Airfares on a Budget: How to Get There for Less
If you've ever found yourself frustrated at the hassle of buying airline tickets at a reasonable price, you aren't alone. Finding the cheapest airfare can be bewildering; each airline has different rates even before other fees like baggage handling get added in. You can get your best price on airline tickets, though, with a few simple tricks.

Are your travel times flexible? If so, you can get some big deals on tickets. Even if your itinerary is firm, leaving a day earlier or later could change your rates significantly. Saving on international flights by changing your dates is an especially good money-saver. Look for mid-week arrival and departure dates or red-eye cheap flights to take advantage of off-peak airfares.

The sooner you buy your tickets, the less you're likely to pay for them. Airlines know that they can charge more for people who need their tickets soon; beat the rush and book at least three weeks in advance for domestic flights. Buy your tickets for international flights at least a month before your trip.

There's an exception to the "early bird special" discounts - if you buy your ticket right before a trip, you can score big savings. Airlines would rather sell a ticket cheaply than travel with an empty seat. This move is risky, though, and you should only try for it if your schedule's loose enough to absorb changing travel dates.

Try to find airlines that are offering special deals. Holiday travelers get discounts from some airlines, so take advantage of the season even if it isn't the reason for your flight. Not every holiday is national or international, so learning a little bit about your destination can pay off. You can get good deals on October Thanksgiving flights to Canada, for example, and package deals to New Orleans during Mardi Gras.

Don't lock yourself in to buying round-trip seats until you've checked the cost of one-way airfare. Sometimes it costs you less to take two one-way flights than to go round-trip. Going with one-way airfare also opens up the possibility of swapping airlines; if Airline X gets you there for less and Airline Y gets you back home for a song, book accordingly.

Are you a senior or a student? Are you in the military or a veteran? Check for discounted airfare. Most airlines offer specials to student and senior travelers. You'll need identification to prove you're eligible for the discount, though, so be prepared to show your necessary paperwork.

Unless you're really in a time crunch, you don't have to fly straight to your destination. Flights with stopovers save money. So can flying into a nearby, but less high-volume airport and driving to where you want to be.

Airfares change constantly, but the general price trend is ever upward. Unless you own your own airline, saving money while flying is probably enough to motivate you to maneuver through the system and find the best rates on airfare.