It is becoming easier and easier for people with basic internet and computer literacy to book their own flights online and to get the best price—if you know what to look for.  Read on for tips to help you book your next flight from the comfort of your home, so you can sleep well at night knowing you’ve secured the best possible price.

Keep Clicking

Booking your flight online is an endurance sport:  it’s very unlikely (it has never happened to me in my seven year online flight booking history) that you will find the best price, or even the best flight, on your first search.  Be prepared to look around for a few hours.  You should also be prepared to check prices over a period of time, if you are booking your vacation in advance.  By leaving yourself enough time to watch the market, you can find the right flight for the right price.

There are a few websites that can help reduce your search time.  Sites like Kayak will do multiple searches for you at the same time.  Kayak.com does not sell flights; you’ll be redirected to the airline or travel vendor if you want to book a flight.

Or there are the stand-bys, Expedia and Travelocity, where you can search multiple airlines at the same time.

Other options include search travel agency websites, to discover flight options, try Travel Cuts.

While it is the most time consuming, searching individual airlines may provide you with your best bet.  Start with a broad search in order to get an idea of what the field looks like, then slowly start narrowing down your online search.  Remember to keep a record of the flights and prices you find, so that after you’re done clicking the search button and you’re ready to make a purchase that you can find your perfect flight again!

Shop the Price Around

Once you’ve found the right flight, don’t book immediately!  There are a few more steps to help you get the best price.

Shop the price around by searching other competitors for that exact flight.  If you found the flight using a wide search engine like Kayak, check the airline’s website to see if buying direct can save you a few dollars.  If you found your flight by searching with Air Canada, U.S. Airways, Air France, try searching a discount retailer to see if you can secure a seat sale.

Are You Flexible?

Being flexible with your dates can save you tons of money, sometimes as much as several hundred dollars for changing your dates from Friday to Thursday.  So if you can be flexible with your travel dates, don’t forget to search alternate dates for a better price.  The rule of thumb is that traveling mid-week is cheaper than traveling on Monday or Friday and that traveling on Monday or Friday is cheaper than traveling on the weekend.  But there are always exceptions to the rule.

Some websites allow you to search alternate days using the main search engine.  If you have this opportunity, do it.  If not, it’s still worth your while to try searching alternate days to see if you can decrease your bottom dollar.

Beware of Service Charges

A good price can easily go wrong after the service charges have been added.  While there are some service charges that you cannot avoid, no matter who you book from, such as Airport Taxes or Fuel Surcharges, you can still keep your price low by avoiding extra service charges.

Booking fees are a prime example of service charges that you can and should avoid.  If the price is 20$ lower at a discount retailer but they charge you 25$ in service charges, book directly with the airline.  Most discount retailers have been waiving their service charges in order to be more competitive.  Don’t pay more than you have to for your flight!

Cyber Flight

Booking your flight online yourself isn’t always the easiest way to fly, but it can be rewarding.  By finding the best price on the most convenient flight, you can travel longer and cut down on travel hassles.  Find the right flight and enjoy getting to your next vacation!