How to Book an Airline Ticket

Co-authored by Greg Guiteras

Last Updated: March 17, 2023 References

Booking an airline ticket can seem complicated when there are so many websites, airlines and travel agents to choose from. Flight prices also fluctuate all the time, making the booking process even more complicated. But with some research and flexibility, you’ll be able to book your next airline ticket seamlessly.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Booking an Airline Ticket Online

1
Look for flights in advance. Booking your tickets in advance can help you to get tickets at a lower rate.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Greg Guiteras
Travel Specialist
Expert Interview. 18 September 2020.} The best time to book a domestic flight is between 112 and 21 days before you depart to secure the lowest fare. 54 days before is considered the perfect time. However, even booking 54 days before your trip is not guaranteed to get you the lowest fare.^{[2]
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- If you are booking an international plane ticket, you should book as far in advance as possible, especially if your destination is smaller or only has one nearby airport.^{[3]
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- If you are flying to a popular destination during a popular time, such as Florida during Spring Break, you should book as far in advance as possible. Because this flight is popular, it is unlikely that the fare will be lowered.^{[4]
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2
Check airfare deal websites. Before booking, scan an airfare deal website, like Airfare Watch Dog, for sales. This is especially helpful if your destination or trip dates are flexible so you can take advantage of any deals.
- Airlines sometimes share sales with their customers through their websites or newsletters. You can subscribe to the newsletters of your top airlines or visit their sites to search for deals.
- Did you know wikiHow offers coupons and discounts for a variety of travel websites? Save time and money by checking out our coupon site for:
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3
Enter your trip details on an aggregator site. Visit an aggregator website that searches multiple airlines, like SkyScanner, Momondo or GoogleFlights, and enter your trip information. The website will be able to show you lots of flight options for your requested destination and dates that you can sort by price, airline or length of trip.^{[5]
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- Many aggregator sites will allow you to enter multiple destinations and search flights on multiple dates. This will help you find the best deal if your trip is flexible.
- If you have time, check a few aggregator websites. Some sites may advertise different prices so it’s good to check around and ensure you’re getting the best deal.^{[6]
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4
Choose how many stops you want to make. Many flights, especially to far away locations, will require you to make stopovers at airports along the way. Sometimes these will involve changing planes and going through security again. As you look at flights, remember to keep in mind how many stops you are comfortable making. Also check how long and what time of day the stops are.
- You may be able to find a cheaper flight if you're comfortable adding an extra stopover. However, it's important to take into account if the length and time of the stopover is worth the money you will save.
5
Click through to the airline’s website. Once you have found the best trip, select it on the aggregator site and move to the airline’s direct website to book your tickets. Some aggregators allow you to book the ticket through their website, but there may be an additional service fee.^{[7]
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6
Choose your seat. Many airlines will allow you to choose your seat at your time of booking. Ensure you choose seats for all of the passengers that you're booking airline tickets for. You can select to sit together, if there is space for your party, and whether you want an aisle, window or middle seat. You may also be able to select seat upgrades, like extra legroom, for an additional cost.
- If your airline does not allow you to select your seat at the time of booking, you may be able to do it when you check in. If you have a specific seat preference or need to sit with your travel companions, for example if you're traveling with a child, call your airline to see how you can make arrangements ahead of time.
7
Choose to make it a package deal or not. Towards the end of the booking process, your airline may suggest add-ons that you can book, such as hotels or car rentals. You can add these at the time of booking or book them separately from your airline ticket.
- Before choosing an add-on like a hotel stay or car rental, you should do some research online and ensure your airline is offering you a good deal.
- Usually, you can get airline tickets for a lower rate if you stay at the destination on a Saturday night.^{[8]
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  Expert Source
  
  Greg Guiteras
  Travel Specialist
  Expert Interview. 18 September 2020.}
- Business travelers are charged the most because they cannot stay a Saturday night.^{[9]
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  Greg Guiteras
  Travel Specialist
  Expert Interview. 18 September 2020.}
8
Request special accommodations. If you require any special accommodations for your flight, such as a wheelchair, request these at the time of booking. If you are not prompted to enter this information during your online booking, call your airline directly.
- Other special accommodations may include traveling with service animals, medical concerns and dietary restrictions.
9
Choose to add insurance or not. During the booking process, you may also be prompted to add insurance. Read the fine print and decide whether or not your flight and trip require insurance.
- You might be covered by insurance through your work, healthcare or credit card. It's a good idea to look into these options and compare costs if you want to add insurance coverage for your trip.
10
Book your ticket! On the airline’s website, confirm that all of your trip information is correct. Then follow the prompts to enter your personal and payment information to finish booking your tickets. You may also need the personal information of anyone else flying with you.
11
Receive your confirmation and receipt. After booking, your receipt and ticket confirmation should be emailed to you. If you don’t receive this within a few hours of booking, contact your airline.
- Save the email copy of the receipt in a safe folder. It would be a good idea to print out a hard copy as well.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Researching Your Trip

