Really Cheap Plane Tickets

To begin with, the best place to buy really cheap plane tickets is online. Travel agencies can't compete with discount ticket sites. Search Google ("cheap airfare south america", for example), or try the well-known sites, like Expedia, Travelocity, Cheap Tickets, Hotwire or Priceline.

Just now I checked fares from Tucson, Arizona to Traverse City, Michigan on the five sites mentioned above. The cheapest quotes ranged from $704 to $432. Nevermind which was cheapest (oh, okay, it was Expedia), because you never know from day to day which sites will find the cheapest flights.

Check at least three places. In this case, it would mean a savings of $272. The flight durations are within minutes of each other, by the way, and the food is probably equally bad on all the flights.

Flexibility For Even Cheaper Airfare

The more flexible you are, the better your chance of getting a really cheap plane tickets. Try different departure and return dates if you can. Check the box "2 or more connecting flights". Mark the "anytime" departure, even if you don't want to leave at midnight - the savings might change your mind. Try all the options. If the savings aren't enough, you can always book first class, direct flights, or whatever you prefer.

Really Cheap Plane Tickets - More Ways

You can buy two tickets. The cheapest airfare from Grand Rapids, Michigan to Tucson, Arizona costs $451 roundtrip right now. Las Vegas to Tucson is only $161, however, and there are regular $199 specials to Vegas from Grand Rapids. It's up to you whether saving $91 is worth booking two flights. (It saved us over $1000 when we went to South America.) There is the problem of whether you'll get a refund if your timing is off on the connections (you probably won't).

Check for package deals, where you pay for plane tickets and your hotel room. I haven't had much luck with these deals, but it can't hurt to look at them.

Buying ahead of time gets you cheaper plane tickets. Any thing less than a week away tends to be expensive, although you never can tell in the mysterious realm of airfare pricing. Sometimes the "last minute specials" are the best thing going.

Priceline still has their "Name Your Own Price" feature. Make your bid, and the airlines say yes or no, depending on whether they have empty seats to fill. First search for the cheapest tickets you can find, then bid lower than that. If your bid is rejected, you can return to the website where you found the best deal and book it.

If You're Really Cheap

My wife and I once took a bus from Michigan to Miami, and flew from there to Ecuador. For us at that time, saving a couple hundred dollars was worth 38 hours on a bus. This won't save you much on domestic flights. Right now, for example, taking a bus from Traverse City to Detroit, then flying to Los Angeles, would only save about $70 (allowing for cab fare to the airport) over flying directly.

There are other options beyond the scope of this article. Courier flights, for example, can be a great deal if you don't mind letting a company use your baggage allowance (you get carry-on only). There are also stand-by deals and last minute deals and other ways to get really cheap plane tickets. Good luck!

Steve Gillman hit the road at sixteen, and traveled the U.S. and Mexico alone at 17. Now 40, he travels with his wife Ana, whom he met in Ecuador. For more on cheap plane tickets, and to read their stories, tips and travel information, visit: http://www.EverythingAboutTravel.com

---

Boeing is Really Flying Now

The Boeing Company has completely blown past projections for aircraft... Read More

Private Jet Ownership Indeed

Wouldn't you like to own your own private jet? Have... Read More

Essential Oil Skin Care Tips for Frequent Fliers

Are you one of those people that has lots and... Read More

Flying VS Driving

When fuel costs are so high, people favor flying to... Read More

Cactus Fly-In, Casa Grande AZ

Every year in Arizona is the Cactus Fly-in which is... Read More

Cracking Aircraft Windows with Directed Sound Waves

Today our modern military scientists have found many uses for... Read More

Really Cheap Plane Tickets

To begin with, the best place to buy really cheap... Read More

I Am Afraid Of Flying; You Are Not Getting Me A Light Plane

Boy I have heard it all from my friends. I... Read More

Jet Lag ? 5 Pre-travel Steps to Reduce the Effects of Jet Lag

Ask any regular long-haul flyer about their experience of flying... Read More

New Airbus A-380 Beats Out 747

The A-380 has beat out the Boeing 747 as a... Read More

Secrets to Finding Really Cheap Airline Tickets Online

Knowing where to find really cheap airline tickets is the... Read More

Business Aviation Networking Notes

The process of finding out about a job, getting interviewed,... Read More

Jet Lag - 7 Steps To A Successful Trip

Don't let jet lag spoil that much needed holiday trip... Read More

Travel Tips For Getting Through the Airport Easier and Quicker

Traveling is different now than it was before 9/11. Arriving... Read More

Airbus to Build $600 Million Aircraft Manufacturing Plant in US

Airbus has announced that it will build a $600 million... Read More

Helicopters Outfitted With Airbags

You know those airbags in your car? Did you know... Read More

Young Men Trying to Imitate the 9-11 Scenario, Part IV

In conclusion of this young man who crashed a single... Read More

Starting an Aircraft Washing Business

So you love airplanes and you want to start an... Read More

How to Overcome Jetlag

Jetlag seems to be every traveler's worst nightmare ? especially... Read More

Entering Business Aviation, Part II: Pay Rates for Flight Attendants

Pay. You know that aviation pays better than commercial, in... Read More

Finding the Cheapest Airfares

To find the best airfares, it takes a series of... Read More

The History of the Aircraft Wash Guys, Part Two

The continuation of the history of a small service franchise... Read More

Material Memory and NASA High Tech Plastics for Rotor Blades

Some new materials, types of plastics seem to be stronger... Read More

Entering Business Aviation, Part IV: Crafting a Resume

Writing a résumé can be one of the most daunting... Read More

The History of the Aircraft Wash Guys, Part One

Business scholars and students throughout recent periods have studied the... Read More

Preventing Rapid Decompression In Commercial Airliners

In Flight Airline Rapid Decompression Breached Window (Airline Safety)Here is... Read More

The Wright Brothers

Orville and Wilbur Wright were mere bicycle mechanics, yet they... Read More

Learning to Fly

Flying is fun. I learned to fly myself when I... Read More

Is your air traffic control person real?

Have you ever been flying around in your private plane... Read More

The History of the Aircraft Wash Guys, Part Three

As we study this grass roots history of a franchise... Read More

Budget Airlines ? Cheap Airfares for Flights around Europe can Reduce Your Vacation Costs

Here's a good tip to help cut the cost of... Read More

Really Cheap Airline Tickets

When you're looking for airline tickets to your specific destination,... Read More

Airline Travel Lingo! Does The Language Need An Interpreter?

With airline travel increasing in record numbers, more people are... Read More