Tip of the week: How to land cheap airline seats

Go to the source. Airlines try to “bypass online travel sites” by posting discount “promo codes” on their home pages. Start your search for deals at the carriers’ sites.

Google it. If you can’t find codes on an airline’s site, “try doing a Web search with the airline’s name and the term ‘promo codes.’” You’ll be surprised by what you can find.

Download apps. Airlines are creating smart phone apps or online tools to keep up communication with customers. Southwest’s Ding service is a downloadable app that alerts you to new deals. American’s DealFinder tool for PCs provides “personalized offers based on your travel interests.”

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Leave it to the pros. Airfarewatchdog.com scans countless sites for promotions and regularly posts unpublished discount codes. “It’s the single best code source.”

Source: ShopSmart