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Here are valuable tips for getting cheap flights.
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Airline fare comprises a big portion of your travel expenses, so finding ways to get cheap flights would save you lots of money. I know because at one time or another I’ve luckily bought really cheap flight tickets and rejoiced at just how much money I’ve been able to keep for myself. Money that I’ve instead spent on more rewarding travel experiences like museum passes or delectable local cuisines.
The tips on how to snag cheap flights listed below are a product of my many years of travel. I’ve learned them while finding ways to save a few precious bucks myself. In short, they’re tried and tested. Apply them on your next trip and get huge savings on your plane tickets, too.
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How to Get Cheap Flights
1. Get your tickets in advance
Plan your trip ahead of time. This allows you more time to search for flights and airline schedules, which makes you an early bird for cheap flights. I’ve learned that booking your flight 3 months in advance saves you a lot. The nearer you book your tickets to your intended travel dates, the more expensive your flights get.
A case in point was our trip to Europe last summer where we got to save around $255 per person on our round-trip tickets. The same thing for our Paris to Venice flight last fall wherein we only paid around 20 euros per person because we booked the flight 2-3 months in advance.
2. Fly during the middle of the week
Studies show that flying during the middle of the week, say Tuesday or Wednesday, is much cheaper than doing so on weekends. Fridays and Sundays are said to be the most expensive days to fly. I personally experienced this when we flew with easyJet for that Paris to Venice flight mentioned above, where we would have paid twice or even thrice the amount had we flown during the weekend.
3. Avoid traveling during holidays
Corollary to the above, flying during holidays can cost you much as these dates tend to have some of the most expensive flights. Try doing your travel during the off-peak season when not only can you avail of reasonably priced flights, but also enjoy the thinner tourist crowds. Plus, accommodations and sightseeing fees are also cheaper during off-peak seasons.
4. Be flexible on travel dates
If you need not arrive at your place of destination on any specific day of the week, consider being flexible and flying on any day of that week that has the most low-priced fare. Being open-minded on travel dates helps you find the best deals or the cheapest flight. Why fly on a Thursday when that would cost twice as much as if you would two days before? Anyway, it really wouldn’t matter if you fly on Tuesday or Thursday.
5. Make use of global search engines for flights
Making use of flight aggregators like Skyscanner or momondo is very helpful. With these sites, you can search and compare the prices offered by different airlines. You can choose the kind of flight you want (non-stop or with a layover) and have the option to choose airports (within the city or outside). You are then directed to the best product that fits your needs or the cheapest one available. It’s free and saves you time since it’s like a one-stop shop.
6. Don’t discount your travel agents when it comes to cheap flights
In the past, I’ve gotten really good deals from my travel agent. Some travel agents maintain good ties with airline companies that enable them to offer less expensive tickets to their clients. Visit or ask your travel agent what their prices are for they might just have that low-priced ticket available for your particular travel.
Related Read: Work With a Travel Agency Specializing in Europe to Plan Your Dream Trip
7. Search for one passenger first
If you’re traveling with your family or in groups, do your ticket search for one passenger first and not for the entire family or group. Sometimes it’s more economical to book or get tickets per passenger than if you do it as a group.
8. Fly Red-Eye to Get Cheap Flights
If you’re not constrained by any schedule or preference, try taking red-eye flights, or the ones scheduled early in the morning or late at night. Usually, these flights are more low-priced than the rest.
9. Choose flights with a stopover or layover
Again, if you’re not bound by schedules or have time to spare, choosing flights with stopovers and layovers is often more economical. Longer layovers tend to be cheaper, too. If you’re worried about the extra time you’d be spending at the airport, you can use it as a respite from all that time you were bound in your uncomfortable narrow airplane seat.
Plus, if you’d be laying over at a nice airport like Singapore’s Changi, for instance, you can catch a movie, go window-shopping, or enjoy many of the amusements offered in the place while waiting for your flight.
