Where to Get Cheap Airline Tickets

With the advent of the Internet, buying an airline ticket has never been faster or easier. Finding a good deal for a flight to anywhere around the world is only a few clicks away, if you know where to look.

The easiest way to find the best prices for airline tickets is to go through a couple of travel/airfare search engines. I've had good luck getting cheap airline tickets from some of the following airfare search engines:

1)Kayak & Yapta- These two sites allow you to search for a flight to a designated location with specific or flexible dates. The results are sorted from lowest to highest price. However, these sites are not commissioned to issue airline tickets. They only list fares for airlines listed through other travel sites such as Priceline, Travelocity and Orbitz. They are good places to start a search for flight deals to a location that you already have in mind.

2) Travelocity, Orbitz and Expedia- These are good places to get some good airfare deals if you don't have a clear plan on where to go. You can look under "Travel Deals" or "Last Minute Packages" for ideas and prices. You can also search for a flight to a specific location, but you are better off running a search off Kayak first for prices on other search engines.

Due to increasing competition, all three companies have recently dropped their booking fees, which makes purchasing flights a better deal.

All three services try to differentiate their services from one another with special features. One good thing about Orbitz is that they now have "Price Assurance" available, which means that if the price of your ticket drops in price after your purchase but before your travel date, Orbitz will refund the difference.

And Expedia has teamed up with Citibank to provide "Thank You" points for eligible purchases through their site. For frequent fliers, this could allow you to rack up points for free flights and hotel stays.

3) Priceline- For flexible travelers, Priceline is where you can score the best deals. You can name your own price for a ticket to a particular destination. If there is availability, they will notify you. There is no guarantee that you will get a ticket for that price, however. Hotwire allows you to do the same for hotel rooms if you are also looking for places to stay.

Please click here for more good advice about cheap airline tickets and other good deals.

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Book your cheap airline tickets

These days air traveling is getting quite popular among the people. If at all you want to travel through airline, you must know from where to gab the cheap airline tickets regarding your destination. As the airline tickets are getting costlier day by day due to the hard competition among the various airline companies. Because of huge airfares it is really tuff for middle class family to travel. And only few people who can easily afford for an air ticket. Online booking of airline tickets have just make their task easier.

How to get cheap airline booking

1. A quick research on internet is quite helpful for you to know about the cheap airline booking regarding your destination.
2. You must collect the information for the suitable airline which provides you the better service according to requirements.

3. Make always reservation in advance to get the full advantage and it will cost you cheap.
4. Always compare the tickets from different airline companies to get cheap airline booking online. There are so many airline companies who provide you the most relevant and cheap air tickets to make sure you the best deal and services.
5. You can grab the cheapest tickets through online booking on special occasions, off season and festivals.
6. You may get discount packages if you reserve your tickets online in advance.
7. Also gets the information regarding the cancellation of ticket if you stop your trip or due to delay, you must know that much you are going to lose.

Benefits of online booking airline tickets

1. Cheap airline booking provides you the facility to check prices of different airfares from multiple airline companies.

2. You need not to go physically to the airline companies to book your tickets as you reserve your ticket through booking online air tickets.
3. You can also get free vouchers with the help of online booking air tickets.
4. You can plan your vacation to your destination in advance through internet research. Also you can grab different combinations of airline tickets including with hotel reservations.

About Author:
I am webmaster of http://www.atozcheapairlines.com/ that offer cheap airline booking services, last minute airline booking, cheap airline tickets at last minute of your travel.

Online Cheap Tickets

In the period of globalization, traveling by airlines is preferred by a lot of people nowadays because of the convenience and time saving factor. But it is the rates of airline tickets, which vary from one location to other and the travelers, look forward for the best airfare deals as far as air travel is concerned. Cheap airline tickets can be found in many places, and a lot of the bargain hunting involves good timing. If a traveler is on the lookout for really cheap airline tickets he should keep certain factors in mind before proceeding. However it is not a hard task to look out for cheap tickets, little bit of experience and research works can help you to track the right kind of airfare you are looking out for.

Looking out for a cheap airline ticket would be a neat skill to learn, as most of the airline tickets are not always cheap. An online travel site or Internet has proved to be the best resource to find the cheap tickets on you airlines. As mentioned above airline tickets are not always cheap, it is when the Internet comes in handy. Generally there are various causes that lead in the price hike and the most common factors that effects the airfare includes its destination, fuel costs, date of travel, etc, however, the number one factor is "timing". Travelers may come across a wide vertical of websites featuring on various ways in finding online cheap tickets. Several online travel sites offer bargain deals, discount rates, cheap airline tickets and many more special attractions. Apart from finding online cheap tickets, a travel site promotes various travel search engines, trip planners, tourist guides and tourist boards.

