The Best Ways to Buy Airline Tickets

Airline tickets are available from many different venues. (Photo: Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images )

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Fifty years ago there was only one basic way to purchase airline tickets. You went to a travel agent, who would search the listings for all available flights and sell you a seat for your chosen travel date. The travel agency monopoly is gone now, and the average person can choose multiple methods for buying airline tickets. The best way for you to buy a ticket depends entirely on your particular travel needs.

Save Money

Savvy travelers know that the best way to save money on airline tickets is by comparison shopping at least three months in advance. If you know when you'll be traveling and are willing to spend an hour or two online, you can find the least expensive ticket to your destination. Check ticket meta-search engines such as Kayak, Skyscanner or Fly.com. Look on the airline's sites for the same flights, as they sometimes offer cheaper seats than the meta searches. Switching back and forth between sites will involve some note-taking and time spent on the computer, but it's a proven way to find inexpensive airline tickets.