How to Book Airfare

(Photo: OnlineГѓВјberweisung image by PhilK from Fotolia.com )

Related Articles

Items you will need

• Computer with Internet access Credit card

Step 1

Determine your dates of travel and your departure and arrival cities. You need to decide whether you will fly out of your local airport (if there is one) or out of a nearby airport. Usually, the larger the airport, the lower the airfare, since it can accommodate a wider variety of airlines. The same goes for your destination city: It might be cheaper to fly into a nearby larger airport, and then take a car, bus or train to your final destination.

Step 2

Search websites such as farecompare.com, travelocity.com or expedia.com to compare offers from different airlines according to your dates and cities of travel. The more flexible you can be with your dates, the better chance you have of finding cheaper airfare. Also check travelzoo.com for the latest sales, discounts and package deals from domestic and international airlines. You might find an excellent airfare and hotel package that will save you money, especially if you already had planned to book a hotel separately.

Step 3

Choose the airfare that best suits your time line and budget, selecting either directly from an airline s website or from an online travel agency. Make sure to double-check the flight cities, times and dates, as well as any layovers. Write this information down before you proceed. Additionally, write down a phone number from the website that you can call in case you have any questions. Sometimes, booking directly from an airline can be useful if you come across a problem and need to speak to someone. If you book from a travel agency website, you might have to go through several representatives before your problem is solved.

Submit your payment information on the website using your credit card. You might be charged extra for certain types of credit cards, so check before purchasing. Some websites offer travel insurance, car rental, speedy boarding, seat reservation, baggage check-in and other extra services for which you will be charged. If you don t need any of these services, be sure to uncheck the box for each service, or you will be charged for them.

Alternatively, you can call a travel agency or an airline to book airfare. However, most airlines will charge a booking fee for reserving a ticket over the phone instead of online. You can find phone numbers for travel agencies and airlines in your phone book or online. Search for travel agencies at websites such as travelsense.org.