This is of course very important, without a pace to go booking a flight is rather useless. The fastest way to get to your destination by is in a straight line, from A to B. A straight line is NOT a travel plan with 6 transfers at several airports, especially make sure that none of your flight plans need a transfer at Charles de Gaule in Paris, France. Write your source and destination location on paper. Your travel agent will need it.

When you need to fly to a conference somewhere in the world, it would really help to book your flight so that you are in time for your conference. Being in time means that you should be at your destination location around 1 day before the conference starts to make sure you don't have to much problems with your jetlag. Watch especially that you are booking the correct month; it doesn't really help to book your flight for July, when the conference is in June.

After you decided where to go you can make of people who are coming with you. For instance you might want to ask your girlfriend to come along. It would be nice if you were able to book the same flight for both yourself and your girlfriend, so that you don't have to wait on you destination location for over 7 hours.