Pleasant flight = no-worries airfare

"All I need to know is the sites you use to book airfare."

That's a comment I often hear, but "the sites" are only part of how to save money. You need to know how to use the sites.

For flights, use Google Flights to find out what's available, and check different airports to find the most affordable departing point (we travel about six hours to fly from Toronto instead of from closer airports, because the flights run about half the cost). Always be sure you're booking directly with the airline; you don't want to go with cheap third-party sites that have lots of "fine print" restrictions and poor customer service.

You want to use a credit card (not a debit card) to book airfare. A credit card offers protections that debit cards don't; if you need to cancel for some reason, it's much easier to get the money "back" on a credit card rather than a debit card.

For travel insurance - something you want - take a close look at the affordable insurance the airlines offer. Be aware of the limits, though. The recent global pandemic is beyond the scope of most travel insurance, for example, although many airlines offered refunds or vouchers anyhow. Also consider third-party travel insurance if it offers refunds in cases where the airline won't.

Most importantly, know what you're purchasing. Are refunds offered, or only credits? What if you need to change flights - will one change void your entire flight? This is not an area where you want to be surprised.

If you know "how" as well as "what," you're more likely to score deals that meet your needs and equal a pleasant flight.