How To Find Cheap Airline Tickets

Okay, so if you're even pondering the concept of using the net to search for cheap airline tickets you've heard of Orbitz, or perhaps Travelocity, Expedia or Priceline. Before you go running off to the online travel agency with the most expansive commercial campaigns, take a moment to see what the second tier of online travel agencies have to offer.

I was trying to plan a trip to Seattle, Washington and thought I would simply swing by Orbitz and find the cheapest airline tickets possible. I mean the prices must be nearly the same at all the big online travel agency sites, right?

I searched throw possible flights and connections, then did the same at a few other of the hugest airline ticket websites on the net. And yes, the prices were nearly identical. Though the extra fees and some other minor flight details were different, the prices and itinerary were pretty much the same.

I was less than impressed with the results of these so-called bargain airline tickets sites. I mean I'm used to being able to find the best bargains on the web and sincerely thought I would have turned up a better airline ticket deal in the two or three hours I spent pouring over the biggies like Expedia. The thing that irked me is that the prices weren't that much lower than buying them directly from the airlines no matter how far in advance I tried to book flight.

Finally, after adding copious amounts of secondary search terms to my Google search, I found a handful of travel websites that had lower prices. I quickly determined that there existed a somewhat lesser known circle of travel websites that offered the same range of somewhat lower airline ticket prices than all the big sites.

I ended up saving a couple hundred bucks on two tickets between Houston and Seattle, roundtrip. Though this is only a fraction of what the whole trip cost, it was worth it to me. I'll always go with one of the lesser known cheap airline tickets websites. Just keep adding search terms to your search until you quit seeing the same top travel websites in the results and before you know it you'll find the extra cheap airline tickets you're looking for.

Why Air Charters Are Flying High

Let's face it – while commercial air carriers are more economical from a standpoint of financial cost, if you are in a field in which time equals money, chances are you won't come out ahead by taking a scheduled commercial flight. Commercial flights operate on their own schedules, and are confined to certain routes that may require that you fly to destinations that are out of the way and actually change planes – increasing the chance that luggage will be misdirected, or even lost.

This is just once you get onboard. If you have had any experience flying commercially in the past five years, you know about the endless lines, the strip-searches, the check-in lines...all of which add up to wasted time that might better have been spent preparing for that all-important presentation or business meeting.

Even once you're on board and in your seat, is it possible to get any sort of meaningful work in a typical airline seat? It's doubtful. Today, you are crammed into a noisy, cramped cabin with anywhere from 100 to 350 other chattering, fidgeting passengers – and even first class or business class is no panacea.

This brings us to the subject of comfort. Commercial airlines typically operate on a narrow profit margin, therefore, it is in their interest to pack as many people on each flight as possible. Small wonder that reports of passenger rudeness and even violent behavior has increased in recent years. It's not only uncomfortable, it's unhealthy. How many of your fellow passengers are ill with bronchitis, the common cold, or worse? In addition, water systems in commercial airliners often contain bacteria, since these systems are not always flushed out regularly. Would you really want a drink with ice cubes made from that water?

With a privately chartered flight, you not only travel in greater comfort, you are in greater control. Many charter companies can have an aircraft ready to take you anywhere in the world with as little as four hours' advance notice – and that means anywhere. Charter flights can take off and land from virtually any runway in the world, whereas commercial airlines are confined to about 500, internationally. Depending on your flight budget, you can charter a small piston-engine plane that can take you up to 1,300 miles in about three hours quite economically, or hire a private jet that can take up to 14 people in comfort to any destination within a 4,300 mile radius in less than eight hours – no lines, no changing planes, no lost luggage – and no headaches.