| People will tell you that to get cheap plane tickets | | | | direct flight. But what if it saves you $170 to add an |
| you need to go to this website or that. What many | | | | hour and an extra connection? At least you'll know |
| don't realize, however, is that the web site with the | | | | what your options really are. |
| cheapest plane tickets will not always be the same | | | | If you have some flexibility on the dates, always |
| one. One week it will be Hotwire.com, and the next | | | | check numerous dates. I've found that leaving a day |
| week it will be Expedia or Travelocity or Priceline. | | | | later or a day earlier can save hundreds of dollars on |
| Also, some web sites will more consistently have the | | | | plane tickets. In general, the cheapest days to travel |
| cheap plane tickets of a certain type or destination. | | | | on are Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. (I also |
| One might specialize in finding deals on international | | | | just checked for a trip we may take this December, |
| flights. Another might have the most last-minute | | | | and traveling on the 24th was $80 cheaper than the |
| deals. Bottom line? When using the internet, you | | | | 23rd.) But whatever the norms, plane ticket prices |
| really have to check a lot of web sites if you want | | | | are unpredictable, so check many dates if you can fly |
| to consistently find the cheapest tickets. | | | | when you want. |
| Other Cheap Plane Ticket Tips | | | | Buying two separate tickets can sometimes save |
| The more flexible you are, the better the deals you | | | | you a bundle, especially on international flights. When |
| can find. Of course, you may not want to fly at | | | | I went from Traverse City Michigan to Ecuador, the |
| night, or make several connections, or tie your | | | | cheapest plane tickets online were $1,700. But it was |
| luggage to the roof of the plane (okay, that one's a | | | | just $300 or so to Miami, and from there to Ecuador |
| joke). But in any case, when you fill out the search | | | | it was just $400. Buy two tickets and save $1000 - |
| forms on the internet sites, leave most of options | | | | that sounded good to me (but in the end, I found a |
| open. This means checking "no preference" for seat | | | | way to go for $413 round-trip). |
| type or time of flight, and if they allow it, checking | | | | Finally, if you really want cheap plane tickets, consider |
| the box that says "check for flights from nearby | | | | flying somewhere else. Of course, you can't do this if |
| airports," and the one that says, "2 or more | | | | you're taking the flight for business or to visit family. |
| connecting flights". | | | | But if you just want a nice vacation, pick several |
| The more options you give the airlines, the cheaper | | | | places you would love to go, and go to the one you |
| they are willing to sell the tickets. This doesn't mean | | | | can fly to for less. You might have an even better |
| you have to accept the deal that the web site finds | | | | time than you would have at the original destination. |
| for you. This is just a starting point. Afterwards, you | | | | Even better, the cheap plane tickets might save you |
| can check the price of flights that meet your | | | | enough money to pay for another short vacation |
| preferences more closely. If it only saves you $10 to | | | | somewhere else. |
| add an extra connection, you may want the more | | | | |