Save Money on Air Tickets and Make Your Trip More Affordable

If you can save money on air tickets, that dream trip to Paris can become a reality!

Airfare can be the most expensive component of a trip. Even "cheap" flights are becoming more expensive, with all of the additional charges being piled on these days.

There are many ways of saving money on airfare but if you're not going far, it may be more cost-effective to drive to your destination.

If you have to fly, how can you save a little so you can afford those souvenirs?

Using Frequent Flier Miles

- If you use frequent flier miles, try to book them as early as possible. Most airlines open up reservations to frequent fliers about 11 months in advance of the flight. There are a lot more seats available early on, so don't wait too long. Start checking the airline's website daily almost a year in advance, so you don't miss your chance.

- If you can't find seats on the flights you want when you try online, call the airline's 800# and ask for a Frequent Flier agent. They may be able to help (although there is no guarantee).

- Off-season travel is also likely to have more available seats, both paid and for frequent fliers. May, June, September, and October have nice weather, fewer crowds - and more seats on the plane.

- Look for new routes - if an airline has added another flight to a familiar destination, or has just started flying to a new destination, there will be more seats available. (Keep your mind open about destination if you are determined to use airline miles for your trip).

- As a last resort, airlines will sometimes open up a few unsold seats to frequent fliers at the last minute (about 10 days in advance). This is iffy,so be prepared to pay for your ticket.

Buying Airline Tickets

- Find Cheap Flights from 100+ Sites with One Click. Use a meta-search engine like Kayak to find the best prices available. Kayak does the searching for you - and will give results from Travelocity, Expedia, the individual airlines, and other resources. Once you've found your flight, one click will take you directly to the deal!

- If you are paying for airline tickets, many of the above tips apply - fly mid-week or off-season. Many airlines still require a Saturday night stay for the best fares also.

- Purchase your tickets at least 14 days in advance. While there are occasional last-minute deals if seats are unsold, that doesn't happen often. It's more likely the fares will be higher.

- As with airline miles, seats become available 11 months in advance of the flight - but in this case, booking too early might not be your best bet. Check www.farecast.com for predictions on when fares will go down (or up) and book at the best fare. Yapta is another site that will also let you know when fares have gone down. Go to www.yapta.com and download the program.

- Check alternate airports for better fares. For example, I live in Milwaukee, but often fly out of Chicago's O'Hare because fares can be cheaper. There are more flights out of O'Hare, so there is a better selection of flights and fares. Be careful with this, however - after paying for gas and higher parking rates, the cost savings may disappear.

- Watch for extra fees! Fuel costs are driving up the cost of flying, but airlines want to keep ticket prices low. So they are tacking on extra charges for things that used to be free. Paying for meals onboard was just the beginning; many airlines now charge for seat assignments, curbside check-in, checking a second bag (and sometimes ALL bags!)and checked bags weighing more than 50 pounds. That cheap ticket could end up costing you plenty with extra fees, so check the rules before you click "buy"! Check out this chart to see what fees your airline charges, and calculate the real cost of your trip!

With a little work, you can keep the cost of flying down!

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For more money-saving tips:

For tips on navigating the airport:

- Airport Tips