If you have an occupation that requires you to travel often by air, then there’s no denying that you’re spending a substantial amount of money on plane tickets. Now, except you are wealthy and don’t have to ever worry about your finances, you need to learn how to save money on flights.
Whether you’re planning a business trip, vacation, or traveling for a friend’s wedding, there are a bunch of brilliant ways to cut down on your travel costs. Hence, this post will provide insight into how to save money when booking flights. You’ll certainly find the tips and strategies discussed below very helpful. Let’s dive into it.
When Is The Best Time To Book Cheap Flights?
Booking your flight ticket months before the trip is one of the most common ways you can save costs. This is usually possible when it’s not an emergency trip. If you want to attend a wedding, for example, you can pay for your flight several weeks or a few months before the event.
12 Best Ways To Save Money On Flights
You don’t have to always spend a ton of cash to have nice trips overseas or within the country. Here are some helpful tips to save money on flight tickets:
1. Time Your Booking Right
Time is probably the most important factor to consider when trying to book a cheap flight.
Booking your flight tickets shortly before you travel may make you spend more. You have to look for a window of opportunity to check for low prices for both local and international travel.
For example, for domestic travel, it’s advisable to book the flights at least three months before the date of your trip. For international travel, the window of opportunity is between 4 and 10 months. This is one of the common tips for saving money on flights.
2. Apply The 21-Day Rule
In addition to the rule on timing discussed above, don’t make the mistake of waiting too long before booking the flight you want. Although many travelers don’t know this, keep in mind that fine print on airfares requires an advance purchase. If you want to receive the best fare, you have to buy the ticket 21 days before departure.
On the 20th day, you won’t be able to get the previously cheapest flight as the new cheapest fare becomes $100 or $200 more expensive. This is one reason you might want to set a reminder at least 21 days before your scheduled flight to purchase a ticket. This way, you don’t miss out on the best deals.
3. Check One-Way Flights (For Domestic Travel)
Another way you can learn how to save money on flights is by comparing one-way flight tickets before booking a roundtrip with the same airline.
Here is why you have to do this. Sometimes, one airline may have the cheapest outbound flight while another company may have a very cheap return flight. This means you can cut down costs by just booking a one-way outbound and a one-way return using two different airlines.
But don’t forget that you can only do this for domestic travel.
4. Avoid Delays Or Cancellations
One of the best ways to save money on flight bookings is by avoiding delays or cancellations. Flight delays and cancellations can severely disrupt your schedule and financial situation. You can even be required to pay for meals that you did not plan on eating or have to spend an extra night at a hotel.
Moreover, it’s usually difficult to predict when something like this happens. But even though it might not be something you can readily plan for, here are a few things you can do to lessen the likelihood that it will happen to you:
- You might want to get used to booking non-stop flights. You can probably avoid serious disruptions when you aren’t worried about any layovers.
- Choosing early morning flights is a wise idea. This is when airplanes scheduled for early flights are parked at the airport overnight, preventing any possible delays the next morning.
- Sometimes the best thing to do is call the airline’s international office. You should do this if your trip is interrupted. Making your complaints known can have it rebooked early enough to prevent further delays.
5. Use A Travel Credit Card
Are you a savvy user of travel credit cards? As long as you are responsible with credit, this can be another smart way to save money on air travel. This is because you can score free travel and lodging through your card’s rewards. Some cards also offer welcome bonuses you can spend on free travel.
Mind you, it’s important to have decent credit for this. Don’t use your credit card irresponsibly, piling up debt. Treat your credit card like a debit card because even after spending carelessly, you’ll have to pay off the balance every month.
6. Be Smart When Choosing Travel Dates
Being flexible when choosing travel dates is one of the ways to save money on flights.
Traveling during holidays such as Christmas, Diwali, or Holi should be avoided as the cost of flights will be more expensive than on other days. Likewise, attempt to purchase tickets during the week, when prices are generally less expensive than on the weekends.
On any website or travel app, you can use the calendar view booking option to browse the complete list for a few months. This will enable you to get the best deals on airline tickets and save money.
7. Use VPN Or Incognito Mode For Flight Searches
To book a flight, it’s normal that you go online and browse for a specific airline. But the interesting thing about this is that your browser stores all the data and cookies. Hence, things like your flight route, the travel date, and the number of passengers are data that your search engine will likely have. Travel booking websites monitor this data and can choose to hike the price of flight tickets due to the demand.
So before browsing to book your next air travel, block these websites by using an incognito browser. You can also use a free VPN to browse when booking tickets. It will protect your data from those sites. This is one of the secrets to save money on flights.