Searching for online cheap tickets is a good start in finding super cheap flights. The advance modern technologies allows for the best prices available in the market. If you don't have any access to Internet, there are travel agents also using Internet for looking for cheap airline ticket. Such travel sites are very convenient among travelers having no time going treasure hunting with cheap airfare. It is therefore well advise to the travelers to visit such travel agents and gain an idea where to get those cheap airline tickets. There are various advantages if you book your airline tickets from any well known travel agents, they know a lot of industry secrets, they may have knowledge where to look and where to get a cheaper airline ticket. Sometimes they even come up with packages, special offers, and package deals. Online agencies give travelers easy access to competitive airline pricing all on one page.

Online cheap tickets are easily available if your airline tickets well in advance. Advance booking enhances a traveler to get a better deal; sometime it is beneficial to do this if you know airfare wars are going on at that time. Once you have decided where to go for a trip, try to get your ticket while you know fares are lower. In case of emergency situation, there are last minutes offers given by the airline department, ask for such offers. It is a good idea to try this especially if your travel plans are flexible and you have a few different flights or airlines to choose from.

Once you have decided to book your airline tickets online, don't forget to go for comparison-shopping. There are various travel sites offering information on plenty of airfare, discount offers and much more. It is therefore wise to check out 2-3 travel sites before booking the right deal sometimes comparing two or three sites can give you brief idea about the ongoing airfare. Airline companies also make use of the Internet to send their services in giving their costumers quick access on the special offers and flight schedules. Make use of online sites you can have quick access to night and day schedules and its respective prices. Online cheap tickets are available during off-hours than peak hours. Try to book your online tickets during weekdays, as there is less traffic that allows getting cheap tickets. Also buying a return online ticket often results in savings for a flier.
tom cena

Globester provides cheap tickets to popular USA and International Destinations around the world. You can search your
Amsterdam flights online and get detailed information about cheap flights to world and plan your trip ahead. All you need pack your bags to explore best regions which you have not seen.

Tips For Finding Cheap Flights, Booking Cheap Tickets And Traveling On Low-Cost Airlines

The no-frills airline, launched by Southwest in the 1980s, is no longer a U.S. phenomena. Low cost carriers are popping up around the world. They are taking over domestic and international routes throughout Europe and Asia and select routes in South America, Africa and the Middle East. A few even operate intercontinental flights. And many are profitable.

Yet there is a flip side to cheap tickets. Travelers can spend a significant amount of time scouring the web for the best deal. Not all countries have a low cost carrier and not all airports are serviced by a discount airline. Many low-fare companies cannot be booked through on-line agencies or consolidators, such as Expedia, Orbitz and Lastminute. Promotional offers are usually limited and expire on a daily if not hourly basis. And when you finally find a flight, it is difficult to compare the offering.

The following tips will reduce your search time and prepare you for any additional travel time.

Research

• Determine which carriers service the route you wish to fly. Many airport web sites include a route map as well as a list of carriers. Alternatives will only become apparent if you check the web site of both airports, arrival and departure.

• If you are traveling abroad or within a foreign country or continent, identify local on-line agencies and consolidators of discount airfares.

• Low cost carriers often use secondary airports. Verify distance and ground transportation before you book. Most low-fare carriers and many consolidators provide such information on their web sites.

• Many low-fare carriers offer point-to-point service. It may not be possible to check-in for a second flight at a transit desk. Thus you may need to build-in time between flights to accommodate any passport formalities, claim your luggage and check-in for the second leg of your journey.

• Security precautions introduced by major credit card companies may limit your ability to book flights on foreign web sites.

Getting the best deal

• Initiate your search with on-line agencies and consolidators.

• Subscribe to the airline and to the consolidator's newsletter.

• Utilize services that enable you to set a price, such as the Orbitz "Deal Detector". Orbitz will send an email if fares on the route you select drop to the price level you set. The service is available for free.

• Use the consolidator as a tool. Book directly with airline. This may reduce the service charge without affecting the fare.

Comparing fares

• Low cost fares are often quoted on a one-way basis.

• Taxes, handling fees and other surcharges are not always included in the initial price. Click through to the final page to effectively compare cost.

