On this page
The anatomy of an airfareWhy the same flight costs different amountsSix levers that genuinely lower airfareWhat does not lower airfareHow Airfinns shows airfare totalsWho we areHow the booking process worksImportant informationFAQsAirfare is made of a base fare set by the airline, taxes and fees set by governments and airports, any carrier-imposed surcharge, and the booking agency's service fee. Cheap airfare deals almost always come from a lower base fare — taxes rarely change — which is why travel dates and fare class matter far more than where you book.
The anatomy of an airfare
| Component | Who sets it | Does it change with demand? |
|---|---|---|
| Base fare | The airline, per fare class | Yes — this is where almost all price movement happens |
| Government taxes | Governments (e.g. the US federal ticket tax, segment fees, international arrival and departure taxes) | No — largely fixed or a percentage of the base fare |
| Airport and security charges | Airports and agencies (e.g. Passenger Facility Charges, the 9/11 Security Fee) | No |
| Carrier-imposed charges | Some airlines on some international routes | Occasionally |
| Airfinns service fee | Airfinns | No — $35 per traveller online |
On US domestic tickets, the federal ticket tax is a percentage of the base fare, plus a per-segment fee adjusted annually. The September 11th Security Fee is $5.60 per one-way trip, and airports can collect a Passenger Facility Charge of up to $4.50 per airport you depart from or connect through. International tickets add the taxes of each country you depart from, arrive in or, in some cases, transit through.
Why the same flight costs different amounts
Airlines divide each cabin into a set of booking classes, each a letter of the alphabet with its own price and rules. Only a limited number of seats are made available at each price. As the cheaper classes sell, the lowest available fare moves up a step. Airlines also open and close classes based on forecast demand, which is why a fare can drop as well as rise.
This is the mechanism behind every airfare deal: when an airline releases more seats in a low booking class — because a flight is selling slowly or a sale is running — the fare falls. Airfinns searches the classes available to travel agencies at the moment you search, which is why we show live totals rather than "from" prices that may not exist.
Six levers that genuinely lower airfare
Travel date
The biggest lever. Compare the week around your date on the results page.
Departure time
First flights of the day and late-evening flights are often priced lower than mid-morning.
Airport choice
Secondary airports in the same metro area can carry different fare structures.
Stops
Connecting itineraries are often priced below nonstops on competitive routes.
Fare family
Basic fares cost less, but check bags and change rules before you compare.
Trip length
On some international routes, minimum or maximum stay rules affect the fare.
Call Airfinns — an independent travel agency, not an airline.
What does not lower airfare
Some popular tips do not change the price you pay. Searching in a private browser window, using a particular day of the week to book, or switching devices do not change the fare classes an airline has open. Taxes cannot be negotiated, and no legitimate agency can sell a published fare below what the airline files. If a website offers "secret" fares far below every other source, ask what ticket type it is and who issues the ticket.
How Airfinns shows airfare totals
Results show the total per traveller including taxes and our service fee. The checkout page then itemises the total for the whole booking: airline fare, taxes and charges, and the Airfinns service fee. Nothing is added after you approve that total. If the airline's price changes before ticketing, we contact you first.
Fees charged by the airline after booking — checked bags at the airport, paid seat selection, onboard purchases — are paid to the airline and are not part of our total. We list the airline's baggage allowance on the fare so you can estimate them.
Who we are
Airfinns (airfinns.com) is an independent online travel agency owned and operated by VJS Travel LLC. We provide flight booking services through two channels: a self-service website and an assisted booking desk by phone.
We are not an airline. We do not own or operate flights and we have no affiliation with any airline. Our role is to search the fares airlines make available to travel agencies, help you choose, and process the booking and any later changes on your behalf.
Our Terms, Privacy, Refund, Cancellation and Service Fee policies are linked from every page, so the basis on which we operate can be read in full before anything is booked. Whether you book online or by phone, payment is taken only on our own secure systems, and every ticket comes with an airline booking reference you can verify directly with the airline.
How the booking process works
Search or call
Search flights on the website, or call our desk if you'd like help finding options.
Compare options
Review flights by price, journey time, stops and airline. Open any fare to see segments, baggage and rules.
Choose your fare
Pick the itinerary and fare family — Basic, Standard or Flexible — that fits your trip.
Review the full total
Airline fare, taxes and charges, and the Airfinns service fee, itemised before payment.
Secure payment
Pay on our encrypted checkout, or by card on a recorded call. Never by email or text.
Ticketing
We submit the booking to the airline. Most tickets are issued in minutes; some take up to 24 hours.
Confirmation
You receive the airline booking reference (PNR) and a 13-digit e-ticket number per traveller.
Ongoing support
Changes, cancellations and schedule changes handled by our 24/7 desk, under the airline's fare rules.