How to get a Steal on Airfare

[Aggie_Ama]

One of my best friends is getting married in Ohio in September. We really want to go but airfare is pretty costly these days. I haven't flown in a while, any tips on getting a great deal? I was trying Kayak but wondered if there are other ways.

[wackyjacky1]

You've got Jet Blue up there in Austin, right? I've found them to have the best fares around.

[Aggie_Ama]

Unfortunately they don't fly to Ohio. We are going to Columbus, Ohio.

[wackyjacky1]

Oh, poo.

I don't seem to have any luck as far as getting a steal with the discount websites (Kayak, Priceline, etc.) so I'm no help to you there.

Southwest has those super cheap "Wanna Get Away" fares, but I'm not sure how far in advance you have to book.

[indysteel]

I heard recently that the cheapest fares are generally available Tuesday through Thursday and that it's best to book four to six weeks out. Travelocity and Expedia (and I'm sure others) offer fare alert and fare tracking services that might be helpful. Also be sure to check each airlines baggage fees, as they can add up if you plan to check baggage. You'll save money if you can stick to just a carryon. If you see a fare you can live with, jump on it and then don't look back. In my experience, you can really drive yourself nuts if you keep looking at fares after you've bought your tickets. One other suggestion (although this likely won't help you at this late date) is to use one of Capital One's credit cards. Their airline points program is easy to use and has no blackout dates. I have friends who charge everything they can to earn points (and they are disciplined about paying their balance every month).

[bluebug32]

Airfarewatchdog.com has some good tips and I think you can set up price alerts through the site. I've had good luck with kayak in the past and sometimes the best fare can be found directly through the airline.

[jessmarimba]

I use fly.com to compare airlines - they seem to compare from the most sources. Though there are a few airlines whose fares they can't access. (You don't book through fly.com, it links you to whoever has the fares, so they don't make any money from it).