Many airlines around the world receive significant financial support from governments, in the form of either funding or outright ownership. For example, according to the Centre for Aviation, over a billion dollars in government subsidies went to four prominent Chinese airlines in 2014, helping drive up visitor numbers in secondary cities like Cheng

Now that full-service airlines offer basic economy tickets, in a way, all airlines have become budget airlines. When all of United’s fares were bundled, it made sense to distinguish them from a budget airline like Spirit, whose fares didn’t include amenities. But nowadays, in an age when virtually all airlines have a lengthy menu of add-on fees, la

“Frequent respites might be more important to preserve well-being than the duration of one single [vacation],” the authors concluded. Three one-week vacations may do us more good than one three-week vacation.

Another factor driving fares down is the recent trend of unbundling—that is, no longer including some perks in the overall ticket price. Before 2008, almost all major airlines automatically included checked bags with your ticket. After 2008, checked bags began costing extra, and soon fees for other add-ons like advance seat selection emerged. It’s

While price is, to me and most people, the most important factor, there are dozens of other factors to be mindful of as well. These include: Time in transit: The number of stops, length (as well as time of day) of layovers, and total travel time Schedule: Time of year, day of the week, and time of day Airline quality: Likelihood of delays or cancel

Few of us would go to a restaurant, reject the waiter’s offer to look at the menu, and order the rib eye with zero consideration for price or other options. But that’s exactly what many of us do with flights. We set our heart on one specific vacation, price be damned.

Though airfare can be erratic, it’s not indecipherable. On the contrary, with a basic knowledge of how airfare works, anyone can relish the joy of cheap flights.

After all, you can’t actually book average fares; you can only book available fares. Using average ticket price as a road map for booking cheap flights is as sensible as a college student getting into an elevator with Warren Buffett and celebrating his newfound status as a billionaire. On average, it’s true; in reality, it’s nonsense.

Second, it’s difficult to get the best in every category and still get a cheap fare. Once-a-decade first class mistake fares during peak travel season on the exact route you’ve been looking for can happen, but they’re rare. You’re going to have to make trade-offs, even if it’s just on one or two factors. Holding out for the perfect cheap flight is