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Finding the Cheapest Airline Ticket

First, let me make a statement that shouldn't shock anyone:

"Airlines are NOT in business to sell you a cheap airline ticket."

Although it is difficult for me to come to the defense of airlines, they are one of the most complicated businesses in the world to run and most especially, to run profitably. Let me restate:

"If an airline sold everyone a cheap airline ticket, they would be out of business."

I have corresponded with thousands of air travelers and all believe that they should be the ONE to get the cheapest airline ticket.

Truth be told, finding the cheapest airline ticket is 2 parts education, 1 part experience, 1 part timing, and sprinkle of luck.

One of my biggest shortcomings as a fledgling air travel consumer advocate and writer is that I tend to wax on about the technical "stuff" that goes into the purchase of a cheap airline ticket. That all stops here! I intend to boil it down to a few simple but powerful Rules of Thumb to help you become the ONE that purchases that elusive cheap airline ticket.

What is a Good Price for a Cheap Airline Ticket?

A cheap airline ticket price is in the eye of the beholder -- unfortunately most beholders don't have a very good idea what cheap means. Here is a simple set of price points that can be used as a Rule of Thumb when you start shopping for cheap airline tickets.

A Cheap Domestic U.S Airline Ticket

• $100 for short haul travel within and around adjoining states
• $150 for medium haul travel outside adjoining states
• $200 for long haul travel coast-to-coast

These prices do NOT include the additional $20 roundtrip non-stop fees (or 40$ for connecting roundtrip flights).

If your air service is from a smaller regional airport with little or no competition, a cheap price would be 20-40% higher.

You should also expect to pay a premium for popular destinations that have infrequent flights, such as Mexico beaches, Caribbean, and popular resorts.

The easiest way to find the cheapest airline ticket price point is to use the FareCompare.com 4-star rating system that assigns a rating to all ticket prices based on the 2+ years of history we keep for over 77,000+ domestic U.S and Canadian city pairs.

What Travel Days and Times are Cheap?
Supply and demand on certain days and times of the week force the airlines into different price points which they manage with a passion to squeeze out each and every cent. Remember these Rules of Thumb.

The cheapest days to travel are:

• Tuesday
• Wednesday
• Saturday

The most expensive days to travel are:

• Monday
• Friday
• Sunday

The cheapest time of day to travel is:

• Evening (except on Friday and Sunday)

Expect to pay a premium for peak travel days, holidays, special events, and popular destinations.

Always purchase outside of 14 days prior to travel, which is what most airlines consider the break point for business and leisure travel. It should be no surprise that the airlines make the most money from business travelers -- so don't procrastinate unless you want to gamble for last minute super cheap deals.

Which is the Best Day to Purchase a Cheap Airline Ticket?

The most popular "shopping" days for air travel are Tuesday and Wednesday. Employers shut your eyes! -- It occurs during prime work hours.

It doesn't really matter which day of the week you shop; most travel sites handle peak loads pretty well.

If you absolutely have to travel on specific dates -- the only variable you control is which day you purchase. Any person that has shopped for air travel knows that prices change dramatically, unpredictably, and often.

Here are some Rules of Thumb:

• Airlines charge a premium if you buy more than 4 months before departing.
• Pay the 4-month out premium if you have to travel on peak holidays - shop early and often.
• Absolutely purchase outside of 14 days and start actively shopping about 4 months out from your travel date (earlier if you are traveling on peak days)
• Hindsight will show that there were a couple of perfect days to buy. Don't miss out on them, sign up for FareCompare.com Airfare Email Alerts

Check out one of our in depth articles on the subject of "Best Time To Buy Cheap Airfare".

Are there Cheaper Tickets to/from Alternate Airports?

You can most definitely save using alternate airports, especially if the alternate airport has a low cost airline like Southwest Airlines and your primary airport doesn't.

Be ready to weigh the trade off in convenience versus price. Is it really worth a $50-100 per person savings for a 2 hour drive? I can think of many of cases where it is absolutely worth it (large family, strict budget, non-stop flying vs. connecting).

On short hauls, it might even be worth driving after you take into account the check-in times, departure waits/delays, and arrival baggage wait times along wit the general inconvenience associated with air traveling.

Let Technology Help You Find Cheap Airline Tickets

You are reading this article on the Internet, so you must have high expectations of getting the cheapest airline ticket. Why not let technology work for you?

I know many of you hit several sites shopping for air travel because you don't trust them -- and by all means you shouldn't trust them, not because they are trying to fool you -- quite the contrary -- the air travel purchasing system has been setup at its very core to be confusing and inconsistent, even seasoned travel agents can and do get flustered.

Most people stumble upon a good deal. Don't make finding the cheapest airline ticket a lottery win Sign up for airfare email alerts at FareCompare.com and get educated, look at history, study the simple tips, and by all means, ask questions. You have the power to find the cheapest airline ticket -- so take control!

Source: http://www.farecompare.com/articles/CheapAirlineTickets.htm