Best Cheap Flights-ensure you are getting the very best deal ~ Travel and Leisure

Cabin crew strikes and ash cloud delays have put some visitors off air travel, implying people who do wish to fly can grab some fantastic bargains to a range of destinations. There are several things you can do to ensure you are getting the very best deal. It may seem obvious, but dithering can be expensive.

Business travellers are often prepared to pay more to travel at the very end - meaning operators can crank up their prices - so timing is essential. While package vacation deals can offer wonderful last-minute bargains, the same is not right of flights.

If you want to know whether you have some breathing room, try seeing whether the lowest fares are available if nine passengers ( the maximum number airlines typically permit to book ) needed to fly.

One of the greatest techniques of bagging the best fares, is by using screenscrapers. Use more than one screenscaper to spread your net as wide as possible. These are a kind of price comparison site, and they use high-powered technology for the lowest priced seats, by trawling flight brokers, and budget and regular airlines web sites. They have direct links with the airlines, and can save you cash - in particular if you book hostels with them at the exact same time. They can also be a useful back-up tool to make sure you are getting the cheapest seats, and may include some deals not featured somewhere else.

Do also check charter flights - run by package vacation firms if you are going somewhere served by package vacations. Two websites specialise in hunting down the best charter flight deals. Where there are spaces, you can regularly get excellent value tickets. For some destinations, especially long-haul ones, this may prove an improved deal than using a booked flight.

It might even be an option to buy a cheap package holiday, though not use the hotel component.

You may also find travel insurance, which you might not need, or which you may be able to find more cost-effectively somewhere else, has been instantly added to the final tally.

If you go direct to an airlines website, and look up those 1 or maybe 1p deals, be certain you've conscious of what taxes, bag charges and other surcharges will be put on your bill. And remember to print out your confirmation mail, and take it with you to the airport, as you may not be permitted to test in otherwise.

Check the T&Cs of your cheap flight awfully fastidiously, since a repayment isn't typically attainable. When stories of the best sales pops into your Mail, you may be ready to grab yourself a deal.