Finding Flight Deals with Fares Rising

Average roundtrip fares between major cities in the U.S. have jumped to more than $300. With fuel costs continuing to rise, fares may soon surpass the previous highs set back in 2008. However, flexible travel dates and sales in the market can yield some great deals to popular destinations for a savvy traveler.

Major carriers including JetBlue, American Airlines, AirTran and Virgin America just announced domestic sales for spring and early summer travel. These fares must be booked within the next few days before the sales expire.

Some tips to keep in mind when searching for a cheap flight:

Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday often are the least expensive dates to travel, while Friday and Sunday generally command a premium.
Fares are often cheaper flying the weekend before or after a major holiday.
If flying over a long holiday weekend, check for fares flying Saturday to Tuesday instead of Friday to Monday.
The first flight out in the day can often be one of the least expensive (and least delayed), so sacrificing a little sleep can save big bucks.
Don't forget to factor in extra fees for baggage when considering the total trip cost. (Look for the orange bag icon next to Fly.com search results for information.)
Booking a one-stop flight may offer considerable savings off of a nonstop fare.

Finding the best fare across a variety of travel dates can often pose challenges and lead to numerous searches. Fly.com has removed that stumbling block by offering fare calendars on many popular routes to make finding the best fare simple.

Here are some the best fares found (each way):

For more fares and calendars, or to compare hundreds of flights in one search, visit Fly.com.