Searching for cheap airline tickets

The most popular ways of booking an airline ticket are:

• Through a traditional travel agency
• Directly at the airline via phone or walk-in
• On the Internet

In today's blog I will mainly focus on finding good prices using the Internet.
Keep in mind that making your own booking on the Internet is not always the cheapest as travel agencies might get discounted prices. See more on Travel Agents

Be informed

It is necessary to know what airlines service the routes you want to fly - take a look at the arrivals and departures on the airport's website or query online booking and airline websites.
Keep up to date with special offers, register for newsletters on the relevant booking sites or airlines, and consider becoming a fan or follower on their social media websites.

Be Flexible

In order to get the best deal you need to be flexible.
Consider different travel dates - travelling on a Friday, Sunday or Monday may be more expensive. Travelling before or after holidays are more expensive but travelling on the date of the holiday e.g New Years day can be much cheaper.
Airport taxes are a big part of the final price, consider different airports that are close to your destination. London for example has two major airports with different airport tax charges.
Direct flights are more popular and therefore likely to be more expensive, consider taking a connecting flight via the airline's hub.
You can sometimes pay less when travelling with different airlines, but be aware of the pitfalls. You will have different booking references for each flight and your luggage will not be booked through to your final destination. When you make such a booking via a travel agent you are more likely to get one booking reference and your luggage will be booked to your final destination. This is also more likely to happen on code sharing airlines.

Best time to buy

This is a tricky one, it really depends on the airline or booking site.
Some airlines adjust their prices during the week and according to some Internet sources the best day to buy a ticket might be on a Tuesday afternoon.
Some airlines will offer a variety of tickets at different prices, these prices will stay the same for a specific flight but discounted tickets will sell out first, and its best to book as soon as possible.
Some airlines offer last minute specials to fill their seats.
Remember prices are mainly determined by supply and demand, fuel prices and airport taxes.

Compare prices

Compare prices on various airline websites, play around with travel dates and routes.
Make use of online booking sites / comparative sites to compare prices for different airlines, routes and travel dates.
Note - Always make use of a trusted service and secure website.

Additional charges

Some airlines (mostly low cost airlines) as well as some booking sites may add fees to the advertised ticket price, always be aware of what check boxes are ticked by default and make sure you know what the final price is before confirming your booking.

Legislation in some countries require booking sites / airlines to have clear pricing with no hidden fees. There might still be additional fees e.g. baggage fees, but this must then be clearly indicated.

There are very good booking sites that are upfront on all charges, look for a reputable site that has been in business for some time.

Most major airlines tend to be transparent on their pricing structures, with the advertised price being the final price.

Additional fees might include:

• Airport taxes
• Checked baggage fees - especially on low cost airlines
• Carry-on charges - especially on low cost airlines
• Extra charges for bulkhead seats
• Extra charges for same day flights
• Extra charges for refreshments - especially on low cost airlines
• Reservation / booking fees
• Price differences on ticket classes
• Extra charges for seat selection / reservation of seat - especially on low cost airlines
• Credit or debit card fees
• Extra charges for one-way tickets
• Fuel surcharges
• Checking in at the airport

Low cost airlines

Best when you are:

• Flying local with little or no luggage.
• Don't expect any frills, entertainment or refreshments.
• Have no seating preference.

When an airline charge baggage fees, make sure to declare your baggage when you check in online as most will charge more when you declare your baggage at the airport.

 

Legislation

USA
"The new rules also will make it easier for passengers to determine the full price they will have to pay for air transportation prior to travel.  Under the new requirements, all mandatory taxes and fees must be included together in the advertised fare.  In addition, airlines and ticket agents will be required to disclose baggage fees to consumers when they book a flight online.  The first screen containing a fare quotation for a specific itinerary must show if there will be additional baggage fees, and inform consumers where they can go to see these fees.  Information on baggage fees also must be included on all e-ticket confirmations, and for most trips the same baggage allowances and fees must apply throughout a passenger’s journey."


Europe
"Booking online – clear pricing
When you book a flight online, the total price of the ticket – including all compulsory elements such as taxes and charges –  must be visible from the start, so you can compare prices across airlines and make an informed choice.
As well as the final price, at least the following information must be clearly displayed: air fare, taxes, airport charges, other charges, surcharges or fees (such as for security or fuel).
Any optional supplements must be clearly indicated and suggested on an opt-in basis only."

Final thoughts

Its always best to make an informed decision.
If you are comfortable with the price, buy your ticket, you have no guarantee that the price will stay the same of go down.
Discounted tickets and specials sell out very quickly, if you want to make use of it, do it as soon as possible.

The cheapest price is not always the best deal. Take baggage allowances, refreshments and comfort into consideration and make sure there are no hidden or additional fees.