Finding Cheap Airfare Online
From LoveToKnow Online
When you're vacationing, you don't want to spend a fortune to get there, finding cheap airfare online is the way to go.
Searching For Cheap Airfare Online
By shopping wisely and timing your purchase, you can save tons of money by finding cheap airfare online at the right outlets.
The Big Three: Expedia, Orbitz, Priceline
Expedia, Orbitz, and Priceline all provide good deals to customers by compiling information from participating airlines to offer you several deals. Expedia and Orbitz almost always offer the same or very similar deals, with maybe a $10 price difference when you add in taxes and fees. They work by allowing you to search for your ideal date and time, and returning flights that might work with your itinerary. It used to be easy to get a good deal anytime; now you should probably look for one about two weeks before you leave.
A couple of other airline ticket brokers similar to these are Travelocity and Lowestfare.com; again, the prices you get by cross-comparing them are going to be about the same.
Priceline works differently from the others. You select your date, time, and locations -- and then you make an offer. If an airline working with Priceline is willing to accept your offer, they email you about it. This system works best in off-peak times when airlines may have empty seats. Contrary to the way the other ticket brokers work, Priceline's deals tend to get better the closer you get to leaving because the airlines want to fill those seats. The only drawback: if you place a very low bid, you may not get a taker at all, and end up taking a more expensive ticket close to the day you leave.
Independent Airlines
Because the Big Three online airfare brokers charge a fee to match buyers to airlines, not all airlines want to go through them. You can save even more money by checking these airlines for cheap airfare online before committing to something from Orbitz.
Southwest Airlines saves money by flying into smaller, less costly airports, as well as by cutting frills and focusing on commuter air. Because they've established their name very effectively through media and advertising, Southwest doesn't feel they need to go through an airfare broker, and they don't. You need to go directly to their website. If you shop at least three weeks before you're going to leave, you can take advantage of their super-saver fares that go as low as $49 one-way. Southwest also offers inexpensive package vacation deals.
Jet Blue works on a similar plan to Southwest, and also does not list on the online ticket broker sites. Jet Blue tends to be a little more expensive, but flies into places Southwest ignores.
STA Travel focuses on finding airline tickets and other travel help for students. Though the deals you'll get are a little better than the ones from ticket brokers, the real reason to go here is to look at overseas travel for students. They have package deals at great prices. If you just want to go home from college, you're better off with Southwest or Jet Blue.
This page has been accessed 731 times. This page was last modified 18:08, 26 August 2007.
© 2006-2008 LoveToKnow Corp.
