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Everyone wants to save on airline tickets. After all, no one wants to feel like they’ve been taken. Do you? Well, during my years of catching flights, I’ve picked up on a thing or two about finding cheap tickets- especially when you also have to pay for your little ones tickets too. It can get pricey. So, here are some ways to save.
1. Set Your Alarm Clock!
What’s the absolute best time to purchase a ticket directly from the airlines? Turns out it’s Wednesday from midnight to 1a.m. in the time zone of the airline’s “home base.” (For instance, Delta is headquartered in Atlanta and United Airlines is based in Chicago.)
This is the best way to save on airline tickets. Why? That’s when the computer systems of most airlines get rid of the reserved but unbooked lower fare reservations. Most of us at one time or another have booked a reservation, then let it go without purchase. Snap-up these discounted fares right after this happens and you’re likely to get a significant discount.
The reason is that the major airlines operate as a cartel, and in general they only make price adjustments on Wednesdays, and then fairly quickly pull back if the others don’t match.
2. I Know Emergencies Happen, But Try to Book In Advance!
Another way to save on airline tickets is to plan ahead. My experience is that the best Wednesday bargains are for flights booked three weeks in advance. Airlines have booking windows of 21 days, 14 days and seven days in advance of a travel day. Ticket prices usually increase when these windows come and go.
In addition, if you want to use frequent flier miles (another great way to save on airline tickets) to get your ticket, you must reserve as far ahead as possible, since getting these seats is quite competitive.
3. Get Uncomfortable, Take the Red Eye!
If you seriously want to save on airline tickets, take the red eye. If you are willing to fly at odd hours, you may be able to save some money on your ticket. Most people don’t like to fly in the very early morning or on “red eye” overnight flights, but sometimes airlines need to schedule these times to get their planes to a different destination.
NOTE: Red eye flights leave after 9 PM and arrive before 5 AM.
See Also : continental airline