Timing can land cheap airfares

Want to fly for less? Don’t grab the first cheap ticket you see or wait until the last minute to buy, fare experts say.

Several months in advance, set up e-mail price alerts at fare-watching sites such as Kayak.com or Farecast.com.

For a ticket alone, your best bets are airline websites, because you’ll skip the fees some travel websites charge.

If you need air travel, a hotel and a rental car, consider sites such as Orbitz and Travelocity, which often discount such bundles. Those sites don’t list Southwest Airlines’ fares, so it’s worth checking the carrier’s website if you’re flying near a city the discount airline serves. You can try Priceline, where users bid for tickets, but the deal may require an undesirable itinerary.

Although airlines often start fare sales Sunday night or Monday morning, other carriers tend to match the sale by Monday evening or Tuesday morning, giving you more choices. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays are the cheapest days to fly.

Fares start to rise again seven to 14 days before a flight because last-minute seats tend to be bought by business travelers and others who must fly at certain times.