Be aware of the airports you fly too and from as construction may add fees to your ticket price.

If Chicago approves O’Hare International Airport’s new runway, its travelers can expect an additional $4.50 charge per airline ticket to fund construction. These so-called passenger facility charges aren’t uncommon, though the Federal Aviation Administration regulates them carefully, says Perkins, of SmarterTravel.com.

Ticket prices have creeped up to pre-9/11 levels again. Book early, on Wednesday nights, and use FareCompare and Farecast to save.

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