1
Decide where you are going. Depending on your trip, you may have some flexibility in terms of your exact location. Do some research to find the perfect destination for you.
- For example, if you want to visit the Caribbean, there are over 28 island nations and 7000 individual islands to choose from.
- If your destination is fixed, you may still be able to research secondary airports. For example, if you are visiting your relatives in San Francisco, you could also look at flying into the nearby Oakland Airport.^{[10]
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2
Decide when you are going. With your fellow travellers, decide when you are going on your trip and for how long. The more flexible you are with your dates, the easier it will be to find a deal.^{[11]
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- If your dates are not flexible or if your trip is coming up very soon, it’s best to book as soon as possible. This is especially important if you are flying during a popular period, like Thanksgiving.^{[12]
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Check if you need visas or vaccinations. Some international destinations will require visitors to have special visas to come to their country or get vaccinations ahead of time. Include this in your research so you have time to make arrangements, apply for any visas and schedule travel vaccination appointments.
- For the most up to date information, visit your country's travel advisory such as www.travel.gc.ca for Canadians or www.travel.state.gov for Americans.
4
Consider who and what you’re traveling with. For example, if you’re traveling with an infant, depending on the flight carrier, you may not need to buy a separate seat for the child. However, traveling with a baby may also mean that you will need to pack extra things like a diaper bag, playpen or stroller.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Booking an Airline Ticket with a Travel Agent

1
Collect all of your trip information. From your research, establish your trip destination and dates, even if these are flexible. Also make sure you have your payment information and the personal information for yourself and your fellow travellers on hand.
- For example, you may need to know all of the travelers’ birthdates and passport numbers.
2
Find a reputable travel agent. Ask your friends and family for recommendations if you haven’t worked with a travel agent before. If you can’t get a personal recommendation, search online for a travel agency with good reviews.^{[13]
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- Take bad reviews with a grain of salt. Some people will post bad reviews simply because they did not get their way with something going against company policy.
- Pay attention to how many good and bad reviews an agent got. If they had a lot of bad reviews recently, it would be best to avoid them.
3
Meet with your travel agent in person or over the phone. Depending on the travel agency, you may be able to go in-person or you may work with someone over the phone. Ensure your travel agent is knowledgeable, friendly and service-oriented. They should be able to answer all of your questions and have experience booking similar trips to the one you want to go on.
- Have all of your questions ready ahead of time, preferably on a printed sheet of paper. This will ensure that you don't forget to ask any.
4
Give your travel agent your trip information. Provide your travel agent with the destination and dates of your trip. If you are flexible with nearby destinations, multiple stopovers or similar dates, ensure you tell your travel agent that information. Also, let your travel agent know about your preferences and any required accommodations. For example:
- Tell them your seating preference, such as aisle or window.
- Let them know if you need special accommodations, like a wheelchair.
- Mention if you're interested in purchasing add-ons, like hotel stays and car rentals.
- If you need to purchase insurance, be sure to tell them this as well.
5
Book your ticket! After receiving your information, your travel agent will present you with some flight options for your trip. Select the best option for you and continue speaking with your travel agent to finish booking your airline tickets. The agent will need your personal and payment information.
- Have all of your information on hand and ready before you book your ticket. This will make the booking process more efficient.
6
Receive your receipt and confirmation. Your travel agent will likely choose to email you your receipt and confirmation of your airline ticket purchase. If you don’t receive an email shortly after booking, call your travel agent. You may also be able to request your receipt and confirmation in hard copy if you don’t have access to email.

Expert Q&A
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Question

How do I book a flight ticket?

Allyson Edwards
World Traveler & International Consultant
Allyson Edwards graduated from Stanford University with a BA in International Relations. Afterwards, she went on to facilitate International partnerships with agencies in over twenty countries, and has consulted for companies in industries across education, fintech, and retail.

Allyson Edwards

World Traveler & International Consultant

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Book your tickets strategically. International flights are cheapest about two months out, while domestic ones fluctuate a lot until about a month in advance when the cost spikes. Monitor the prices and book when they're lowest!
Question

What should you keep in mind while planning a group trip?

Greg Guiteras
Travel Specialist
Greg Guiteras is the CEO of Lorraine Travel, LLC, one of the largest privately-owned travel management companies in Florida founded in 1948. With over 34 years of experience, Greg's specialties are in corporate travel management, sales and marketing, contract negotiations, strategic partnerships, and luxury hotel sales. Greg holds a BS in Marketing from Florida State University. Greg has also created WhataHotel!, a website offering exclusive perks on hotel bookings, and CabinMate, an app that matches single cruise travelers with potential cabin matches "in the same boat" to avoid traveling solo on a cruise.

Greg Guiteras

Travel Specialist

Expert Answer

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As a group coordinator, you will get a specific price for the airfare, hotel rooms, or ships on a cabin based on the number of seats, hotel rooms, or ship cabins you will hold. If you do not meet the minimum threshold that you essentially guaranteed that you are going to use, prices could change.
Question

How can you buy airline tickets at a cheaper rate?

Greg Guiteras
Travel Specialist
Greg Guiteras is the CEO of Lorraine Travel, LLC, one of the largest privately-owned travel management companies in Florida founded in 1948. With over 34 years of experience, Greg's specialties are in corporate travel management, sales and marketing, contract negotiations, strategic partnerships, and luxury hotel sales. Greg holds a BS in Marketing from Florida State University. Greg has also created WhataHotel!, a website offering exclusive perks on hotel bookings, and CabinMate, an app that matches single cruise travelers with potential cabin matches "in the same boat" to avoid traveling solo on a cruise.

Greg Guiteras

Travel Specialist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

If you book your tickets in advance or stay at the destination on a Saturday night, you can get the best fares and the lowest fares.

Warnings

Read over your airline’s policy for canceling, transferring or changing an airline ticket before booking. If you need to postpone or cancel your trip for any reason, you should know how that will affect your plane ticket. You may also want to look into getting travel insurance.

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Make sure to consider layover times when choosing your flight. Sometimes, cheaper flights involve long layovers at airports that may be difficult if you’re travelling with a child or elderly person.

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