How to Save Money on Your Next Flight

We all know flying is the quickest way between two points. But with gas prices rising, it seems impossibly expensive to fly anywhere! With just a little bit of research and time, you can find the most affordable flight for your next trip.

Pick A Date
You may have exact dates for your next vacation or business trip. If you can be flexible with your departure and arrival times, you may be able to save even more money. Flights tend to be cheaper during the week, especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Consider leaving late after work to avoid the sometimes more expensive (and definitely more crowded) early morning flights.

If you're in the preliminary stages of planning a vacation, keep in mind the fact that high season (summer in most countries) is the most expensive time to travel. There may only be a $20 premium to fly from Chicago to Orlando in July versus September, but Chicago to Paris in July can cost $1000, whereas the same flight in October is only $600. It's definitely more enjoyable to take a vacation when the rest of the world is at school and work. Consider traveling between Labor Day and Memorial Day, weather permitting.

Go Shopping
I like to start with travel sites like Orbitz.com, Travelocity.com, and Expedia.com. They usually have very similar pricing, but shaving off a few dollars is worth the few minutes it takes to do your research.

All three sites offer you the option to search with flexible dates. You will see a chart with the different prices for different arrival and departure dates. You may save $100 for staying an extra day!

If you will also need a hotel room or car rental, these sites offer discounts for packages. Make sure you can't get a better deal by booking these separately. Sometimes hotels and car rental companies are offering good deals, and combining them may not be the cheapest option.

Also, check out the last minute deals (if your schedule permits) and other specials the websites offer. They often have sales on flights between certain (major) cities. This is a great way to save more money.

If you live near or are traveling to a smaller city, you may pay a premium to land at that airport due to lower traffic. If there is a metropolis nearby, consider flying there and renting a car (chances are you may be renting one anyway) if it will save a substantial wad of cash. But first, ask yourself: is the savings worth driving the distance? If the car rental is affordable, and the distance nominal, it may be worth it. Plus, you'll get to do even more sightseeing!

After finding the airline offering the best price and time for my schedule, I go to that airline's direct website. For instance, I fly on Delta from time to time, and it's usually $20-$30 cheaper on delta.com than the travel sites. Sometimes the airlines are running specials that the travel sites might not pick up. Southwest Airlines gives your quote in one-way legs of travel. Certain destinations have one-way tickets under $100, so you can try out different days to get the best deal.

Beware!!
The first price you see is likely not to be the final price. Airlines and airports have all kinds of fees, and will increase your quoted price by $20-$50 for domestic flights, and upwards of $100 for international travel. Factor in these taxes as you're planning your budget.

Deeper Discounts
Are you a member of AAA? of AARP? any other affiliation that offers discounts for flights? It's easy to forget about these groups, but they can help you save even more!! AAA.com has its own search engine for flights. Some websites may ask for your group number to activate the discount.

And don't rule out credit cards with airline points! If you can use the card responsibly, by charging transactions you can then turn around and pay off, you can quickly rack up points redeemable for free or discounted travel.

Likewise, whenever you fly, make sure you have a frequent flyer card for the carrier you're flying with. Often, airlines like Delta will offer bonus points for booking travel through their website. Then you get points for every mile you fly. Before long, you can redeem a free flight.

Take Off!
Now that you're armed with tips for cheaper travel, what are you waiting for? That tropical paradise, powdery ski slope, or quaint European town is waiting for you!