However, the driving factor in the lack of airlines sales is that over the last half decade the airl

AirTran's 24-hour sale is one of very few opportunities this summer to land cheap airfare. As more travelers are returning to the sky in 2010, the prospects of finding cheap tickets and airfare discounts are slim to none.
However, the driving factor in the lack of airlines sales is that over the last half decade the airlines have been systematically pulling seats out of the domestic market, says Mark Koehler, Senior Vice President of Priceline.com .
The prices of international flights have been affected as well. Koehler says that over the last four to six weeks, Priceline has seen the prices of summer flights from large U.S. cities to desirable European destinations increase 15 to 20 percent over last year.
The era of big sales is over. The summer sales we are going to see this year will be much more sporadic and short lived. Expect to see sales no longer two to three days in duration with limits to which days they are valid.
Low-cost carriers such as AirTran Airways and Southwest Airlines usually announce airfare sales on Tuesday mornings, while competition from the legacy carriers usually free disney world tickets results in them matching these discounts.
For example, midweek travel, especially on Tuesday or Wednesday, offers travelers the lowest fares. If you need to fly on more expensive days like Friday and Sunday, an early morning or a late night flight would be the most affordable.