In today's economy, travel may be the last thing on people's minds. Airplane tickets are expensive, particularly for trans-Atlantic, Pacific, or continental flights. But if it's necessary, there are many resources online for finding less expensive plane tickets, and a few strategies for booking the best possible deal.
Major Discount Travel Databases
Expedia, Orbitz, and Travelocity are three of the major discount ticket sites. It's best to compare deals to find the most reasonable flight. Some flights may only have one or two seats left, and others may have a no-refund policy for the lowest possible price, but overall these websites are excellent for comparing different airlines side-by-side. Search results can be ordered by price, and the best deals are usually highlighted.
Discounts for Student and Youth Travelers
STA Travel has flight discounts for students and for travelers under the age of 26. Signing up to receive emails from STA Travel (a free service) is a way to learn about special offers on tickets. STA also offers travel packages, a travel internship opportunity, and information about living, working, volunteering, or studying abroad, as well as a large database of general travel tips. STA has branch offices in several cities; locations are listed on the website.
Less Pricey Airlines
For trans-Atlantic flights, Icelandair and Aer Lingus offer fairly reasonable prices; the only catch is having to change planes in either Reykjavik or Dublin. Northwest Airlines now flies direct to Amsterdam. Airlines like Southwest offer less expensive tickets within the United States; some of these flights are, however, on the shorter side, for example Washington, D.C. to Boston.
Other discount airlines have increased in popularity in recent years, such as JetBlue. RyanAir is also beginning to offer trans-Atlantic flights. RyanAir and similar airlines fly to fewer airports, however, or to the slightly more obscure ones (e.g. London Stansted instead of London Heathrow).
Additional Tips
Certain days of the week are cheaper than others to fly, depending on the airline, airport, and season. There are certain times of year when tickets cost more than others, such as the summer or around Christmas and spring break. Check the airline's website for their prices, then compare to Expedia, Orbitz, or Travelocity.
Also, booking far enough in advance may save on some of the cost; ticket prices tend to go up as the date of the flight draws closer. If there is an airline of particular interest that a traveler uses more than others, it may be worth it to see if that airline has a Frequent Flyer program. More details should be available on the airline's official website.
With these resources and strategies in mind, travelers can save big on flights, and maybe even use that money to enjoy their travels.
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