Comparing Prices On Airline Tickets

Getting a discount on air fare is important to most travelers.  People want to get the most for their money and get to their destination in a timely manner, in comfort and at a low price.  In order to find the best value for airline travel, it is important to compare prices between airlines as well as online booking sites.  You may also get different quotes between websites and if you call the airline directly.  Therefore, it is important to look at all possibilities before making a decision on which airline ticket to purchase.

In order to compare prices, the best thing to do is use a piece of paper or a spreadsheet on the computer to keep track of the sites and prices that you see while investigating various opportunities.  You can then look down the list to see where the best deals are.  You will also have the contact information, either telephone number or web site address, easily accessible so you can book the trip as soon as all the research is complete. 

When calling airlines directly, have available the destination and departure airports as well as the dates you wish to travel.  If there are multiple close by airports, have that information available also.  Sometimes you will be able to save some money simply by going to another airport.  Also, if you have some flexibility on dates and times of travel, be sure to tell the ticket agent when talking with them.  Often they will be able to look up other options and may be able to suggest some money saving opportunities. 

Compare the flight rates that were quoted to you on the phone with rates that are found on the Internet.  Also check layovers because you can also get discounts for indirect flights.  If you do not mind changing planes and waiting around in an airport, flying using an indirect flight might be the perfect solution.  You should also contact your major credit cards to see if they offer any discounts on travel.  Many major credit cards have travel agent services where you may be able to get discounts.  Check all the primary online booking agencies such as Orbitz, Travelocity and Expedia.  These sites will have several different participating airlines that will compete for your businesses.  Make sure you keep the itinerary link handy or copy and paste it into a document in case you want to choose one for your final decision.  You can easily go back to the link and continue with the order.

After you have all the available information, you may want to take a chance at an online bidding site such as Priceline.com.  These sites allow you to choose your own price.  Since you will have a basis for how much a plane ticket should cost, you can undercut it substantially.  You will need to have some flexibility in travel times but you will be sure to get a great price on your travel needs.  Comparing prices is a great way to ensure you get the best possible deal.