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How to Find the Best Flight Deals: Save Time, Energy, and Money
Airfare is a large chunk of the travel budget. I have personally put off taking trips many times because the airfare was shocking. I would hear other people talk about how they found great flight deals to Europe. Many times I got excited and search for flights myself. After spending hours searching the internet I would give up frustrated.
The truth is, I don’t have the time or energy to mess around for hours searching for discounted tickets online. Since flight-hunting is not my thing, I needed to learn the tricks to find cheap flights fast. There are many travel hacks for airline tickets promising to cut travel costs, it is hard to know where to start. Here are 14 of the best tips for finding cheap flights without wasting hours of your precious time.
Mistake Fares
Mistake fares are a great way to get a cheap flight abroad. Sign up for flight deal sites and get notified if an airline advertises a mistake fare. Be prepared with a list of places you want to visit and dates you can travel. If a mistake deal posts, there is a short window to jump online and grab it before the airline fixes the mistake. The best websites to find cheap flights are The Fare Deal Alert and Secret Flying. Also, sign up to receive sale alerts from airlines you travel often and follow their Facebook page. In the US, Alaska Airlines and Southwest often have sales that make long weekend trips affordable.
Know When to Buy
In general, airlines post flights 11 months in advance but that is not the best time to find cheap flights. Airlines assume if you are booking that far in advance, the flight is for something important and you will pay whatever cost they post. The price of a plane ticket changes an average of 71 times before takeoff. Prices fluctuate based upon supply and demand. Flights are often less expensive 3 months out when demand is low. As the flight fills up, the price increases. There is no magic number of days in advance you should purchase your flight, begin looking at prices 6-8 weeks in advance. CheapAir reports domestic flights should be booked 47 days in advance and international flights should be booked 1-4 months in advance. Finding cheap flights last minute is rare. In fact, tickets are often the most expensive within 14 days of travel. There is no evidence that it is cheaper to buy your airline ticket on a Tuesday (or any other day). Airlines offer Black Friday sales and often run their best sales in January and February.
Read: Travel Budget, How Much Will Your Dream Trip Cost?
Use Flight Comparison Sites
Flight search engines, such as Google Flights and Skyscanner, are the best places to find a cheap flight. Generally, the best days to depart are Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday. These are off-peak days with the most supply. If you are traveling on a budget, it is worth considering long layovers and multi-stop flights. Be sure to factor in the time lost in your destination to decide if this is truly worth the savings.
Tip: Be cautious and read the charges when using a booking engine such as Expedia. Check for booking fees, credit card payment fees or other additional charges fees booking engines may add. The airline site may offer the same price minus those charges.
Be Flexible
You will find the best flight deals when you are flexible with dates, destinations, and airlines. Use the calendar function to check flight dates, moving a day forward or backward can save hundreds of dollars. The time of day matters, early morning, and overnight flight prices are often the least expensive. Find the best deals in a flight search engine by leaving the destination blank or stating only the destination country. Also, search for nearby airports. For example, I live in San Diego California. Flying from San Diego is usually not the best deal. Los Angeles or Tijuana are both alternatives dependent on the amount of savings, airport transportation, and parking fees.
Airfare Alerts
Always check if the current price is typical for the flight. Buy immediately when the slider is in green. If you are not flying for 60+ days and the price is in the red, consider waiting. Set the price tracker or airfare alert to be notified if the flight cost increases or decreases. If the airfare drops into the green, buy the ticket fast. Airfare may jump from green to red in one day. There is no evidence clearing your cookies or searching incognito makes a difference in flight search engines. I do it anyway. If you are a Chrome user simply hit Control, Shift, “N” and an incognito window will open.
One Way vs Round Trip
In the past, purchasing a round-trip ticket saved hundreds of dollars. In fact, people have purchased a roundtrip ticket with no intention of using the return flight because it was less expensive than a one-way flight. Always compare a round-trip ticket to the price of two one-way tickets. Being able to mix and match airlines opens up many possibilities.
Mix and Match Airlines
Be open to and mixing and matching airlines. It is easy to find inexpensive flights to London and then jump on a budget flight somewhere else. Or, create your own stopover by booking the second flight a few days out. If you plan to connect on the same day, ensure there is a 3-hour window between flights in case the first flight is delayed.
Read: Airline Stopovers, A Travel Hacking Strategy
Purchase Tickets Separately
Search for a ticket for 1, even if you are flying with 4 people. The search engine will automatically locate 4 seats together during its search and charge the highest seat price for all of the tickets. This can bump the price several hundred dollars. Purchase tickets separately and use the seat selection tool to sit together.
Change the Currency
If you are flying to a country whose economy is weak, search for airfare in their currency. You may be able to save hundreds of dollars by simply changing your location and currency on the airline website. Be sure to pay with a credit card that does not charge foreign transaction fees.
Avoid Tourist Season
Be aware of your travel dates and avoid tourist season. If you are flying during the high season, you will be paying high prices. The high season in North America and Europe is from mid-June through mid-August. The least expensive time to fly is off-season, January through mid-May. September and October are low seasons. Generally, you will find great flight deals, fewer crowds, and decent weather during the low season. Prices increase due to demand. Avoid flying 7 days before or after a holiday and pay attention to festivals and large sporting events. The more flexible you are, the better the airfare deal you will find.
Read: Travel Calendar, When and Where to Go
Budget Airlines
If you need to find a cheap flight fast, go directly to your local budget airline. If you are unsure what budget airlines fly out of your airport, check WhichBudget. Once you have your options, you need to get to know the airline fees. Popular budget airlines with flight deals in the US are Alaska, Southwest, and JetBlue. Do not forget to add in the cost of baggage when comparing flights. When flying on a budget airline, be sure to pay for baggage beforehand, check-in online, and print your boarding passes before airport arrival. Also, do not forget to bring your own food, water, and entertainment.
Hidden City Fares
Take advantage of ‘hidden city fares’ on Skiplagged. Skiplagged searches for the least expensive option to your final destination. Sometimes, the least expensive option is for you to end your flight at the ticket layover city. Airlines do not like this and it is not something you want to tell them you are doing. Have you ever been waiting patiently for your own flight and heard people repeatedly being called to their gate? I always assume they found a hidden city fare and are on their way out the front door. To take advantage of these deals you will need to pack carry-on only. You don’t want to get off the plane in Atlanta and your luggage continues on to Miami.
Travel Hacking Flights
Sign up with the airline reward program for every flight taken. Every. Flight. Pay for every flight with a travel credit card. Every. Flight. No exceptions. Use the points and miles earned for free flights, airline upgrades, free hotel rooms, and attraction tickets. Travel hacking can be as simple as you want it to be and will always save money.
Read: Basic Travel Hacking Strategies for Beginners
Get to the Gate Early
Flights are often overbooked. Sit near the desk and pay attention. Be ready to jump up when the desk calls for volunteers to take a later flight. It is always worth checking what is being offered. You may find you are being rebooked on a nonstop flight and will arrive at a similar time, be given a voucher for a future flight, and may even be bumped up to first class.
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