• Airfare may be quoted in the airline or consolidator's local currency only. Converting fares to a single currency will facilitate comparison.

Before you depart

• Pack a lunch or a snack and drinks for all. Food and drinks are no longer included in the price of the ticket!

• Arrive at the airport early if you want to sit next to your companion and the kids. Seating is likely to be open and boarding is oftentimes based on the order in which passengers' check-in.

About the Author:

Ann LoCicero is the founder of www.kidscantravel.com an emergent website for families intent on making the most of their leisure time together.
Copyright © more2explore S.r.l. All rights reserved.
Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Cheap Flights - The Best Strategy Ever

Well, there are many strategies that I have explored in my articles in order to get always the cheapest flights, but some of them can't give the maximum performance if one single idea is not followed at 100%.

Do you want to know which one is it? Focus.

Leaving apart the airlines world for a second, being a person involved in an online traveling business, I have experienced a bit of everything. You spend hours and hours trying to find out which methods will work better, what marketing strategies will take a lot of money from you giving nothing in return while you could have chosen another one for free that would have brought good results...

Seriously, in a world where all the options are in front of us, the most difficult decision is to really choose the right one and not all of them at same time. We certainly have too many options. And after having tried thousands of ways with no result, suddenly you discover something: you are trying here, trying there, a bit of that, a small portion of this, a little amount of that other...

What do you expect? Sure you are not going to get a serious relationship with your wife in that way! Jokes apart, trying a bit of everything is something that needs to be done at the beginning, to know what the market offers (and don't get offended as I am no longer talking about women, OK?). After we know the chances, the mistake is to follow up with all them at the same time.

And it is a very big mistake, as you will never go deep enough in order to know if the method produced results or not. And guess what! Nearly every method, if it is used nowadays and there is people who are able to work with it, can work also for you.

The difference between the winners and the losers is always a problem of focus. A winner will take a look, and go step by step focusing in a method until it arrives deep in it and succeeds. Then it can be time to try something new.

What this has to do with airlines? Everything. I have heard so many times people telling me that they have already looked at the main 10 search engines on the net, and that they are not able to find a price below a certain amount. Do you know their problem? They don't focus. Once you do a search, some airlines appear on the screen with different prices. Use this information! Write down all the names of airlines that connect your locations and go search one by one on their web-pages.

What you need to check? The dates you want to travel, the dates before and after, the hot deals section, the frequent flying program... Even the alliances with other airlines can be a good support in order to decide, as you could be thinking in accumulating points for future travel. Subscribe to the hot deals e-mailing, to any kind of feed they have, in order to be the first to get their offers and catch this extra low cost seat.

Don't have time to do all this? Well, you can spend some more time reading my articles and you will discover ways to get flights for free and 4-star hotels and cruises where you will pay only the taxes and small redemption fees for travel certificates. If even this sounds like too much, get somebody to focus for you!

To find out more on planning your trip for the cheaper price to Europe or South Pacific, you can look at: Travel to Europe

To find hotel nights and cruises where you only will pay the taxes, you can visit: Travel to Europe

For general information on traveling around the world: Travel Addicts

Dani Alonso

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dani_Alonso

Cheap Air Tickets – Making Vacation Less Costly

Travel by air is one of the expensive ways of traveling. But at the same time, it is time saving, very convenient and comfortable. One of the expensive parts of a vacation is the airfare to get the traveler to his destination. Cheap vacation air travel can be difficult to find if not looked in the right places. Cheap vacation airline tickets can be easily located with the help of the Internet, but the prices may vary from one location to another. Various airlines can be checked to find the best deal. Travel agents can help the traveler in finding the best discount on the vacation airline tickets. To get a cheap airline ticket and to save money, all that the person needs to do is to search for airfares that are cheap and knowing the fact that the same airline ticket may be available at different rates in different web sites will help the traveler to do extensive search in the possible websites. The other way is to find a destination near to the place of the vacation for which the air fare will be cheaper. The person can either take a connecting flight to the place of vacation or can find out other ways to commute to the place.

Last minute travel deals are beneficial to many, as many air lines are forced to sell the tickets at lower rates in order to fill up the vacant seats. People who are lucky enough can get hold of such tickets.

It should be noted that cheap vacation air line tickets may have many kinds of limitations such as that the traveler cannot switch from one airline to another and that he may not be allowed to change the date of departure as it might create problems in doing so. If the changes are inevitable the airlines offering cheap airline tickets might charge an extra fee. This last minute vacation airline deals may be suitable for people who have retired from their jobs and their only recreation is to travel. Connecting flights offer cheaper air tickets than the non-stop flights. Also it is good to purchase a vacation package that includes lodging, airfares sight seeing etc. Such kind of vacation packages is very cost effective and save a lot of money on the vacation trips.

