Here's a step-by-step list of things you should do when trying to book flights that cross international borders.

Difficulty Level: easy      Time Required: 60 minutes

1. How flexible is your schedule? If you don't have to leave on a specific day, consider becoming an air courier and flying for a fraction of commercial fares.
2. Air Courier flights are not good for people who want to travel together. If you have a companion and a flexible schedule, consult consolidator offerings. Warning: some people have bad experiences with consolidators.
3. If neither of the options above appeals to you, begin fare searches using sites like Expedia or Travelocity. Punch in a variety of dates, and record the lowest fares.
4. Subtract 20-30 percent from the lowest fare found and consider making that amount your bid for tickets in a travel auction like eBay or Priceline.com. Be sure you understand the rules before you bid.
5. Look at fares to nearby cities, especially if flying to the United States or Europe. Sometimes the savings will more than cover ground transportation to your desired city.
6. Add the cheaper airport's city to your itinerary.
7. If a one-way ticket is desired, check the round-trip fares. Sometimes they are actually cheaper.
8. Avoid using different airlines for each segment of the trip. Stay with one airline or its affiliate.
9. Avoid flying during high-volume holidays. Check to be sure your destination country is not celebrating a holiday upon your arrival or departure.
10. Ask for discounts before booking. Seniors and students can get reduced rates on some routes.
    

1. You can find links on the About.com Budget Travel site for most of the above steps.
2. Consider booking your trip in the "off season". For example: February is high tourist season in the Caribbean, but a great time to find cheap flights to Paris. In August, nearly the reverse is true.
3. Invite opinions from people who make your planned flight frequently. Visit internet boards and chat rooms for these contacts.
   

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