How to find the best airfare deals

From partying in Prague to sightseeing in Seville, there's never been a better time to book a cheap flight. Fly to top European cities, fabulous Mediterranean beaches and stunningly beautiful mountains, with fares as low as 99p. Follow our tips to track down these tantalising fares and ensure you find the best deals.

Book early

When it comes to airfares, the early bird really does catch the worm. Unlike package holidays, the nearer to departure you book, the more you will end up paying. Scheduled airlines operate on a yield basis, which means that as bookings rise, so do fares - and you can end up paying several times as much as your travelling companion. A flight advertised for £29 a month before departure can easily end up costing £250 if booked the day before take-off.

Flights booked three to four weeks in advance achieved the greatest cost savings, a recent study by travel management company BTI UK found. Even booking seven days in advance rather than five days can result in reduced costs.

Travel midweek

Fly on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday to get the cheapest fares. Organise a weekend break from Thursday to Saturday or Saturday to Monday and it can cost you up to less than half the amount you would pay if you travelled Friday to Sunday.

Fly early or late in the day

Avoid the morning and evening rush hours, when seats are in demand by business travellers paying premium prices, if you want to snap up a bargain.

Be flexible with your dates

It's possible to fly to your holiday destination for free if you can be flexible with your dates. Ryanair and other low-cost airlines regularly give away free seats, but bear in mind that fares are one-way and do not include airport tax and you'll have to pay for meals or drinks.

Compare fares easily

Use our flights comparison tool to compare flights from more than 80 low-cost airlines and dozens of scheduled airlines and tour operators and relax while your PC does the work for you.

Not bothered where you go?

If you are not bothered where you go, you can pick the places with the cheapest fares. Be the first to check out an up-and-coming destination such as Lake Balaton in Hungary Ryanair's latest route. Or look for alternatives to the most popular destinations and visit the fascinating UNESCO World Heritage city of Porto instead of the capital, Lisbon, or historic Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, rather than Moscow or St Petersburg.

Loyalty pays

If you travel regularly, or are jetting further afield, join the airline's loyalty scheme, which will entitle you to free flights and upgrades when you travel with that airline again.

Family deals are not always cheapest

It can sometimes be cheaper for a child to travel as an adult rather than take a single-parent holiday offer, according to Holiday Which? - it found one family deal that was £170 more than the cost of paying for two adults.

Round-the-world fares

If you are looking to visit several places during the same trip, it can be cheaper to book a round-the-world ticket. Some tickets allow unlimited stopovers within a set mileage and the option to purchase additional miles, change dates and re-route your ticket within a year of leaving the UK. If you book a flight to Australia, some tour operators will include two free domestic flights within the country, so keep your eyes peeled.

It's not just about cheap fares

Getting the best deal isn't just about cheap fares. Check out services such as online check-in and pre-bookable bus transfers, particularly if the airline does not fly into the city centre.

An airline IT trends survey by communications and technology solutions provider SITA found that 42 per cent of airlines are now offering web check-in, and this percentage is expected to rise to 72 per cent by the end of 2007.