Everyone knows that you need to book flights in advance to avoid spending a fortune on airfare but most don't know how complicated the airfare ticket pricing really is. Airlines typically offer more than a dozen price points for the same seat on the same aircraft - prices and rules that can and do change frequently throughout the day. Simultaneously automated inventory systems decide at any given moment which price point to offer a shopper, based on dozens of factors including current and historical bookings. This can get really complex but I'd like to break down as much as I can what I've discovered from my travels and research.

There’s a reason that dozens of all-encompassing, detailed resources exist for maximizing points and miles: this is a complicated hobby. If you’re new to all this, you’re withstanding the proverbial fire hose of information and trying to navigate potential pitfalls and mistakes — which probably feel like they’re everywhere…