How Can I Find A Good Deal On An International Long-haul Flight?

There are lots of useful tips for saving money on flights abroad. It's important to be realistic, though; often fares that sound too good to be true have heavy restrictions. Always read the fine print.  

Booking early will often result in lower fares. As more seats are sold, the remaining tickets are at a premium and this is reflected in the price.  Booking at least 30 days in advance can result in significant savings.  There is a flip side though; if a fare is beyond your budget, it may be worth waiting or shopping around.  As well as increasing in price, fares are sometimes lowered.

It may seem like a guessing game, but shopping around with many different agents or airlines will give you an idea of a realistic price for the trip you have in mind.  Also, sometimes it is possible to reserve tickets for a short period of time.  This will allow you to 'hold' the tickets while you shop around.  Make absolutely sure what the requirements are though, so that your reservation doesn't automatically default into a purchase.

Due to fewer travellers mid-week, tickets for flights on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday may be cheaper. Mondays and Fridays are sometimes more expensive. Saturdays and Sunday travel usually costs more because it is the most popular time to fly. Also, often airlines offer cheaper tickets for those who stay over a Saturday night.

Other factors which affect the price are your choice of airports, airlines, times and the dates for travel.  Internet travel sites allow you to adjust all these factors to see how it affects the price.  When you find flights you like, you can book online.  Some travel websites are expedia.com, Travelocity.com and lastminute.com.  Special discounts for students are available at statravel.com. The number of variations in creating your trip may seem endless, but the extra time you put into research can result in a substantial savings. Once you have booked your trip, consider registering for the airlines free miles programme. It could help you to save on future travel.