If you want to find the best International Airfare Deals, be prepared to do some online research. There are many myths and theories about finding cheap airfares, but anyone can save money if you know how to search for cheap fares. Booking early, being flexible with your travel dates and using budget airlines are some easy ways to find discounted flights.
Compare Search Engines
Compare the fares on a few flight search engines and websites for your chosen destination and travel dates. Most flight search engines will show you the major airlines, but not necessarily all airlines. Budget airlines do not always show up on a typical flight booking site, and you will have to go to the budget carrier’s own website to book your flights. Researching and comparing fares on different sites takes some time, but it is important if you want to find the cheapest fares.
Using Budget Airlines
Budget airlines are the cheapest way to fly in Europe, and there are now many budget airlines in Asia as well. If you are flying from North America to Europe or Asia, and you cannot find an affordable direct flight to your destination, it often makes sense to book one international flight to a nearby affordable destination, and then a budget flight to your final destination.
Another way to find cheap international airfares is to find out if there are more than one airport in your destination. Many big cities have small, secondary airports that are located some distance from the city and that budget airlines often use. Flying to a smaller airport is usually cheaper than flying to the main airport.
Flexibility with Travel Dates
Flexibility with travel dates always helps. The peak holiday seasons, such as Christmas, New Year or school holidays, are generally the most expensive times to fly because everyone is flying and many flights are full months in advance. The most affordable days to fly internationally are usually in the middle of the week, especially Tuesday and Wednesday. This does not apply to all destinations and every situation, but in general mid-week flights are more affordable than flights that depart on Fridays or Sundays. Flights that leave in the middle of the night or early in the morning are often the cheapest.
Airfares become more expensive as the plane becomes full, so start to search for airfares as early as possible and book at least several weeks before your departure date. Last minute deals are rare, and booking a few months ahead is one of the best ways to find affordable International Airfare Deals.