How to Book a Flight Ticket

Decide which airport from which you would like to leave. Most people choose to depart from the airport closest to where they live, but at times it's better to use one that is a little farther away if it can get you a more convenient flight. For example, you may want to leave from a larger airport that serves more airlines.

Determine the flights that are available from that airport. The easiest way to do so is to go to an online travel site, such as Travelocity.com. In the appropriate boxes, enter your desired departure date and the three-letter code for both your departure and destination airports. Click the radial button to select "Flight Only" so you don't have to dig through a list of other options, and click on the "Search" button. From the list of available flights, choose the airline you would like to fly with and make note of the flight number. Continue on to either step 3, 4 or 5, depending on how you would like to book your flight.

Book online. Continue booking through the online travel site by following the prompts, or go to the airline's website to book directly. Look for a button or tab on the home page that reads "Book Flight" or "Reservations." Follow the prompts to enter your flight, personal and payment information. Print out your flight confirmation and bring it with you to the airport.

Book over the phone. On the airline's homepage, look for a link that reads "Contact Us." Click on it to be directed to a new page, where you will find a customer service number. Call this number to speak to a reservations agent. Give him your desired date, time, airport and flight number. The agent will give you a confirmation number. Write it down and bring it with you to the airport.

Book in person. Go to any airport your chosen airline serves, and find that airline's customer service desk. It should be right inside the entrance on the departures side of the terminal. Ask any agent at the desk to help you book your flight. Give her your desired date, time and flight numbers. The agent will print out your boarding pass.