reduce your risk of paying over the odds:

1. Chose the Right Day

Try to avoid the days most business people like to travel. Flying on the 'wrong' day of the week may put an extra $60 on your ticket price. Flights departing on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday usually offer the lowest fares, and prices tend to be higher on Monday and Friday. Although Saturday flights occasionally have discount fares, it's often more expensive to fly on a weekend than a weekday.

2. Be Flexible About the Date

If you are flexible about the dates you can travel, then you may find that you can save considerably, as cheaper tickets may still be available on a less popular day than your preferred day. To get the lowest roundtrip fare, the same fare must be available on both the departing and return flights you select. If the fare is sold out on either of these, you'll end up paying a much higher price. If possible, consider flying on another date.

3. Beware of Fare Change Dates

As well as changing for high and low seasons, fare tariffs often change on the 1st day of the month. If you are planning to depart in the last few days of a month, it will be worth checking to see if the fare is lower at the start of the following month.

4. Pick the Best Season

Avoiding high seasons can also save you a tremendous amount of money, so find out when they start and end. The date of your outbound flight normally determines your fare, so try to make sure your departure date is either before high season starts, or after it ends.

5. Find the Cheapest Airport

You may find that being flexible over the airport you use may save you a great deal of money. If you can choose between two airports for destination or departure, one may much cheaper than the other.

For example, if you were visiting the UK, you could save a hundred dollars or more by flying into Heathrow, London, rather than Manchester. Of course, this may not be a useful saving for you if you're visiting relatives in Manchester and would have to spend an additional $100 or more on getting there, but it's certainly worth bearing in mind.

6. One Way Flights

If you want to book a one way flight, always check the prices for a return ticket, even if you have no intention of using the return portion. In some cases, one-way tickets cost more than round-trips; for example, you could save $100 on a flight from New York to Heathrow by buying a return, rather than a single ticket.

7. Consider Indirect Flights

If you are willing to sacrifice the ease and convenience of a direct flight, you could get yourself a bargain. For example, you could save $150 or more on a flight from LA to Heathrow by choosing a route connecting in Chicago, New York or Toronto, rather than a direct flight. This would add at least 3 hours onto the duration of your trip, but you may feel that the saving you make would be worth this inconvenience, especially if there are a number of you travelling.

8. Plan Ahead

Many discount fares require that you make a reservation 7, 14 or 21 days in advance, depending on the fare. The best international fares often require a reservation 30 days in advance. Making a reservation as soon as you know your travel dates increases your chances of finding a great fare.

Having said that, it's not always best to rush in and buy the first available fare. If you monitor the prices of tickets on your route for some time, you will quickly learn what is, and isn't, a good deal. Once you see a good price, you'll be in a good position to act quickly; safe in the knowledge that you've found a great deal. In this case, book straightaway, as the number of such cheap seats may be limited.

8. Think about Restrictions

Make sure you are aware of any restrictions that your ticket has. In general, the cheaper the ticket, the bigger the restrictions. Cheap tickets are usually non-refundable and non-changeable once they have been issued, so make sure you take out adequate insurance against cancellation costs if necessary. However, not all bargain fares have the same restrictions, so it is vital to read the terms and conditions of the ticket before buying.