International Travel

Do you assume that there are secrets to how to get a cheap airline ticket that the airlines try to keep from you? Do you always feels nervous and slightly dizzy whenever you are about to click on the “Buy Now” button when purchasing your flight? Your skepticism and worries are justified. An attempt to get the best airfare could be as difficult and frustrating as trying to figure out on what number to place your bets in a lottery game. But unlike gambling, there is more to airline ticket purchases than a sprinkle of luck. Knowing a little bit about how the system works and remembering a few useful tricks could maximize your chances of getting the best air travel deal possible. And although the suspicion that the person sitting on the plane right next you got his ticket for half the price of yours could never be entirely erased from your mind, there are some key rules of thumb that can put the one cheap airline ticket right into your pocket. Why should you pay more when you can get the same ticket for less, especially when the currency trends already increase most of your travel costs?
The Canadian Dollar recently approaching parity with the US Dollar is just one of many topics driving discussions of a weakening power of the US dollar. Hence, with the US Dollar pushing prices of traveling abroad and overseas up, an extra cheap airline ticket could be a welcomed way of making the trip more economical. Similarly, with a USD/CAD exchange rate possibly hitting a 1:1 ratio, knowing how to get a cheap airline ticket within the United States and Canada could be especially useful.

10 useful tricks to get you your cheap airline ticket:
Know what is a cheap airline ticket
The key to the successful purchase of a cheap airline ticket is knowing what ticket is really cheap. As far as domestic US airline tickets go, a cheap ticket should cost you around $100.00 for a short-distance travel (within or around two neighbor states), around $150.00 for a medium-distance travel and around $200.00 for long-distance coast-to-coast travel. Also, be prepared to pay additional fees and charges to these prices, such as a $20.00 roundtrip non-stop fee, a $40.00 fee for connecting roundtrip flights, or a premium for popular destinations (beaches and resorts in the Caribbean, Mexico, etc.). Due to a smaller competition that would keep prices low, your cheap airline ticket is likely to be more expensive if you travel to or from smaller regional airports.

Know when to travel
If you are flexible about the date of your trip, choosing the right day of travel could make the airline ticket price cheaper. While beginnings and ends of weeks and weekends are the most expensive due to a high demand (most people travel arrange their flights on these days), Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays are usually the cheapest. Also, except Fridays and Sundays, flying in the evening can increase your chances of getting the cheap airline ticket you want. Similarly, taking a “red-eye” flight can pay off well, since not too many people like the idea of leaving the airport at 5:30 in the morning and arriving at their destination at 3 AM.

Use the same airline both ways
For reasons hidden from the eyes of ordinary mortals, a one-way flight is usually just as expensive as a roundtrip. Always go for a roundtrip ticket if possible.

Start searching for your cheap airline ticket early
While the airlines charge a premium for purchasing a ticket prior to four months ahead of the departure, absolutely do book your ticket sooner than two weeks in advance. Fourteen days prior to travel is considered the breaking point for business and leisure. And since most of the airlines make their profits from business travelers, avoid purchasing your ticket too close to your flight date.

Get a travel club membership
If you travel more frequently (more often than twice a year), join a frequent flyer club. Even though you are usually asked to make some initial payment, benefits of the membership will easily pay that off in the long run.

Use your age
Find out about senior and student discounts. Airlines sometimes offer them with their tickets.

Ask about alternative airports
You can most definitely save money by using alternative airports, which are often used by many low cost airlines. While a real money-saver, make sure that you consider the convenience factor. Alternative airports may account for some 2-hour drive extra.

Learn about cheap first class airline tickets
If you are big on comfort but still hope to scoop the best travel deals out there, learn more about discount first class tickets. Many airlines offer cheap first class tickets for flights between and within the United States and Canada.

Keep checking before you purchase
Like the price, the availability of flights is an incredibly volatile element. Airlines may add discount tickets without warning. That way, a flight you gave up on months ago could be suddenly available for even a better price.

Stop checking one you purchase
Prices of airline tickets are subject to a constant change and their purchasing is very similar to trading stocks. There are only a few perfect times a year to purchase. Only hindsight will show what these actually were. Checking the prices after that very online click that has dinged your credit card when you finally purchased your ticket is running a risk of seeing you ticket sold cheaper. On the other hand, keeping a record of how prices fluctuate could help you grasp how this unpredictable market works. Eventually, you might be able to make a better, more informed decision.