Over the years, people have told me dozens of hints for buying airline tickets. Tag them with a fare tracker, look late at night or prices drop on Tuesday afternoons are just a few of the "tips" I've considered when looking for a flight.
I can't say I'm a certified proponent of any one of these ideas, but I've gotten some great deals on airfare just by consistent checking. Kayak.com and Mobissimo.com have popped up as top-notch search engines and I can't believe the new deals coming from AirTran Airlines out of Milwaukee.
But still, there's always the fine line of waiting and purchasing; wondering if the price is indeed as low as it's going to go or if you should wait another 24 hours. It creates a fear to push the purchase. And it's probably the only purchase you make where the price changes daily, if not hourly, and in the end, the two people sitting next to you in Row 25 most likely paid a different price for precisely the same service.
Recently, the game of waiting it out burned me. Planning to visit a relative in Memphis, Tenn. next weekend, I waited in hope that the price would drop and in turn, it tripled over night.
So, does anyone have a tried and true technique? Use the Talkback feature to share your airfare tips.
OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Maureen Post grew up in Wauwatosa. A lover of international and urban culture, Maureen received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
After living on the east side of Madison for several years, Maureen returned to Milwaukee in 2006.
After a brief stint of travel, Maureen joined OnMilwaukee.com as the city’s oldest intern and has been hooked ever since. Combining her three key infatuations, Milwaukee’s great music, incredible food and inspiring art (and yes, in that order), Maureen’s job just about fits her perfectly.
Residing in Bay View, Maureen vehemently believes the city can become fresh and new with a simple move across town.
