My List: 8 Things I Check Before I Book an International Flight

Airline search results make it very easy to compare prices.

They are not always as good at showing you which flight is actually the better trip.

Before I book an international flight, I usually look beyond the number at the top of the screen and check a few other things first.

1. The total travel time. A cheaper fare can look much less appealing when it adds five or six hours to the journey. I always look at how long it will actually take me to get from departure to arrival.

2. The connection. Where is it? How long is it? Will I need to change terminals, clear immigration, go through security again, or collect my luggage? A short connection can be perfectly reasonable in one airport and a terrible idea in another.

3. The arrival time. Landing at 9:00 a.m. and landing at 11:30 p.m. are not the same trip. A late arrival may mean an expensive taxi, fewer transportation options, or paying for a hotel night that barely feels like one.

4. The departure time. That wonderfully inexpensive 6:00 a.m. flight may require leaving for the airport at 3:30. I like to know what I am really signing up for before the low fare seduces me.

5. What the fare actually includes. Checked luggage, seat selection, changes, and sometimes even a carry-on can turn a bargain fare into something much less remarkable.

6. The seat. I do not need the best seat on every flight, but I want to know what I am getting. On a long flight, a few inches of legroom, an aisle seat, or simply being able to choose where I sit can matter more than it does on a 90-minute hop.

7. The airport. A city name on a booking site does not necessarily mean the airport is anywhere near the city. The cheapest flight to “Paris,” “London,” or “Milan” may leave you with a long and sometimes expensive journey after you land.

8. The price of the better option. This is the one I probably think about most. If the nonstop flight, better schedule, or more comfortable fare is $75 more, the decision may be easy. If it is $750 more, I start weighing things differently.

There is rarely one perfect flight. The trick is figuring out which inconveniences matter to you and which ones are worth paying to avoid.

That is why I do not always shop for the cheapest flight. I always shop for the trip I want to take.

Travel well. See you Tuesday.