If you've never bid on airfare through an online travel auction site (websites such as SkyAuction and even Ebay), there are a few things you need to be mindful of. You can't just jump into an auction and expect to get a killer deal on a discount flight to Cancun. Each travel auction is set up differently and has different bidding requirements. That's why before you ever place a bid on a travel auction you need to do the following.

Research All Travel Auctions

Most online travel auctions run independently of each other. Each one has its own auction set up, bidding requirements, and terms and conditions. This means that not all online travel auctions are the same. Some require membership fees while others allow you to sign up for free but have restrictions on how you bid. It's important to get as much information as you can about the travel auctions you find online. Read through all the information provided on each website (including "terms and conditions") and get a feel for how you bid on airfare through each travel auction. You don't want to sign up for a membership on a travel auction website until you have a clear idea and understanding of the bidding process. If you don't, you could end up getting locked into a pretty sticky situation.

Browse Current Auctions

After you've read through each travel auction's user information and bidding guidelines, the next step is NOT to sign up. You need to first check out a few auctions currently underway on the site. This will give you an opportunity to check out what different travel tickets are going for. You may find that the auctions have very high opening bid amounts or only offer expensive package deals that are out of your price range. Always check out the bid amounts before you even think about signing up with a travel auction site. It will save you time, effort, and money.

Compare Travel Auctions against Other Online Travel Deals

Browsing current auctions and bid amounts will give you something to compare other online airfare deals against. Travel auctions aren't the only source for discount flights. Travel consolidators and other travel-related websites also offer great wholesale and discount rates on airfare to many popular destinations. You may even find a deal on airfare that the travel auctions just can't beat. That's why it's very important for you to check out existing auction bids and compare them to other bargain travel deals you find online. It could save you a significant chunk of change in the end.

Take Warning!

Some travel auctions won't tell you the exact airline, flight, or seat location connected to the tickets you're bidding on until AFTER you've won the auction. And once you've won the auction, in many cases you're locked in and stuck with whatever airline and flight times the tickets offer. So before you bid on any airline tickets, check to see if the auction discloses ALL information about the flight. If it doesn't and you bid, you're taking a gamble on when you're leaving, how many layovers you'll have, and what airline you'll be flying.

When you book your travel plans with cFares, you know everything about the flight upfront. Don't book your flight in the dark. Become a cFares member and find the exact itinerary you need at an affordable price.

Travel auctions are definitely a viable source for discount airfare; however, they aren't for everyone. Before you hit the online travel auctions, do your research and see if they'll actually help you save on your travel plans.