To get the lowest fares, purchase your tickets at least seven, 14, or 21 days in advance. Waiting until the last minute to purchase is like playing roulette sometimes you'll get lucky, but more often than not, you won't.

The days of the week you choose to depart and return make a difference in overall price as well. Historically, Fridays and Sundays are the busiest days of the week to travel, which also makes them the most expensive. In general, you can find lower fares by traveling midweek, on Mondays through Thursdays. If you must travel on the weekends, Saturdays are generally the most affordable option.

Although some airlines have done away with Saturday-night stay requirements, including a Saturday night in your itinerary may still lead to the lowest fares. The fine print of most sales will also usually include minimum- and maximum-stay requirements.

⇒ Airfare Tip: Be flexible

⇐ Airfare Tips and Tricks

⇑ Airfare Tips and Tricks

⇑⇑ Travel - Airfare Tips and Tricks