Purchase your tickets during airline fare sales

Several times during the year, most airlines offer reduced prices to increase their passenger loads. These "fare sales" typically offer airfares 25% to 40% below the regular coach fare. It's important to act quickly when these sales are announced because the sale period is usually short and the number of low price seats is limited.

When you start planning a trip sign up for Google Alerts ( using the search term: airline fare sale) to receive e-mail notification of fare sales the same day the airlines make their announcements.

Plan as far in advance as possible

Many fares have advance purchase requirements, most commonly 21-days, 14-days and 7-days. International fares often require a reservation 30 days in advance. Airlines limit the number of low cost seats on each flight. Making a reservation as soon as you know your travel dates increases your chances of finding a low fare.

Try different days and times

Fares are generally lower on low-demand days and times. The lowest demand travel days are usually Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday. The highest demand days are usually Friday and Sunday. Low-demand times are often on late-evening flights. To get the lowest roundtrip fare, that fare must be available on both the departing and return flights you select. If the fare is sold out on either of these, the price  will be higher. Check  earlier or later flights  or consider flying on another day if your schedule is flexible.

Search nearby area airports

When lower fares are sold out at one airport, they may be available at another nearby airport. For example, when traveling to Los Angeles (LAX), consider flying into the Burbank (BUR), Orange County (SNA) or Ontario (ONT) airports. The cost of a trip to San Francisco (SFO) may be lower by flying into San Jose (SJC) or Oakland (OAK). Use our airport code finder to locate nearby airports.

Search using the city code in large cities with multiple airports

Enter the multiple airport city code, and Sabre will search for the lowest fare available at all metropolitan airports. Here are some cities with multiple airport city codes: Chicago (CHI), Dallas (QDF), Houston (QHO),  London (LON), New York City (NYC), Paris (PAR), Washington, DC (WAS) . Use our airport code finder to locate city codes for other large cities with multiple airports.

Consider flying round-trip

Sometimes a round-trip itinerary is priced less than two one-way trips.

Stay over a Saturday night

Sometimes a lower fare is available if you stay over a Saturday night.

Make holiday plans early

Holidays and school vacations are generally the highest demand travel times. The earlier you plan, the better your chance of finding the lowest fare. Some people plan six months in advance. Most airlines have black-out days around popular holidays. The day of the actual holiday (e.g. Dec 25th, Thanksgiving Day, Memorial Sunday, etc) is commonly not a black-out day and seats are often available right up to the last minute. Flying on the day of a major holiday can sometimes be a way around poor availability and expensive fares.

Use frequent flyer programs

Register with a frequent flyer program. When making reservations fly with the same airline and accumulate frequent flyer miles rather than always selecting whichever airline has the lowest fare.