How to Compare Prices for Airline Flights
By Kate Evelyn
If you frequently fly for your golf vacations, you may notice that airfare is your most significant travel cost, or it's at least a close second to your lodging expenses. Before you take that next trip see if you can save some money by comparing prices for airline flights. The prevalence of online tools to help you makes the process fairly simple. It's best to start comparing prices as far in advance as possible so you don't miss out on some of the deals.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Determine some flight details before you begin your research. Pick an airport to leave from and an airport to arrive to. Also choose the number of passengers who will be traveling and determine if there are specific dates and times you have to commit to. If you can be flexible, you could get a cheaper flight. Write down all of this information.
Go to a website that allows for travel cost comparisons, such as Fare Compare (see Resources). Click on the "Flights" tab. You'll be directed to a page with an online form. Type in your airport information by entering the city or the airport code for both the destination and home airports. Type in the dates when you want to travel or select that your dates are flexible.
Look at the bottom of the form. You will see the logos for several third party travel sites. Click on the ones you would like the comparison site to search for you. Push "Enter." Look at the popup windows that appear. Each will list the price results for all the flights that meet your search criteria. Print out the text in each of these windows.
Place all of your printouts side by side and determine which flight is the cheapest. Then call the airline directly by navigating to its website and finding its phone number on the "Contact Us" page. Tell the agent the rate you found online and ask if he or she can beat it. Now you have enough information to decide which flight to take.
Tips & Warnings
Book your flight online through the third party site with the best rate or over the phone if it will save you more money.
You can often get a cheaper rate by booking last minute, especially during nonpeak times. However, you may be charged extra for flying standby.
Book your flight online through the third party site with the best rate or over the phone if it will save you more money.
You can often get a cheaper rate by booking last minute, especially during nonpeak times. However, you may be charged extra for flying standby.
It can help to set a list of priorities instead of booking solely based on price. Sometimes the cheapest flight is not the best one for you. It could be inconvenient in terms of its time or the airline you need to take.
About The Author
Based in Washington, D.C., Kate Evelyn has been writing professionally since 2000. Her articles have appeared in numerous publications, including "Elle" magazine, "Brass|CU" magazine and the "Credit Union Times." She holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Western Maryland College.
