Tips for getting cheap flights
YOU can save hundreds of dollars on a single flight with these nine tips!
Sign-up for a fare alert
ONCE you know where you want to go, sign up for a price alert. You will get emails telling you the prices of a particular flight, so that you can decide when is the best time to book your flight. There are numerous different fare alert services that you can use; Airfarewatchdog and Skyscanner are both good ones.
Book in advance
Book airfare eight weeks in advance for domestic travel and 24 weeks in advance for international travel — or go last-minute.
The right time to book your flight is a highly debated topic, and for every result you find in Google, you will find a different answer.
However, according to the Airlines Reporting Corporation, travellers save an average of 19% when booking flights eight weeks before a domestic U.S. flight and an incredible 27% when booking an international flight 24 weeks before departure.
Alternatively, you may also be able to score a great deal with a last-minute booking. Last-minute bookings are great when it might be nice to get away for a weekend, but it is not essential that you go.
You do not want the stress of hoping for a last-minute deal which may never come, so if it is essential travel, stick on the safe side and book in advance.
Travel at off-peak hours
Do not worry, you do not have to figure this out for yourself thanks to the “search by month” features on Skyscanner and Google Flights. They allow you to see airfares each day for the entire month. Not only can it save you hundreds of dollars, it will also save you a tonne of time. It works best if you can be a little bit flexible with your dates.
Baggage restrictions
According to the United States Bureau of Transportation Statistics, airlines collected more than US$3.5 billion in baggage fees in 2014! Your money could be much better spent on something that would enhance your travels. To avoid paying for excess luggage, check your airline’s restrictions before you leave the house. Weigh your luggage if in doubt. Also be aware that when some airlines say they have a one-item carry-on rule, they literally mean one item. That means if you have a purse and a laptop, that is two items.
Both have to fit in the same bag, otherwise you will pay — no exceptions. Typically the discount carriers are stricter on this, but the major airlines are also charging passengers.
Fly from an alternate airport
This typically works only if you are flying to or from a larger city, but can save you a tonne of money. For example, if you are flying to London, it is very likely that you will find the best deals by flying into Gatwick or Stansted rather than Heathrow, the main airport. You do need to weigh the pros and cons though, as the alternate airport may be so far away, it may not be worth the savings, or the train ticket from the airport may end up eating into your savings.
Be flexible with your destination
If you are trying to escape this winter’s storms, you may be flexible as to where you go, just as long as there is a beach and it is warm. This is where tools like Skyscanner’s Everywhere search tool come in handy. You will get a list of flight prices by location and can then search from there. It is a fantastic feature for showing you destinations that may not have been on your radar.
Be loyal