Finding the Best Airline Tickets

General advice when you’re shopping for the best deals on the Internet: Plan to spend some time. You may have to visit several sites.

Before you book, investigate refund and cancellation policies, “service fees” per ticket, and whether frequent-flier miles are granted or not.

Check out the Message Boards on www.frommers.com and similar sites for information and tips from individuals which can be helpful.

Go to various individual carrier sites and sign up to be notified about special deals.

Subscribe to Frommers newsletter. It’s well worth it - http://www.frommers.com/subscribe .

To maximize your chance for getting the cheapest ticket, try these things:

1.Plan to stay over a Saturday, to fly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays after 7 pm, and to avoid returning on a Sunday.

2.Begin with the Big Ones: www.expedia.com, www.orbitz.com, and www.travelocity.com, and the Obvious Ones: www.cheapseats.com, www.cheapair.com, www.cheapflights.com, and www.hotwire.com .

3.Check out this site to find the budget airlines and go to their sites for prices: http://www.flybudget.com . It lists some airlines I promise you you've never heard of, and comments from people who've flown them.

On a recent trip I took, Southwest beat out everyone except hotwire.com.

4.Try a consolidator. Frommers recommends the following: http://www.frommers.com/activities/article.cfm?destid=AIRFARE&articleid=453 .

5.Visit the sites of the individual carriers. Sometimes you can get a better deal there.

7.Bid or name your price: http://www.skyauction.com/, www.priceline.com .