by Jerry Young

Created on: July 26, 2008   Last Updated: July 30, 2008

Finding a cheap flight these days isn't easy but there are still some great ways to save. Theses tips should help you snag a cheap flight ticket.

Tip 1 - Choosing a Departure Date

Flying on different days will cost you different amounts. For example, if you fly on a Saturday, you are likely to pay much more than you would have paid for the same flight on Tuesday. Mid=week flights are typically lower than those on the weekends.

* If possible, take your flight midweek such as Wednesday to Wednesday as opposed to a Saturday to Saturday week trip

Tip 2 - Plan Far in Advance

By purchasing your fare far in advance you not only get a deal before any price hikes but also get your choice of seats. When traveling with others, this can be an important factor. For example, if you had booked a cheap international flight 3 months ago you would have saved the jump in fares caused by the high gas prices. You would also have been able to secure seats where you wanted to sit.

* Finding and nabbing a deal far in advance can save you money and allow you the best seat selection.

Tip 3 - Be Able to Go in Quickly

By getting on the email list of many travel sites you will get email notices of last minute deals, including flights. A lot of them have limited seats but with the email notification, you can move on the offer quickly and get yourself a cheap flight.

* Register at multiple travel sites to get last minute deals. Two to get you started: smart travel.com and travel-ticker.com

Tip 4 - Research Your Options

There are latterly hundreds of websites filled with travel information, including some hidden cheap flights. You need to be willing to put in the time to find these deals and it will mean visiting more than just one site.

Do start at a site which gives information from multiple airlines and allows you to search with flexible dates such as Travelocity.com. By doing a flexible date search, you will see the swing in prices and be able to center in on a few combinations that will work for you. Copy down your choices and then go to the more sites and compare the prices on those dates to find the best deal.

* All booking websites will not give you the same price for the same flight; it is up to you to find the best deal. After hitting Travelocity head over to bookingbuddy.com. And use their option of trying multiple sites on the dates you have chosen. And before you book, always check the airline's own website to compare what they are charging to the cheap flight you found.

Tip 5 - Be Flexible

If you are lucky enough to have the option of choosing when you fly, go into the cheap flight search without a specific date chosen. For example, if you want to be in Seattle or London on the 15th of October and were thinking of flying in on the 12th and out on the 17th you have limited yourself on your options. You very well may be able to get a much cheaper flight by flying in on the 14th and flying out on the 19th. Another area where flexibility may get you a cheaper flight is in the time slot you fly. Red-eye and over night flights are often cheap flight choices.

* By not having your flight dates and times set in stone, you are increasing your chances of finding a cheap flight. One added bonus about the cheap over-night flights is they allow you to sleep the flight away and arrive ready to go.

Finding a cheap flight may take a bit of time, but how great is it to know you paid half of what the guy next to you paid for the same flight? And with the money you save, you'll be able to book another cheap flight for a different trip.

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