How to find the cheapest airfare?
Getting the cheapest flights
How to find the cheapest airfare calls for smart gaming of the system. In addition to the usual book-your-flight weeks in advance, The Economist suggests another strategy or two and cautions that social media are beginning to change the rules.
"LAST AUGUST, Gulliver told you about the "eight-week rule" for buying airline tickets. According to Makoto Watanabe, the cheapest time to book your flight, all else being equal, is about eight weeks before you plan to leave. It's a good one-step rule. But what else should you take into account when trying to get a great deal on an expensive flight? The Wall Street Journal's Scott McCartney has some suggestions. Bottom line: if you buy your tickets midweek (i.e., Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday), you can save a bundle. One expert, FareCompare.com's Rick Seaney, has even pinpointed an ideal time to buy: 3 p.m. EST on Tuesday. So why do fares work this way, anyway?..."
