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Airline industry

YoungMoney: Secrets to finding cheap flights

Hadley Malcolm
USA TODAY
Passengers boarding  a Virgin Australia plane at Hobart International  Airport in Tasmania, Australia, in January.

No surprise here — airfares went up at the end of last year, to an average of $381.

The Department of Transportation said Tuesday that fares rose slightly in the fourth quarter of 2013.

I'm from the West Coast, so I'm constantly hunting for the best prices for a cross-country flight and always wondering when it's the right time to buy.

I reached out to a fellow Millennial for some advice. Viktors Dindzans and I went to college together and he's always finding incredibly inexpensive airfares. He's made it an expert hobby of his. His best deal? A $10 round-trip ticket to Hawaii during a United site glitch. He also once got a round-trip ticket to Madrid from D.C. for $160. Here's his advice:

• Time is of the essence when it comes to getting a good deal. That means e-mail alerts aren't always the best option. Follow sites like @airfarewatchdog and @theflightdeal on Twitter for real-time tipoffs to deals.

• Follow forums on sites like flyertalk.com. That's how Dindzans found his flight to Madrid. You'll find advice on the best search engines to use and alerts when airlines accidentally post really cheap fares.

• People used to think Tuesdays were the best day to get a good fare. But Dindzans says don't worry too much about the day of the week. It's a moot point because airlines now constantly update fares to respond to competitors.

• Finally, remember that a lot of deals aren't necessarily intentional. Sometimes the airlines just mess up; a good deal can just be about being in the right place at the right time.

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