If you can afford to spend a little time searching, you can save money and get the flight you want and save money. With the Internet, it is easy to comparison shop and get the best deal for your dream vacation. The more you save on airfare, the more you can spend on your vacation.
Start out by going to the big airline shops online. Check prices on Travelocity, Expedia and Orbitz. This is your starting point. You may wind up booking with one of these sites, but for now, just use them to get a baseline price.
Next, check prices at some of the smaller sites Cheaptickets, Farecompare, and airfare. Again, these are sites to get a rough idea on prices. You can also visit your favorite airline and see if they have any specials.
Once you have determined price, airline, and arrival time (more important than departure time), it is time to find a local travel agent or bucket shop.
Armed with the information you found online, you can now ask specifically for the flight you want and know what price your local agent has to beat. You can bargain with them and let them know what the online prices are (if they are lower).
Plan far enough ahead and if...