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Line Up for Low Fares

Mark Kahler, licensed to About.com
For the most part, caution should be urged when booking airfares, especially when working online. Mistakes are costly, as most of the best fares are also non-refundable. But with that caution firmly in mind, it must also be said that any budget traveler should be ready to shut down a search and book a low fare as quickly as it appears on the screen. Here's why: Airfares are a bit like stock prices. They can rise and fall several times a day. Sometimes, the best fares that appear on an airline Web site only apply to a few remaining empty seats. Once those are sold, the great prices vanish. What's the best time to shop? Many say fishing is best early in the morning, when airlines are updating their price structures.