Saving Money on Air Travel

Air travel can be expensive, especially when demand and fuel prices are high.  However, there are several ways to save money on air travel. Here are some tips:

1. Book in advance: Booking your flights in advance can often result in significant savings.  In general, it’s best to book your flight as early as possible to get the best price. Airlines often offer their lowest prices to those who book well in advance. Keep an eye on ticket prices for your desired route, and look for any patterns in price fluctuations. You can use price tracking apps like Hopper or set up alerts on Google Flights to notify you of price changes.
2. Be flexible with your travel dates: If you can be flexible with your travel dates, you can often find better deals. Many travel websites offer fare calendars that allow you to see prices for different travel dates. Use these calendars to compare prices and find the cheapest dates to travel. If you can, be flexible with the length of your trip. Sometimes staying a few extra days or leaving a few days earlier can result in significant savings.
3. Look for connecting flights: Direct flights can be more expensive than flights with layovers. Consider connecting flights to save money.
4. Use airline rewards programs: Many airlines offer rewards programs that allow you to earn points or miles that you can use to book free or discounted flights. View some of the best travel rewards programs. 
5. Use a travel rewards credit card: Using a travel rewards credit card can help you earn points or miles that you can redeem for free or discounted flights.
6. Consider alternative airports: Flying into or out of alternative airports can sometimes be cheaper than flying into or out of major airports. Many travel search engines, such as Skyscanner and Kayak, allow you to search for flights to alternative airports near your destination. When searching for flights, try using the “nearby airports” or “add nearby airports” option to see results for other airports in the area.
7. Avoid peak travel times: Flights during peak travel times, such as holidays and weekends, tend to be more expensive.
8. Check for discounts: Some airlines offer discounts for students, military personnel, seniors, or members of certain organizations.  See our listing of airline discounts.
9. Bundle your travel: Booking your flights, hotel, and rental car together can sometimes result in significant savings. Typical sites that offer bundling discounts on travel include Expedia, Kayak, Orbitz, Priceline and Travelocity. Be sure to read the fine print and understand any restrictions or limitations on the bundle deal, such as cancellation policies or minimum stay requirements.
10. Check for sales: Airlines often have sales and promotions, so be sure to keep an eye out for these.
11. Compare prices: Be sure to compare prices from different airlines and travel booking websites to find the best deal.