No frills airlines have been running successfully for nearly two decades. However, for every successful low cost carrier, there are ten that go out of business. So how do cheap flight operators make their money? Low cost airlines make their money on routes where there is very little or no competition. So if you are looking for cheap flights, particularly if you want to just get away to a new destination for a weekend break, you would do well to check out routes where there is a lot of competition between airlines.

Sometimes an airline will open up a route in direct competition with another airline. When this is the case, a price war ensues where both airlines will actually be losing money on the route. You can be pretty sure that you will get a good deal on cheap flights if this is the case.

Cheap Flights from the Low Cost Airline or the Booking Agent?

Cheap flights are usually available from the web sites of no frills airlines. Booking agents will often feature cheap flights too. However, the low cost carriers often discourage the outsourcing of flight details to booking agents, who often operate on commission. You may feel that you are getting a good deal from an agent, but the cheap flight might be an even cheaper flight on the airliner's own web site.

Letting the Web Site do the Work in Finding Cheap Flights

Other sites - aggregators - yield great deals for the savvy consumer. These sites trawl the Internet for special offers and good deals on flights from various airlines and other sources. These sites usually do not operate on commission but rely instead on advertising and deals with hotels or car rental companies to pay for their site. The software used to collate data and process it may not always work - even human error can result in an inability to spot a great deal that's just been announced by an airline.

What if you just "Show up" at the Airport?

There's nothing stopping you from simply showing up at the airport and asking about any last minute deals on cheap flights. But this always carries a risk as the airline staff may consider you a captive audience with little choice other than to take the flight. Anecdotal evidence has shown that travelers may receive one quote for cheap flights from check in staff and a cheaper ticket for the same flight over the Internet after going online and doing a quick check via a computer terminal in the airport!

Cut Down on Costs on your Cheap Flight

There are punitive measures in place to cover the costs of fuel and various other surcharges incurred on airlines. Extra baggage will therefore cost money. If you are going on a weekend break, an overnight bag should be your only luggage if at all possible. Typical baggage charges may include a check in charge. You should look carefully at all the extra add-ons that may be incurred by an airline before booking a cheap flight.

While there are no hard and fast ways to get cheap flights, exploring all your options is a surefire way to get the best possible deal.