By browsing online, you can easily compare different offers without having to make several exhausting trips or tedious phone calls to hundreds of travel agents. All the information you need is only one click away, but the trick is are you sure that you know all you need to know?

Although booking flights online may seem like the simplest way for vacation makers, there are some pitfalls you need to be aware of before you press "Book Now". Online booking often means greater discounts or special Internet-only fares. You can pay online by credit card, but only if you are certain that the web site is trustworthy enough or you can easily become a victim of credit card fraud.

Booking flights online, seemingly, will save you time and money, but if you are not careful, it can be time-consuming and a rip-off. Without the advice of a travel agent, youbmay overlook something that makes your fare more expensive, or you may have misunderstood the value of a particular deal. For example, you must double check to see ifbthe price you see onscreen is the total price you need to pay (i.e. is it inclusive of taxes, credit card charges, insurance premiums, etc.).

You should also carefully read the terms and conditions before you book just in case you might need to make changes or cancellations later on. If you have any questions about anything, have it all sorted out before you pay.

One advantage of booking flights online is that you are able to book tickets 24 hours a day, as long as you have the Internet access. However, prices online are very changeable, so the price you see today might be cheaper or more expensive tomorrow. Booking flights far in advance guarantees you definitely get a seat, but it does not guarantee that you get the lowest price. The lowest price is usually the last-minute deal. It really depends on the situation and there is no definite answer on when exactly you should book in order to ensure the lowest price.

Before you make a decision by clicking "Buy Now", it is nice to keep these tips in mind.

- Tickets are generally least expensive when traveling on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Saturday from midnight to around five in the morning because not many people want to travel at that time.

- Airfare is usually cheapest when booked more than 60 days in advance of travel. Even so, booking well in advance does not necessarily equate with getting the best deal. Major airlines offer cheaper prices for last minute booking because they would rather make small profits than leave the seats unsold.

- You should definitely consider the time of year because summer is a high season and another peak travel period is during Christmas and New Year. If you can travel during off season, you would be able to get airlines tickets at discounted rates because less people are traveling at that time.

- Try to fly with the same airlines each time or fly with airlines that belong to the same alliance because then you can build up loyalty points and miles that you can redeem for discounts or free airline tickets.

- Check out cancellation policies, especially if you are unsure about your trip.

Online booking channel has been a great benefit to travelers. You now can do instant comparison shopping for airline tickets, pick seats and print boarding passes from home at your convenience. Nonetheless, nothing good ever comes easily, so before you jump in, make sure the web site you are about to purchase from is trustworthy. Look for VeriSign's Secure Site Seal before giving out your credit card details, and be sure to keep evidence of your purchase.