How to Book a Flight: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Booking a flight comes down to seven steps, whether you're doing it on an airline's app, a search site, or over the phone. Here's exactly what happens at each stage, and what to double-check along the way.

1. Decide your dates and airports

Start with your travel window rather than a fixed date if you can — fares often swing by more than $100 depending on the day of the week. If you live near more than one airport, search all of them; a 45-minute longer drive can sometimes mean a much cheaper fare.

2. Search and compare

Use an airline's own site or app for the most accurate, up-to-date fares, or a comparison tool to see multiple airlines side by side. Pay attention to:

• Total price, including any bag or seat fees called out during search.
• Number of stops and layover length.
• Fare class (Basic Economy, Standard Economy, etc.) — the cheapest fare is often the most restrictive.

3. Choose your fare type

Basic Economy or "Saver" fares are usually the lowest price but may block seat selection, carry-on bags, or changes. If you value flexibility, a standard economy fare is often worth the extra cost.

4. Enter passenger information

Use the exact name as it appears on the government ID you'll travel with. A mismatched name can cause problems at check-in and may require a costly correction later.

5. Add extras

This is where you add checked bags, seat selection, and optional travel protection. Adding bags during booking is almost always cheaper than paying at the airport.

6. Review before you pay

Check the date, time, airports, and passenger names one more time. Most airlines do not allow free date or name changes after purchase (outside a 24-hour grace period on many US carriers).

7. Confirm and save your confirmation

After payment, you'll get a confirmation email with a reservation code (usually 6 characters). Save it — you'll need it to check in, make changes, or look up your booking.

Prefer to book by phone?

If you'd rather talk through your options with a person instead of comparing fares yourself, that's a completely reasonable choice — see the call box below.