Use Discount Airfare Sites

• Websites like Orbitz.com and Priceline.com, will offer you an array of the cheapest flights for your travel options. Some airfare sites, like BookingBuddy.com or SkyScanner.com, will allow you to compare fares among multiple sites at a time, saving you the hassle of going to each site directly to compare prices.
  
  

Be Flexible With Dates

• This is a general rule of flying: the more flexible your plans, the lower the airfare drops. Certain travel days are cheaper than others, and this is also dependent upon the season as well. Flying out on a weekday before or after July 4th weekend will bring cheaper rates than flying out on July 5th, but flying anytime in July is not nearly as cheap as late January (depending on the destination).
  
  

Be Willing to Use Multiple Carriers

• Mixing and matching airlines can result in an overall cheaper fare. Some discount airfare sites, like Expedia.com, will compare prices so you can see the total price of flying with one particular airline versus a mix-and-match of carriers.
  
  

Don't Go Direct

• Convenience costs more, and in the world of low-cost airfare, nonstop flights are more expensive than one (or more) stop flights. Depending on your destination, you may be able to save hundreds of dollars simply by opting for a multiple-stop flight as opposed to a direct one.
  
  

No Refund, No Problem

• The cheapest tickets come without the guarantee of a refund. It's a risk, but often if there is a problem with the flight on the airline's end, the airline will offer compensation or change your reservations for you. To avoid this issue on your side, make your plans as rock-solid as possible, which means double-checking all your existing plans -- you don't want to remember 15 minutes after booking the flight that you have to attend a business seminar the same weekend.
  
  

Remember the Local Festivities

• Flying to see your aunt in Washington State in February might yield cheaper airfare tickets than seeing her in June. By the same token, if New Orleans is your destination in February, be careful to see if it coincides with Mardi Gras, when airfare is sure to skyrocket. Major local events tend to influence airfare prices.