10. Fly to wherever is cheapest or free
If you have no particular destination in mind and all you want is a getaway from all your daily routine, try going spontaneous and just choosing the cheapest destination. Better yet, get the free one. Don’t tarry as these low-priced tickets usually have limited periods or seats available.
Some local airlines constantly offer promotions on really cheap round-trip tickets. At one time we were lucky enough to get round-trip tickets for as low as $21, all in or with no additional charges, for a trip to Boracay, one of the most beautiful beach islands in the world.
Related Read: Free Vacations for Low-Income Families – How to Get Away Without Breaking the Bank
11. Check airport location
Some airlines that offer cheap flights have airports that are outside the city, which are sometimes out of the way and would require you to travel a great distance and spend more time just to reach your destination. So check the location of the airport you’ll be flying in or out because you might have gotten your ticket at a bargain, but you’ll actually be spending more in the long run because you’d have to pay for a ride going from or to that airport.
As an example, when we flew from Brussels to Prague last summer, we still opted to fly out from Brussels South Charleroi Airport because even if the latter was an hour by train from downtown Brussels where we were coming from, it was way cheaper to do just that than to board one of the flights from Brussels-National Airport. Also, the time it took to travel from Brussels to Charleroi was negligible compared to the amount we’d be spending had we chosen Brussels-National as our exit point.
12. Check for alternative routes with cheap flights
Not all routes are priced similarly, so checking each available one is worth the time and effort.
13. Avail of frequent-flyer programs
Some airlines have good frequent-flyer programs that allow you to purchase tickets at a fraction of the cost. And if you’ve accumulated enough points, you can even get them for free. Sign up and be a member of some.
14. Avoid choosing seats or buying meals beforehand
During the booking process, most airlines would offer you the chance to preselect your seats or your in-flight meals. These options come with hefty fees so it’s best to avoid them. At times, it really doesn’t matter which seat you get, and if a meal is a part of what you paid for, then it’ll be available to you during the flight without you having to pay more just to reserve it early on.
Also, beware of the booking process of some airline companies, as they can be tricky to navigate sometimes. As mentioned above, seats and meals with fees are sometimes already selected for you in advance and it’s sometimes difficult to detect this early on if you’re not careful and vigilant enough. You’d just be surprised at the end that you’re paying so much more than you thought you would.
You need to deselect these preselected seats or meals or uncheck the boxes to opt out of them. Before you hit the PAY button at the end of the booking process, make sure you’ve already unchecked or deselected these add-ons and would be paying just the base fare and other legitimate charges.
15. Search airline websites if they have promotions or cheap flights
Airlines offer promo fares now and then so visiting their websites regularly ensures you’ll find cheap flights. Better yet, sign up for their email notifications or newsletter to be notified well ahead in advance of whatever price promos they will have.
16. Look for cheap flights coupons
The Internet is teeming with websites offering coupons for airline tickets. Research them and get discounts on your airfares.
17. Download travel apps to find cheap flights
There are travel apps that take note of promos currently being offered by airline companies. When you have these apps, they will notify you, usually in advance, of low-priced airfares being offered by airline companies. As the seats of some of these promotions are sometimes limited, getting notified well in advance helps you become first in line for these promos.
18. Travel light
Carrying lots of baggage is expensive, as you have to pay for the excesses, so always travel light. Some small airline companies or budget local carriers do not even provide any baggage allowance such that whatever luggage you’ll be bringing, even cabin luggage, will be charged. I’ve seen other travelers shell out a lot of bucks for baggage fees due to having quite several bags.
19. Remember to print your boarding passes beforehand
Most airline companies, especially the low-cost ones flying local or domestic, require you to print your boarding passes at home or before the flight. If you haven’t, they will charge you significant fees that would put quite a dent in your budget. Print your passes before going to the airport to avoid these unnecessary fees.
Wrap Up
In closing, remember these tips to get yourself cheap flights on your next trip. If you have other tips, we’re happy to hear them so please share. Happy travels!
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