The best day to buy cheapest vacation tickets is on Tuesdays as at the midnight and on Wednesdays early in the morning most of the airlines release their new prices on air tickets. Some times a best deal can be got on the days of popular holidays like the New Year, Christmas, and Thanksgiving Day etc. Normally the airfares are the lowest during the mid of January till the mid of February, from April to May and from mid of September to mid of October. Looking for a new airline will get great offers on vacation air tickets as the new airline will offer the best price to make the travelers their regular customers and also to offer them the first experience with their air crew.

By: Lesley Lyon

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Lesley Lyon is an expert writer in tourism and travel related topics. He regularly contributes articles to www.bestdealsononline.com that carries very useful info on cheap air tickets and www.holidayassistance.com/ that deals with cruises.

Cheap Airline Tickets Only a Click Away

With its easiness, greater access and no hassles, online ticket bookings have become really popular. To get a comfortable and affordable travel, doing a ground research on types of flying options, price ranges, and other associated benefited can prove really helpful. These days, lots of low cost airlines have arrived with their user-friendly offers. To avail these offers, you have to visit their websites regularly and register yourself with them. Sometimes, to get a full pack flight at the last moment, these low-cost airlines sell their tickets at considerably lower rates. As a result, local travel agents are facing a great competition with these low cost airlines. The greater benefit of buying tickets from the websites of low cost airlines is their volume. One can get a major advantage passed by these airlines through the Internet then through a local travel agent.

Availing the best and cheapest air travel offer can be really quick. Generally, the websites of these airlines features options including destination, price range, and schedule to chalk out something special for you. Just enter your details and wait for the transaction to get completed. You will be awarded with an unmatched offer that is planned especially for your air charter travel. Cheap tickets and appropriate discounts, you actually can’t get more of it. When you get satisfied with your arrangement, use the order option and within a short span of time, your ticket will be delivered directly to you. Imagine your happiness of receiving the ticket to your one of the most amazing experience from the comfort of your homes.

So, if you are planning to take a small break to refresh your senses or rejuvenate the lost pleasure, checking out the websites of these low cost charter airlines could be a wise thing to do. Check, compare, think and order to enjoy your vacation to the fullest. Do not wait, log in now and start exploring your option, who knows a golden chance may be waiting for you.

Myself webmaster of http://www.airlineexpo.com, a air charter services information directory for air charter, private & corporate air charter.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Tips to Finding Really Cheap Airline Tickets

Finding really cheap airline tickets online

Looking for a really good deal on flights? Here are some of the best strategies used to find really cheap airline tickets online.

1) Really Cheap Airline Tickets: Last minute flights

Often you’ll find really cheap airline tickets posted at the last minute. Airline hate having open seats and they will often announce a really cheap airline ticket deal hours or somethings a few days before take-off.

2) Really Cheap Airline Tickets: Be Flexible

When you’re looking for really cheap airline tickets the best way to begin your search is but setting yourself a target price. Once you’ve found a really cheap airline ticket, you should work your travel dates around to accommodate the airline ticket special.

3) Really Cheap Airline Tickets: Alternative Airports

Using nearby airports is one of the easiest ways to find really cheap airline tickets.

Shop around for airports since flying into a secondary airport of a major city may be cheaper. For travel to San Francisco, check the fares to Oakland or San Jose. For Chicago, check Midway. For Los Angeles, check Long Beach and Ontario. For Washington, D.C., check Baltimore. For New York City, check Newark.

Click here for more information on finding really cheap airline tickets online.

By Gino Sterling, written many articles on finding really cheap airline tickets online.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gino_Sterling

Cheap Flights To Goa, Kolkata, Amritsar, Ahmedabad, New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai

Take a trip to vibrant, colourful India for the holiday of a lifetime! Book your discounted air fares on line now and receive discounts immediately! Fly into the main hubs of Delhi or Mumbai and then take connecting flights or trains into the rest of India. Rail travel in India has never been more comfortable with most services offering the traveller a choice of First & Second Class, air-conditioned sleeperettes with en-suite bathroom and a personal butler service. Prices are still low so getting around India is a very viable option.

