Increasingly tight budgets are forcing travelers to look for cheap air tickets. This is true for individuals who travel for leisure and want to spend less on tickets so they have cash once they reach their destination. Businesses that routinely pay for employees to travel also need to pay less for airfare. Corporate budgets have been reduced in recent years because of the economy. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to make sure you save money on your airline tickets.

Plan Ahead

Although there are times when you have to make arrangements last minute you should always try to plan ahead. Otherwise, you should be able to buy tickets in advance so you get great prices. Try to fly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays whenever possible. Even if you get to your destination early, you will have saved significant money. Putting in a little bit of time to save a lot of money is, for most people, a tradeoff that is worthwhile.

Monitor Airfares

There are two ways to do this. You can sign up for electronic newsletters or mobile alerts so you know when new offers, coupons, and discounts are available for your review. In particular, you want to be able to tell when prices increase or decrease so you can plan accordingly. Airlines offer this information directly or, if you prefer, you can sign-up for this service through any site that provides ticket information from multiple airlines.

Do Not Wait

Don't wait to see if the next deal you get is the best one, take a good deal as soon as you find it. There will always be a better deal. The problem is at some point prices on cheap air tickets will increase again and you may miss your opportunity to save money. It is not always obvious when airlines will increase airfare. Looking at getting a last minute deal is usually the only time when you should wait.

Look for Refunds

If you have already purchased your ticket but you notice the final price of comparable low cost air tickets on your flight is much lower, contact the airline and ask for a refund of the difference. Most will honor your request. You may have to do this in person at the ticket counter. You can call the airline directly to find out what their refund policy is or you can check their website for information.