Can you recommend any good websites where I can find cheap flights

asks alicevida

A. There are loads of websites that offer cheap deals for single and return flights. The best way to get a really good bargain is to be prepared to spend a few hours online and plough through them all - and if your travel dates are flexible you are likely to get an even better bargain. Some of the cheapest flights online can be found at the following sites - we have listed them in alphabetical order, not by preference - and have included the lowest-cost airlines alongside online flight finders:

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Cheap Flights

This site is a bit annoying when you compare it to some of the others, as it is difficult to find information easily on departure dates and airports. It is there - it just isn't easy to find initially. But if you are prepared to put up with this, it does eventually find some great low-cost flights.

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One of its unique features is that it can also find you the cheapest deals on first- and business- class travel�- if you're tired of slumming it in economy but want to pay economy prices. It also has a special Deal of the Day section that offers two cheap special offer flights (one long-haul, e.g. to the US, and one to Europe).

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Other additional extras include accommodation, car hire, insurance, last-minute deals and cruises. If you are stuck on where to go, check out their special sections on Short City Breaks, Cheap Sun Packages and Cheap Nights (for weekend breaks). You can book online.

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Cheapest Flights

Not to be confused with the above site, this site offers some great deals -�but doesn't let you book them online. Instead you have to do this by telephone or by email, so you cannot be sure of availability online. This site also offers a currency converter and resort information, and it has a Travel Club for frequent users. Additional extras include special offers on package holidays, accommodation, car hire and travel insurance.

You cannot book online.

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Deckchair

There was a lot of fanfare when this site launched a couple of years ago, mainly because Bob Geldof owned it, but also because it offered good deals on both chartered and scheduled flights, which at the time was very rare. The company is now owned by World Travel Holdings and is still doing good business. The site is easy to navigate, with clear black-and-navy text on a white background, and will find you some good cheap deals.

You can book online.

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EasyJet

If you don't mind travelling from Luton (also flies from Liverpool, Belfast, Glasgow) and can go midweek, you can get some great bargains from EasyJet. This site is very focused towards booking online; you can book your ticket as late as two hours before the flight leaves - how amazing is that

You can book online.

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Ebookers

If ebookers cannot get you a flight for the highest price you are willing to pay, it will email you a Fare Alert message telling you when the flight charge reaches the price you are prepared to pay; it can also send a message to your phone. Be prepared to pay around the �100 mark for a lot of their flights, as you'll get a discount of �5 if you do, and a penalty charge of �10 if you don't. All a bit confusing -�but it is easy to book flights here.

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Extras here include accommodation, car hire, hotels, cruises, adventure holidays, fly drives and sports breaks. When I logged into this site it couldn't offer me a secure link, but I am sure it was just a blip.

You can book online.

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Expedia

Expedia has a great Lowest Fare facility that contacts you when the lowest fares for the particular flight you've selected become available. This�saves you loads of time browsing the internet, if you are prepared to wait for their call. You can book full holidays, cars, hotel rooms and travel insurance here, as well as flights. This site also has fantastic guide sections to any airport in the world or international country destinations. It also holds holiday auctions.

You can book online.

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Go

Go flights usually leave from Stansted and Bristol, and you'll get the best deals on their flights if you book well in advance - last-minute flights rarely come in cheaper than normal, scheduled flights. You can book online.

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Ryanair

Most of the Ryanair flights leave from Stansted (and Glasgow), so make sure you don't spend all the money you save on the flight getting to this out-of-the-way, if very swanky and state-of-the-art�airport. Ryanair offers very cheap, no-frills flights, which are really worth the money - you'll get the best deals if you book at least a month in advance.

You can book online.

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Travelocity

Travelocity claims to search 700+ airlines for its best deals, and it pays off as it offers some of the cheapest flights around -�mainly scheduled flights. It has a special monthly deals section, and you can be kept up to date with its latest deals via email if you register on the site. It has special sections on next weekend, late deals and charter flights, as well as the usual additions of being able to book hotel rooms and car hire. If you have time also check out its Dream Guides, that offer information on your chosen holiday destination by people that have actually been there - it's very good.

You can book online.

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Travel Select

This is a very swish site, fast and easy to use. All the deals quoted from the 500+ airlines it searches for the best flight price include airport tax. It also has a great Lowest Fares option that allows you to find the cheapest flights around, if you can be flexible on the dates you travel. Its additional extras include Eurostar, travel insurance, accommodation and car hire. Its shopping basket is uniquely called suitcase, which you obviously pack as you book your flight and any extras - it's the little details that count!

You can book online.

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Q. Can you offer any tips for booking a cheap flight online

A. There are a few things that you can bear in mind when booking online:

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(a) Make sure that travelling to an out-of-the-way airport does not cost you more than you save on your flight

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(b) Try to include one weekend in your holiday as this will save you money. If you go midweek, business prices can sometimes apply.

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(c) Book in advance if booking directly with an airline. You can be more last-minute with flight finders, and it usually pays to wait as long as you can as you'll often be notified by email as prices drop.

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(d) Make sure that the price you are quoted includes airport tax and booking fees.

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(e) Try to be flexible on when you can travel.

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(f) Sign up for email updates when you register on a site, as they will often let you know when prices change or when some flights become available.

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(g) Shop around. Check out as many websites as you can to get the best deal.

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If you have any other Travel related questions, please click here

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By Karen Anderson