1. You may lower the price of a round trip airfare by as much as two-thirds by making certain your trip includes a Saturday evening stayover and by purchasing the ticket in advance.
2. To make certain you have a cheap fare, even if you use a travel agent, contact all the airlines that fly where you want to go and ask what the lowest fare to your destination is.
3. Be flexible, if possible. Consider using low-fare carriers or alternative airports, and keep an eye out for fare wars.
4. Compare the prices on the many Web sites available to get cheaper tickets (e.g., www.orbitz.com, www.cheaptickets.com, www.priceline.com, etc.).
5. Most airlines have an e-newsletter that informs subscribers of special fares. Sign up for the ones that you commonly use.
6. The most discounted tickets usually have the most restrictions attached (for example, 21-day advance purchase, no refunds, or a significant fee if the itinerary is changed). Make sure of your itinerary prior to purchase.
A good Web resource about airfares is: http://www.aarp.org/money/wise_consumer/smartshopping/a2004-02-19-SavingonAirfares.html.
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