Learn how to get the best deals on flights

It's happened to all of us. You go online to snag a great airfare deal, only to have it vanish into thin air.

"You see a lot of airfare deals out there that sound great. But hidden fees, fine print and black-out dates can make locking in a great deal as tricky as a soft-landing in turbulence," said Consumer Reports senior editor and super shopper Tod Marks.

Marks says there are ways to get the best airfare possible.

"Ideally, you want to book in advance, and never within two weeks of travel," he said.

It's also important to time your purchase.

"Experts tell us there really is a best time to book. And that's at 3pm Eastern Standard time on a Tuesday," Marks said.

That's when the greatest amount of discount seats hit the market -- Noon our time on a Tuesday.

One more money-saving tip: Take advantage of alerts that many airlines and travel sites let you set up to track fares. They really do point you to the bargains.

More tips on saving money on airfare are available here.