One of the best things about having a friend who works in the airline industry is having the chance to buy discount air tickets. When I was in my 20s, it was much harder for me to get discount airfares. I remember the summer of my senior year very well. All I really wanted to do was to graduate and then head off to Europe. The best discount air ticket that I could get, however, still cost me well over 1000 dollars! I actually spent more on that flight than I did on the entire rest of the trip.
When my mom heard how much I spent on it, she was shocked. She is one of those moms who specializes in getting cheap air fares, free dinners, and discounts on just about everything. I don’t know how she did it, but the next time I wanted to take a trip, she actually managed to get me discount air tickets that saved about $200! She told me that it was a simple matter of calling all of the airlines and making sure to check at the right times of day. It seemed like nonsense and superstition to me, but I could not argue with the results – a pair of discount air tickets for me and my fiancée to take a vacation to China!
Of course, it is a lot easier than it used to be to get discount air tickets, even if you do not have a friend who works for the airlines. A lot of people swear by sites like travelocity, but I like to take my mom’s approach. The key is to look at all of the individual airline websites and check back frequently. You never know when discount air tickets will go on sale, and the sale might not last long. Some of the airlines are notorious for cheap last minute tickets. If you do not keep an eye out, they will be gone before you even see them!
The most important thing about finding discount air tickets is to understand the travel seasons. To me, finding discount airtickets is almost like buying stocks. Although there is some randomness thrown in, there are also some pretty regular fluctuations in price. If you know where they are, you can buy tickets when they are at their cheapest. That can really make a difference, especially if you like to go on a lot of flights!
