How does one find the cheapest air tickets?

[Balt]

I am truly puzzled. Delta is discounting ticket prices as you may have heard (if you make reservations before July 8th, I believe). However, finding the cheapest airfare is extremely confusing.

For instance, if I deal with 2 stopovers it costs me 2x as much as if I don't deal with any? What sense does that make?

Are particular days and times better than others?

I know about sites like travelocity, et al. However, I want to understand the system just a bit.

 

[MrCodeDude]

PriceLine.com
Usually staying over the weekend cuts your ticket price in half
-- mrcodedude

 

[snakesnfrogs]

<< However, I want to understand the system just a bit. >>




that's your problem right there----there is no way to understand it. Like you said, a non-stop is cheaper than a 2-stop. Tuesday-Thursday is generally cheaper from what I've seen. If you can fly Southwest, check their site regularly for some good deals.

 

[RossMAN]

One does a search and hopes to find something

 

[Sluggo]

<< I want to understand the system just a bit >>



Yeah, you and every other person who flies quite a bit, that DOES NOT work for the airlines. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to it, just as much gouging as possible. Try all different travel times, early morning...late evening, and check different local airports ( within an hour of each other) and check different travel days.

Write it all down, then call the airline, and be a BUTT and dont get off the phone till you ask &quot;is this the cheapest fare currently available for these 2 cities&quot; about 15 times. Ask about all discount programs available, maybe its cheaper if you use VISA instead of MasterCard. They will ONLY tell you if you ASK.

One time after pestering the girl about cheapest fares for about 10 minutes, she finally offered up &quot;Oh are you a Sams Club Member?&quot; I was....knocked $100 off each ticket.

 

[Sluggo]

<< One does a search and hopes to find something >>



Screw doing a search, just PM RossMAN

 

[Balt]

Rossman,

I considered doing a search, but I also wanted to inform others of the deal Delta has going on now.

Ordering from their website will supposedly save you money too (assuming you can understand all the jibba jabba of their system).

Thanks for the advice guys, keep it coming.

 

[RossMAN]

Rossman,

I considered doing a search, but I also wanted to inform others of the deal Delta has going on now.

Ordering from their website will supposedly save you money too (assuming you can understand all the jibba jabba of their system).

Thanks for the advice guys, keep it coming.


I'm just giving you sh!t (I have plenty left if someone wants some?) Good luck in finding a low price ticket. I haven't read the other posts but I would suggest:

1) Booking at least 3 weeks in advance.
2) Travel between Monday - Thursday with at least a Saturday night stay over.
3) Subscribe to Budget Travel magazine, the best $14.95 you will ever spend.
4) Check both online airfare search engines AND a local travel agent.
5) PM RossMAN for the best airfare deals (listen to Sluggo he is a wiseman, unfortunately I know absolutely nothing about airfare deals but I do know how to get a GeForce 3 for $299).

 

[Balt]

RossMAN,

I took no offense. Your links in that other thread were very helpful. Thanks to you also.