Cheap International Airfare

Package It

Purchasing your hotel accommodations, sightseeing, and ground transportation in conjunction with your flight can often save you money. Tour companies, such as Brendan Tours for Europe and Ireland and Orient Holidays for Asia, offer significantly lower airfares when purchased with one of their tour packages. If you're afraid of package tours because you have visions of traveling on a tour bus with forty other people, don't worry. Many "tours" are actually individual arrangements that the company purchases in bulk and therefore is able to price attractively.

Book Early. Book Late

Generally speaking, the best airfare prices go to those who book early. Most international flights divide their coach section into different price levels, with the least expensive level selling first. It pays to book charter flights and consolidator airfare early also, as these types of airfare have very limited seats.

The exception to this rule is the cheap international airfare offered weekly on major airline Internet sites. These fares are offered at the last minute – usually within a week of departure – and only a few city pairs are offered each week. Some weeks, there are no international airfare specials.

Travel Off-Season

Overseas airfares vary up to 50 percent between the peak and off-peak seasons. To travel to Europe from North American, that means travel from mid-October to mid-April with extra savings offered in January, February, and early March. From North America to Southeast Asia, the off-season is November and December.

Consider a Consolidator

Consolidators are companies that buy excess seats from major airlines and sell them below the regular published fare. Companies, such as Bargain Travel, can save you up to 30 percent on airfare.

Restrictions are usually tight and most of these types of airfares are non-refundable. Some of the major airline privileges, such as advance seat assignments and special meal requests may not apply with these airfares.

Charter Flights

Charter flights are flights leased by travel companies to sell as their own. Generally, these types of flights operate only from major airports, such as New York City or Chicago, to popular destinations, such as London or Paris. Frequently, but not always, these flights are offered in conjunction with hotel, tour, and/or sightseeing arrangements.

Charters are usually nonrefundable and do not operate on a regular schedule. Often only one or two flights are offered per week and usually only during the peak travel season.

Use a Travel Agent

Using a travel agent is a good way to find cheap international airfare. Because he works with travel all day long, a good agent will be able to sift through the myriad of options to find the deals that are best for your needs. He can also alert you when a good price becomes available as well as advise you on documentation needs, sightseeing, and hotel accommodations, saving you time.