Cheap Air Fares

Aside from trying to buy tickets on Wednesday mornings, try a travel agent. Give them the dates you want and have them keep cjecking for you. Also, being flexible helps.

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I've had better luck trying to buy during the week, but it's also better to travel during the week. Southwest has the best policy that I know of. They do not charge to change flights, and if you notice that if you book a flight and the fare goes lower, you can call and they will give you a credit to use towards a next flight. I don't think Southwest is associated with any travel website so you have to check it out on your own. I was looking to fly to DC in October, American would of been $450 roundtrip before taxes and Southwest is $220 before taxes. The only time I find $98 roundtrips is when I fly Southwest throughout Texas, never outside the state.

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As a military wfie of 8 yrs, I've booked my fair share of flights lol I think travelling on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday are the cheapest days, but the best way to go is if you can check every day in a 2 week time period you can travel in, but you have to be really flexible to do that =) also, be willing to fly at any time of day/night. I would compare travelocity, expedia, and the major airlines websites (especially Southwest). Also, compare any airports within the distance you'd be willing to drive. My rule of thumb is 2 hrs. Otherwise, its not worth the gas money/time =) I would book as far in advance that you can. Sometimes you can get good last minute deals, but I would rather not take the chance of being stuck paying 3x more if I can't find a deal. Oh, and the trick to the $98 deals is flying between 2 major cities (like New York and Chicago, for example) and only on the dates they offer those deals =) and usually you have to book those on the airlines website, like Southwest or maybe American Airlines or United.

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The farther in advance you buy your tickets, the cheaper they will be. On the other hand, it also gives the airlines more time to make changes to those flights & it can SEVERLY mess things up. We had some major issues when my husband was coming home on leave from Korea one year because ONE silly flight time changed and made it so none of the others would work.

Someone else mentioned Southwest (definitely the only one I've ever heard of doing anything as cheap as $100 round trip) but they definitely service very FEW areas.

I agree with using Kayak to compare travel sites. I also read somewhere to avoid traveling on Fridays, Sundays, and Mondays if at all possible. Supposedly Saturdays are more okay because people are already at their destinations?? But probably during the week would be the cheapest!

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I use kayak.com. and I have also been told that airlines lower their fares tuesday night (midnight) so I always look for tickets wednesday morning :)

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Having spent about the last six months trying to figure it out I would call it luck. And they lure you with $98.- and then you find out it is 250 dollars. If you have time to play with and be patient you will find a cheap flight. we changed our plans and waited until we could. Just check whenever possible.

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We absolutely love Southwest and wish they would expand into more markets. They also don't charge you for bags (2 per ticket)!

Some of those $98 deals are probably with airlines who charge $30-$40 for a bag. We have traveled with Allegiant Airlines, and initially their fares look great. But then they start charging you for bags, seating priorities, etc., and it racks up. They still have good deals sometimes, so it's worth looking.

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It depends on the season. You can only get the really good prices when the airline is having a good deal. Also, you may get a cheap flight with an airline but then have to pay through the nose to put your baggage on. Always check the extra fees on the airline website before purchasing a cheap ticket. I have had the best luck with Jet Blue. They have really good rates, you don't have to pay for your 1st bag, they have great customer service, and there is free food on the flight. They are one of the few airlines that don't fee you do death.

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I purchase a lot of airline tickets... I think the best day is after midnight on Wednesdays and most of the day Thursday! I have been watching ticket prices for months on Tues, they where 590.00 each... I bought them on Thurs. for 348.00 same ticket. Checked the next morning and they went up to 698.00 each.
Look up tickets with BIng airline tickets and they will give you an idea if they will be going up or down...It has been very helpful for us! Also I go directly to the airlines website, not expedia o rthose kind of places....Someone in our family is on a plane at least once a month, so we are always looking for the best airfare. I hope this is helpful!

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Most airlines charge more the closer to your trip you book your flight. Flying ANYWHERE right now is just plain expensive. Tues are usually the best days to fund deals on tickets. As for $98 fares, that just depends on where you wnat to go and when. Usually, it is the smaller, regional airlines like Southwest and Jetblue that offer those types of fares.

You can go to some of the discount travel sites, but some give you the ticket price, that you must take, before showing you the flight. It could be the red eye that no one wants to take. Once you click that button, you have to take the ticket, even if you don't like the flight.

Just keep checking every day. Prices change all the time, but the farther out you book, the cheaper it will be.