Finding the best airfare takes more than searching Google or an airline's direct site. It takes a little time and planning. Below are some tips to help you get started.

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Airfare Alerts 
This is something you can Google and find pretty easily. Search “airfare alerts” and you should see a few sites that offer this service. Here at Airfarewatchdog we have airfare alerts that include all airlines, from Southwest to Delta, and are vetted by our team or airfare analysts. We also allow you to pick and choose the airlines you want alerts on. You can sign up for Airfarewatchdog alerts here.

Social Media
Relying on airfare alerts is the best place to start, but there are also amazing deals teased on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook. Start by following Airfarewatchdog on Twitter. We tweet promo codes, airline sales, and even mistakenly marked-down airfares.

Think Beyond the Ticket Price
With all the chatter about basic economy fares, keep in mind that the cheapest option isn’t always the best option. For example, if you're planning to check bags, flying basic economy is probably not a good idea. After baggage fees and maybe even an overhead bin fee, buying a regular economy fare might be a cheaper option.

There Isn’t a 'Magic Day' for Buying Airfare
We hear this all time. Let us debunk it for you: Buying flights on a Tuesday or any specific number of days in advance isn't guaranteed to get you the lowest fare. Airfare is pretty unpredictable—you never know when airlines are going to offer a specific deal, post a mistake fare, or offer up promo codes. Your best bet is to sign up for alerts so you're always in the loop when the route you want is on sale, or at least hits a price that fits your budget.
For more tips check out this guide.