Airline tickets, like most goods, are regulated by competition, demand and inventory. Finding an inexpensive one-way fare can seem daunting, especially because prices are often about the same as a round-trip ticket. Airlines often charge more for one-way tickets because it's assumed you're flying out of necessity, such as for business or moving, and not for leisure. Airlines prefer to sell round-trip tickets because of the difficulty in finding someone to fill your seat on the return flight. But you don't need to buy a round-trip ticket and throw away the return to get the best deal. Learning a few tricks and understanding some of the industry's complexities will help you find a one-way ticket that's cheaper than a round-trip fare.

Instructions
Start your search early, at least one month in advance, and stay flexible about the exact date and time of your departure. The cheapest tickets are often available in the middle of the week, usually Tuesdays and Wednesdays, because those traveling for business prefer to go home on the weekends. Look for flights that leave later in the night on the “red eye.” Search the major Internet travel agencies regularly and compare prices. Search airline websites directly: some of them, such as Southwest, don't sell tickets on other websites.

Research your destination and find out whether any smaller airports operate nearby. Flights there may be cheaper. Find out whether any smaller carriers fly into your destination and compare their prices to those of the larger airlines.

Sponsored Links
Alcatraz Tours & Tickets
San Francisco City Tours with Alcatraz Ferry & Audio Tour
www.AllSanFranciscoTours.com

Check with travel agents, who are trained to work the airlines' central reservation system. They can also find cheap airfares on the smaller carriers not in the system. Keep in mind that most travel agents will add a fee if you buy just an airline ticket.

Think about buying separate tickets for each leg of your journey, especially if you are planning an international trip. You may even find that it pays to buy individual tickets from competing agencies. The price discrepancies may be due to the algorithm used by search engines that are unable to find specials offered directly by airlines or independent, smaller travel agencies.

Spend a night or two in a layover city. If you are flexible on time and place, you can often find great deals for flights departing within the next day or two of your arrival.

Buy a fully refundable ticket early and continue to watch the prices. Keep in mind that fully refundable tickets are generally much more expensive than nonrefundable tickets. However, if something better pops up, you can exchange your ticket.