India, being a diversified land of many cultures, religions and hospitality, has always been the first choice for tourists looking for that little bit extra the world over. Romantics will adore visiting the glorious Taj Mahal in Agra, a grand marble monument dedicated to the memory of a great love to neighbouring pink city of Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur where you can stay in the wondrous floating palace! See the stunning yellow domes of the Golden Temple in Amritsar and enjoy the fresh, hot ‘halwa’ which is generously distributed to all worshippers daily. India is not just a land of sights and wonders. It also offers fantastic, white sand beaches and an excellent variety of water sports and speciality massages. From hot stone therapy to cold mud body packs to hot oil being slowly dripped on your forehead in Kerala, there really is no place quite like India.

India has many travel holiday packages to offer. The capital of India, New Delhi, is a green, clean city with many famous tourist sights including the Lotus Temple, Jama Masjid, Red Fort, Qutub Minar and the India Gate (reminiscent of the Parisian Arc de Triomphe). The bloom seasons of February and March make Delhi vibrant, colourful and aromatic. Go further west and modern and fabulously rich Mumbai’s stock market and Mahalakshmi racecourse can make you a millionaire overnight. The Juhu Beach, Fashion Streets, Elephanta Caves, Marine Drive, Gateway of India and Flora Fountain are its major attractions. Enjoy the throbbing pace of the Mumbai nightlife where bumping into a celebrity or two is part of the norm!

QUICK OVERVIEW:

AHMEDABAD:

A variety of habitats coastlands, islands, saline desert plains, forests, hills, lakes, grasslands combined with a location on the migratory route of birds from Europe and West Asia has made Ahmedabad one of the most prolific bird watching areas in all of Asia.

HYDERABAD:

Hyderabad is known for its rich history and culture with monuments, mosques, temples, a rich and varied heritage in arts, crafts and dance.

CHENNAI:

Particularly charming features of Chennai are its allegiance to ancient traditions.

BANGALORE:

The flirtatious city of Bangalore can never stop wooing the people. It is known as the Silicon Valley of India.

KOLKATA:

Kolkata, India’s largest city is now a busy & flourishing city, the centre of cultural as well as political and economic life.

The cheapest flights to New Delhi, Mumbai and various other cities of India are available by online booking at “www.ticketstoindia.co.uk”. It offers air tickets to India top destinations at extremely competitive rates as well as regular discounts and special offers. Trips to India will always continue to be the best option for your Indian vacations. We can also cater for all your Wedding needs. Want to get married like a Rajah or Rani on horse or even elephant back? Want to get married by the sandy shores of Goa whilst flower maidens scatter rose petals at your feet? Amazing wedding packages are now available in India and will leave lasting memories for you and your guests!
About The Author

Mridu Sinha writes about “Air Tickets To India Top Destination ”. Get more information about India flights at www.ticketstoindia.co.uk.

Farecast Helps You Predict Cheap Flights

You know about travel search engines that display the lowest fares airlines are offering today. Now there's a travel engine that can read the airlines' minds.

Farecast.com not only shows you which fares are currently the cheapest, it uses advanced mathematics to predict whether those fares are likely to go up or down in the next few days. If ticket prices are likely to drop, you can save money by waiting to buy until they do.

After years of development and private beta testing starting in 2003, Farecast opened its site to the public for the first time today. The service is far from complete at this early stage. But the features that are already working offer a tempting look at tomorrow's computer programs, which will give you guidance and advice rather than mere data.

Using Farecast to Buy with Confidence

Before Farecast existed, you might start planning a trip using the "flexible dates" features of Orbitz or Travelocity. For example, you might want to fly from Boston to Los Angeles between July 1 and July 30, but you don't have specific dates you must travel on. In a recent search, Orbitz showed prices as low as $367 if you departed on July 18 while Travelocity offered a price of $371 on the same date.

Farecast adds a new and improved wrinkle to your flight planning. Your search at Farecast might proceed like this:

• A month's worth of fares. Farecast shows you the lowest fares currently offered by airlines on each day within any 30-day period you specify. You first select the "Plan Trips" tab on Farecast's home page. If you choose Boston and Los Angeles as your airports -- departing from Boston between July 1 and 31 -- Farecast charts the lowest fares that are available on each date. Since this period includes the busy Independence Day holiday in the U.S., prices soar to a high of $577 on July 1 before dropping to $362 on July 15 and $361 on July 18.

• When to fly, and when to buy. Having decided that July 18 would be a good day to depart, the question becomes: Will the airlines lower their fares before then? When you provide a return date of July 25, one week after your departure, Farecast informs you -- with a "confidence level more than 80 percent" -- that the lowest fares will rise $50 or more within the next 7 days. That's a good reason to buy your tickets now rather than waiting. If the price was predicted to decline, by contrast, waiting a few days could save you money.

