—by Nicole Barker

In an effort to continue to sell out away supporter sections across North America, here are some timely tips on how to snag a good rate on away day airfare.

Where should I start?

First and foremost, check flights on AlaskaAir.com. Not only does Alaska Air regularly offer lower-than-average airfare, but 107ist members also receive 10% off roundtrip airfare from PDX to away games. In addition, for every 50 Timbers Army members that travel on Alaska Airlines during the 2014/15 regular season, the 107ist will earn one travel certificate, while you continue to earn miles as usual. To ensure your travel will count, register your Alaska Air mileage plan member number. Plus, you get priority boarding if you wear your Timbers jersey on a flight departing from PDX. Also, on select Cascadia flights, Alaska Air’s subsidiary, Horizon Air, offers passengers complimentary regional wine or beer.

When should I aim to book my airfare?

Start keeping an eye on airfare about 75 days before game day, and aim to book your airfare 47 to 54 days in advance. If a low-cost airline, such as Spirit or Frontier, flies to your destination, you could hedge your bets on scoring a last-minute deal 10 to 15 days beforehand. For example, Frontier typically releases promo codes that offer approximately 10 to 23% off flights to select destinations two weeks in advance of a range of dates that typically span three to four weeks. While last-minute deals can be valuable, they can be also tricky given how quickly away match tickets can sell out.

What’s the best way to keep an eye on airfare?

Currently, Google Flights is reputed to be the fastest and most robust airfare search engine. It doesn’t offer price alert emails, however, so you will need to manually check rates.

You can also sign up for email airfare alerts for specific dates and destinations from sites such as AirfareWatchdog.com and Kayak.com. Be sure to cross-reference rates with other airfare booking sites and, most importantly, directly on the airline’s website.

Also check SouthwestAir.com, too, as their rates do not always appear in airfare search engine results. When rates are equal between an airfare search engine and an airline, it’s usually best to book directly with the airline.

Sign up to receive email newsletters from airlines that fly to away days you would like to attend.

Enable mobile notifications for airlines’ twitter accounts to receive an alert when a promo is announced.

Enable price-alert mobile notifications for apps from airfare search engines such as Kayak.

Try searching for flights in “incognito” mode in your web browser. There are reports of folks getting different rates when doing so, but that may be due to dynamic pricing. It doesn’t hurt to try.

What else can I do?

Consider signing up for frequent flier mile programs — even with airlines you haven’t flown. It doesn’t cost a dime to join them, and the airlines may try to lure you with promos targeted for members who yet haven’t flown with them. Of course you can also sign up for airline credit cards, a game that when played right — with diligence and organization — can really pay off.

If you have a reservation with Southwest Air or Alaska Air and you see the price drop on your flight segments, kindly call and request a refund for the difference. Both airlines have been honoring this, even for non-refundable reservations.

If you have a bunch of frequent flier miles with an airline that doesn’t fly to an away day you want to attend, check whether the airline is part of an airline alliance, such as OneWorld, that allows you to book equally valuable — or even more valuable — reward flights with partner airlines.

If you are traveling for work or pleasure and an away game is located at a feasible layover destination, you may be able to schedule a stopover (an extended layover) for free or for far cheaper than if you had booked a separate roundtrip ticket. Even if you don’t see options for a stopover online, call the airline and ask a booking agent. Beware that some airlines charge for booking over the phone, so you may just want to get the flight codes from the booking agent and then book online.

Be familiar with the fine print. Airfare search engines and airlines are all required to post the total cost of a reservation within the dollar amount listed — no more additional fees at check out. However, some airlines have easily avoidable fees that can feel unexpected when you’re uninformed.

If you can fit everything you need into a single carry-on bag, consider flying with a low-cost airline, such as Frontier or Spirit. These airlines have a la carte pricing, which means you pay for anything beyond a cup of water, one carry-on bag, and a seat they choose for you. They can save you a lot of money, though, if you aren’t particular and don’t need a bag of pretzels.

Don’t write off booking with a travel agent, so long as their services are complimentary. If anything goes awry with your reservation, they have more leverage than you do alone. In some cases, they may be able to get you a group rate for your crew or perks that would typically cost you more, such as assigned seating with your travel companions and checked baggage.

Lastly, don’t forget the tried-and-true tactics of searching for nearby arrival airports (especially in more densely populated destinations east of the Rockies), bundling your flights with a hotel room and/or rental car, and having flexible dates. Currently, it is purported that Saturday, Tuesday, and Wednesday are the cheapest days to fly.

What if I see a great air rate but I am not yet sure whether I can attend the match?

If you see a great rate on Southwest Air, book it. You can cancel your reservation any time and receive a 100% credit to be used within a year, perhaps for another away match. No fees apply.

If you see a great air rate and can quickly figure out if you can attend the match or not, book it. Nearly all airlines offer 100% refunds with 24 hours of booking — no sob story needed. Just be sure to verify that the airline offers full refunds within one day of booking.

What if I acquire a last-minute match ticket but I don’t have a flight reservation?

Check out “GTFO,” an app that instantly displays the cheapest flights out of PDX for the next 24 hours.

Drive. Gas prices are forecasted to stay low this summer. You can research whether it’s cheaper to fly or drive with a price comparison calculator.