Four great ways to get cheap domestic flights

It seems that airline prices are always on the rise, and it keeps getting harder to find cheap flights. However, there are several tips which seasoned travelers use in order to get the best deals every time, especially if you're able to be flexible with your dates.

Mid-Week Flights

When compared to weekend flights, any flights that are scheduled during the week always end up being cheaper, without fail. This because there are fewer passengers flying and the airlines are in a hurry to fill vacant seats. When at all possible, try to stay flexible when planning your trip days, which will let you get the cheapest flights available. Historically, Mondays bring much lower prices than Fridays, so try and avoid flying out before the weekend crunch.

Buy on Wednesdays

Even if you can't actually fly out mid-week, Wednesdays are the best time to buy cheap flights. This is because most airlines book the bulk of their flights on Mondays and Tuesdays. Tuesday night is when airlines update their booking computers, so when Wednesday morning comes there are plenty of deals to be had.

Last-Minute Deals

You will often be able to get a great deal by buying just before your departure date, as long as you aren't too nervous to leave it until the very last minute before buying your airline tickets. Of course there is a bit of risk involved in this strategy, as the flights may be booked, so you have to be a bit of a gambler. The other alternative is to buy your flights far in advance, at least three weeks before departure.

Fly Nearby

Finally, don't forget to check nearby cities and airports to see if you may be able to get less expensive tickets to someplace close to your destination. It may be cheaper to rent a car for the final leg than fly direct. There may also be smaller local airlines which you can utilize to keep flight costs low.

There are lots of ways to save money on your next trip as long as you're willing to be creative and think outside the usual airline box. Real cheap flights are still out there, you just have to know where and how to look.

Cheap car rental services is available but only if you prebook

There's a very simple rule in this world of predatory sellers. If they think you are desperate, the price goes up. Just picture the scene. You quickly packed a bag, ran down to the airport and got on the plane. Now you have arrived with a crowd of others and begin queuing at the nearest rental agent's stand in the airport lobby. When you finally get to the counter, there are only a few of the most expensive, top-of-the-range vehicles available to drive away. If you could wait. . . but, obviously, you are in a hurry. Then there are additional fees to cover the paperwork. The price just keeps going up and up. So, to protect yourself against being gouged, you should always prebook as far in advance as possible.

Let's start with a quick summary of the reasons for advance booking. No matter how many times you see the advice, it remains true. Shopping around really does save you money. This site offers you access to multiple car rental companies, all of which are competing for your business. That gives them all an incentive to keep the rental rates low. Now check whether the airline or travel agency is offering a package deal of flight plus cheap car rental (and possibly plus accommodation). If that's the case, you could make a bigger saving instead of buying direct. Or perhaps your credit card or some other affiliate group to which you belong has a promotional offer on car rental. Or perhaps you belong to a loyalty program or your air miles reward program can be used to pay for the car rental.

Then take a further moment or two to check out the off-site rental agencies. Yes, you will have to take the airport shuttle bus or a taxi, which can cost you a few dollars, but often the more distant sites have really cheap car rental offers. If there's any doubt about whether it's going to be easy to get to the location to collect the vehicle or you are worried about finding additional fees, a quick telephone call will usually resolve matters. Remember the rental companies located at airports always have higher rates. Protect yourself and drive away the car you booked, at the time you booked, at reduced rates.