• Airline fares vs. travel-engine fares. Once you've decided on your plans, you can select an itinerary and jump directly from Farecast to a site where you can purchase the tickets. Farecast shows four flights for $362 on July 18, for example, operated by America West Airlines.

Farecast is unusual in that it shows prices from both airline Web sites and travel-engine sites. In some cases, the travel engines buy blocks of seats that give them prices or times you may prefer. Farecast's business model is to collect the commissions paid by travel engines for referrals (which the airlines generally don't pay).

Farecast offers a surprising number of options in addition to merely selecting your cities and dates. Down the left side of Farecast's results page, a set of check boxes allow you to narrow your desired departure and return times, number of plane changes, and acceptable airlines. This is a trip planner's dream come true.

The Technology Behind Farecast

In an interview, Farecast CEO Hugh Crean said the company's methodology has evolved out of studies of air fares conducted by University of Washington computer science professor Oren Etzioni. That spark was enough to attract $8.5 million in venture capital from Silicon Valley's Greylock Partners and Washington State's Madrona Venture Group and WRF Capital.

Farecast now has 22 employees, according to marketing VP Mike Fridgen, who adds that about one-quarter of those are Ph.D.'s The rest include a few professionals who formerly worked in the airline industry in fare-setting capacities.

One such employee is David Pelter. He's the former managing director of revenue management for Alaska Airlines, a major carrier operating about 1,000 flights a day, largely serving the West Coast of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Pelter is now Farecast's VP of supplier development and revenue management.

He points out that airfares are typically available for purchase from the major airlines as much as 330 days (11 months) into the future, but that isn't when prices are lowest.

"As airlines see how demand is materializing," Pelter explains, "they may launch sales to stimulate travel on weaker routes or during weaker times during the year to 'fine tune' their expected passenger loads. Most of this sale activity occurs inside of a 90-day window prior to departure."

Fridgen opines that, "15 to 35 days [before a flight] is where we see a lot of activity, volatility." Farecast has obtained millions of fare records, requiring terabytes of storage on the company's servers. The analysis of this database is what allows Farecast to predict whether fares will rise or fall in the next few days.

It's Called a Beta for a Reason

While Farecast exhibits a remarkable technology that actually improves on human decision-making, it's barely out of the beta stage. The service suffers from a few maddening limitations, which may frustrate you until they've been worked out by the company's developers:

• Two airports to start from. At this early date, Farecast predicts fares from only two airports: Boston and Seattle. Crean says most major airports in the U.S. will be added to the service by the end of 2006.

• Domestic flights only. Farecast predicts fares only to other U.S. cities, a limitation that may exist for quite some time. The system can predict only domestic pricing at this point, omitting international destinations.

• 3-month horizon. Because airlines mainly lower prices only within 90 days before a flight, Farecast doesn't make predictions if your travel dates are more than three months out.

• 2- to 8-night stays. To get predictions of the next week's rate hikes and discounts, you must currently be planning a stay of 2 to 8 nights. You can get prices for trips of longer duration, but not predictions of dips and hikes.

In addition to the above hassles, users of Farecast are stuck with a dilemma if the service predicts that fares will drop. How are you supposed to know the best date to actually buy the ticket? At present, you pretty much have no choice but to return to Farecast every 24 hours to run your search again.

An ideal solution would be for Farecast to obtain a "hold" of your itinerary. Several carriers, including Alaska Airlines, allow a hold for a 24-hour period without the purchase of a ticket. If the price rose the next day, Farecast could buy the ticket before the hold expired. If not, the hold could be released and a new hold established until the price did change, either up or down.

That procedure would probably violate all kinds of airline policies, although I hardly think it's illegal, immoral, or unheard of. As an alternative, Fridgen tells me Farecast is planning a notification service, via e-mail or other means, that will inform you when a fare has changed and when to take action.

Conclusion

Despite its limitations, Farecast is a radical step toward greater control of the buying process by the public. If its predictive ability is as good as it appears, Farecast can shift some "revenue management" power back to consumers that was lost when carriers perfected computerized fare-setting.

Buying airline tickets may seem more like an art than a science sometimes. That's why I plan to take advantage of Farecast's computerized tools to even the odds when I book my next flight.

by Brian Livingston, is the editor of WindowsSecrets.com