There are several things to consider when searching for affordable airline tickets.
First of all, determine when you are going to travel. Be flexible in scheduling your flights, since airfare is lowest during "off season". Late night flights (or red-eye flights), early morning flights, or flights with more than one stop are usually sold at discounted prices. Likewise, flights during midweek (Tuesday to Thursday) are priced lower than weekend flights. Whenever possible, book your tickets early (at least three to four weeks prior to departure) to take advantage of advanced-ticket discounts.
You can start searching for the lowest airfare by asking your travel agent to look for bargain tickets for your travel itinerary. A travel consolidator may also offer cheaper airline tickets, but you have to make sure that you understand the restrictions and conditions that come with purchasing the airline tickets. Among these restrictions may be inconvenient travel time, too many stops, or extra charges for flight changes. A lot of newspapers, magazines, and travel catalogues are also good sources for finding bargain airline tickets. Joining a travel club and signing up for group travel are other good ideas when looking for cheap airfare. However, these flights are usually booked in advance and there may be penalties, should you decide to change your itinerary later.
Surfing the internet for airline tickets is undoubtedly one of the best ways to find and compare airline tickets for the lowest prices. Since there are a lot of online travel companies that offer extra deals when you purchase your airline tickets with them, prices for these tickets have become more competitive and lower than ever. But before you decide to purchase your airline tickets on the web, it would be wise to ask your travel agent if he/she can get you lower priced tickets with the help of their travel agency.