How to Get Cheap International Flights

Airfare will quickly eat up your travel budget if you don't shop around for the cheapest flights available to you. There are deals to be had when traveling to most international locales. Some airfare deals are dependent on your specific situation---for example, there are often cheaper tickets made available to student travelers. Other deals are available to anyone who knows where to look and takes the time to find them. Save on your plane tickets, and you'll have money left over for the rest of your trip.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Step 1

Book your flight at least 21 days in advance to snag the best deals. Start researching prices at least two weeks before you plan to purchase.

Step 2

Plan your trip to popular destinations for off-peak times. Purchase tickets at lower cost by traveling when most tourists aren't.

Step 3

Check prices first with an online travel site (see Resources), then check the individual airlines' ticket prices, also online. Get an idea of the rock-bottom prices being offered by both of these so you know a good deal when you check out other venues.

Step 4

Inquire about lower prices for students and special circumstances. Check prices with STA Travel (see Resources) if you are a student. Call the airline directly if you are traveling for special circumstances such as an illness or funeral in the family.

Step 5

Offer to take a later flight if your plane is overbooked, and you can save money on your next ticket purchase, usually a free ticket or a voucher for a specific dollar amount. Tell the ticket agent when you check in to put you on the volunteer list to be bumped if necessary.

Tips & Warnings

Visit travel agents in ethnic areas of your town for good deals to a specific country. For example, a travel agent in Chinatown will have access to cheap fares to China. Courier flying provides cheap or free airfare in exchange for the courier company using your checked baggage allowance for its items. Fly this way if you travel alone and aren't picky about dates. Be flexible with your travel dates and search around a large window on the calendar to find the best price.

Visit travel agents in ethnic areas of your town for good deals to a specific country. For example, a travel agent in Chinatown will have access to cheap fares to China.

Courier flying provides cheap or free airfare in exchange for the courier company using your checked baggage allowance for its items. Fly this way if you travel alone and aren't picky about dates.

Be flexible with your travel dates and search around a large window on the calendar to find the best price.

Many low-cost fares offer no benefits in terms of refunds or rescheduling if you miss your flight. Purchase travel insurance if this is an issue for you.

Resources

Article Written By Jenny Harrington

Jenny Harrington has been a freelance writer since 2006. Her published articles have appeared in various print and online publications. Previously, she owned her own business, selling handmade items online, wholesale and at crafts fairs. Harrington's specialties include small business information, crafting, decorating and gardening.

Editor's Pick

5 Top North American Wildflower Hikes

Springtime brings a sense of new beginnings and new life as flowers begin to bloom and fill the air with their sweet and pleasant fragrance. Luckily we can see wildflowers all summer long, since spring hits at different times throughout North America. See flowering cactu...
More National Parks...
Popular Article

National Park Substitutes: Great Spots Without the Crowds

Coping with crowds at national parks can get tiresome, especially during the peak tourist season. If you want to escape from the herd, or just take a breather from the bustle of bigger attractions, the United States has plenty of less-visited but still worthwhile spots t...
More National Parks...
Featured Destination

Prevent Yourself from Getting Lost While Hiking

When you're hiking you're going to want to make sure you stay found. What I mean by that is that you've put an itinerary in the car, you know the area that you're hiking to, you know the route and the trail you plan on being on, you know what the trail markers are going ...
More Camping Basics...