1. Rule 240: Understanding your rights according to Rule 240 
   is vital. This 
   article from Aviation.com explains the 
   ins and outs of Rule 240, which states "that if an airline [can't] get you to 
   your destination on time, it [is] required to put you on a competitor’s flight 
   if it would get you there faster than your original airline’s next flight." Some 
   airlines, including Delta, "no longer make any mention of transporting 
   passengers on other airlines in the event of a flight disruption," so it’s in 
   every passenger’s best interest to speak up.





2. You can get better deals and schedules without buying 
   directly from the airline. Sure, we all know about discount travel 
   sites like Expedia.com and Orbitz, but matching a good deal 
   with an ideal schedule and direct flight is sometimes tricky. Airlines often 
   rely on travelers who can’t afford to waste time during long layovers and would 
   rather shell out extra cash to keep them on schedule. There are alternatives, 
   however. This 
   article, from the Microsoft Small Business 
   Center, suggests contacting a travel agent or even checking your newspaper 
   for special deals. Agents "can have affiliate agreements with a large travel 
   company that negotiates lower rates on their behalf," and "often, tour operators 
   will advertise ridiculously low fares and package deals in the Sunday travel 
   section."





3. First class seats are available at coach prices. You may 
   need to ask your travel agent to help you out with this tip, but it’s definitely 
   worth it. According to San Diego’s 10News.com, 
   coach tickets can be booked under codes like YUPP, QUPP, or Z, which award 
   ticketholders automatic upgrades to first class. How does it work? According to 
   Rick Seaney, president of FareCompare, 
   "a lot of times the YUPPs are matching some sort of low-cost carrier in a 
   particular market." According to the article, in 2006, a "round trip flight from 
   Dallas to St. Louis on American Airlines, the YUPP fare is $278 — that’s nearly 
   $1,500 cheaper than a regular seat in first class and more than a $1,000 less 
   than the most expensive seat in coach."





4. Find out which days equal the cheapest tickets. According 
   to Wendy Perrin’s The 
   Perrin Post by Conde Nast 
   Traveler Magazine, "You’ll find cheaper fares and greater seat availability 
   if you fly on a Saturday and return on a Tuesday, instead of going from Thursday 
   to Sunday or Friday to Monday."





5. Take advantage of lesser-known airlines. The European and 
   Asian travel markets are noticing a boom in the number of smaller, cheaper 
   airlines. Ryanair and Easyjet 
   are popular airlines that are just as safe and probably more efficient than 
   their larger competitors. Book flights on Jetstar 
   or Malaysia Airlines 
   for Asian travel. You won’t be able to fly direct from the U.S. 
   on some of these airlines, but once you’re abroad, they’re definitely the way to 
   travel.

Ironically, traveling by air is getting more and more inconvenient as 
overbooked flights, lost luggage, and pricey ticket sales become more common. Unfortunately, booking a flight is sometimes just plain necessary, a fact that airlines know all too well, allowing them to continue maximizing profits while we passengers often get stuck on the ground.
The following is a list of useful secrets that will help you find cheaper, 
better, more convenient ways to fly. Bon voyage! 

1. Fly foreign. Air 
   France hosts its on U.S. site, which features extremely reasonable prices 
   for tickets from various cities in the United States. You’ll probably find 
   cheaper fares by checking with your destination’s airlines rather than American 
   ones. Just be sure you calculate the exchange rate, however, to avoid paying 
   more than you had intended.





2. Re-work your travel schedule. If you plan on flying to 
   several different cities, either within the U.S. or abroad, arrange your travel 
   schedule so that you’re always flying into the cheapest cities. Wendy 
   Perrin suggests looking "into flying via Dublin instead of London" if you’re 
   going to Europe. "Aer Lingus has cheap flights, and low-fare carriers fly from 
   Dublin to many European cities.





3. Make sure you understand refund policies. Airlines can be 
   reluctant when it comes to passing out ticket refunds, so make sure you’re 
   familiar with their policy before getting duped. The article "Airlines’ 
   policies on refunds and changes" from the New York Times connects you to the refund 
   policies of all major U.S. airlines, including American, Delta, Southwest, and 
   United. The article is dated 2001, but the links should take you to the most 
   updated information.





4. Buy consolidated. To find cheap fares even at the last 
   minute, buy your tickets from a consolidator. wikiHow 
   publishes a thorough step-by-step guide with tips on buying from a consolidator, 
   including planning on departing from larger cities and finding great 
   international ticket deals.





5. Schedule your departure from a larger city to avoid higher 
   prices. If you leave near a city like Dallas, Atlanta, Boston, or Los 
   Angeles, consider driving to those hub airports instead of departing from the 
   regional airports in your hometown. You can save hundreds of dollars and will 
   avoid the hassle of having to connect (or miss) your next flight. Read the list 
   of U.S. hub airports here.

Now that you’ve got the inside information on these top airline secrets, 
you’ve got a better chance of saving lots of cash, flying in more comfortable 
seats, and avoiding some of the inconveniences of traveling with major airlines. 
We hope you enjoy your trip!