8. Use Local Airlines For Domestic Travel
If you are traveling within the country, you should choose local airlines over international ones. The reason for this is simple—many international airlines connect flights with long layovers, making them more expensive than other flights.
Besides, always make sure you check local airline websites for better air travel deals. They often offer cheaper flights, unlike the popular airlines.
9. Use Social Media Deals To Book Flights
Social media sometimes helps you figure out how to save money on flights.
Almost all the well-known airlines you know have official pages on social media, like Instagram, Facebook, or X (formerly known as Twitter). As a way to encourage their customers, some airlines may announce flash sales, coupon codes, promotional offers, or last-minute ticket sales at a very cheap price.
If you are an active follower, you won’t miss exciting deals like these.
10. Take Advantage Of Air Mile Points As A Frequent Flyer
If you travel frequently, the airline you regularly use can consider you a loyal customer. This means you may be entitled to air mile points. The names of frequent travelers are sometimes enlisted on the “loyal customers” list, helping you gain extra points. Also, there are various benefits and discounts you can enjoy if you travel frequently within a month.
On the other hand, you can consider using a credit card that offers cashback on air miles. This is how to save money on flights as a frequent traveler.
11. Avoid Direct Flights
Direct flights are usually expensive. When traveling abroad, cut down costs by using connecting flights instead. Sometimes, you can even choose to pick alternative routes. This will help you get inexpensive flight tickets.
Mind you, connecting flights are not only cheaper, they are also convenient for long-distance travel. So when next you are traveling outside the country, avoid direct flights, as this will save you money.
12. Compare Air Tickets
This is one tip on how to save money on flights. Have you tried comparing the prices of a gallon of milk? If you can do that, then you can compare flight tickets as well.
Now that the Internet has made it incredibly easy to book a flight after a few clicks on your smartphone, it’s not difficult to compare the costs of air travel. Check different airlines and what they are offering for both one-way tickets and round trips. This way, you can find the option that’s within your budget.
Don’t rely on only one flight search engine. Try different ones.
Pros And Cons Of Cheap Air Travel
While looking for smart tips on how to save money on flights, it’s important to keep in mind that cheap air travel may not always be the best option for your trip. Although it has its benefits, there are some drawbacks you should be prepared for. Here are the pros and cons of booking cheap flights:
[Pros]
- Low Prices
This is the most obvious advantage of using cheap air travel. You’ll save money since it’s inexpensive. Besides, many airlines offering affordable flight tickets only travel to a few destinations. This makes their pricing more competitive.
Planning your next trip with this flight can help you save up to 80%, especially if you book earlier.
- Safety
People often think cheap air travel is not safe because the airline may have cut corners to be able to offer such discounted prices. But in actuality, cheap flights are pretty safe.
If you are thinking about the possibility of an accident taking place, you should be more concerned about the airline’s location, not the company itself. When it comes to safety practices, budget airlines are not different from your popular airlines with full-price fares.
- Use Of New Planes
Imagine traveling on new planes despite booking cheap flight tickets. This is very possible.
When an airline decides to upgrade or re-fleet by getting new planes, they will be compelled to reduce ticket costs to draw customers to the new development. This means you don’t need to spend a ton of money sometimes to experience the latest advancements in flight technology.
[Cons]
- Changing Dates Can Be Expensive
Due to unforeseen circumstances, you may have to change your dates. However, keep in mind that this will cost you a ton of money.
Even if the airline initially offered cheap air travel, changing your flight date can attract hundreds of dollars in additional costs. You will have to pay the difference between the ticket you initially purchased and the one you desire now in addition to the date change penalty. You may have to pay quite a bit for even a one-day date modification.
- There May Be Some Hidden Costs
Of course, you are interested in learning how to save money on flights. But surprisingly, cheap air travel may come with some extra costs that you aren’t prepared for.
Here’s the thing—you receive full service when you pay full price. This means some airline perks may be forfeited when purchasing a less expensive ticket.
For example, you’ll probably need to print your own boarding card or pay the airport to have it made for you. Besides, you may eventually realize that a less expensive ticket does not contain meals or beverages.
- Holding Your Preferred Seat Can Be Difficult
Many low-cost airlines don’t assign seats until you check in at the airport. This implies that you should arrive early and get to the front of the queue as soon as you can if you’re hoping to get a specific seat. It also means that you can get separated from your partner or companion if you’re taking a group flight. Always remember this when you’re planning your trip!
- Strict Baggage Restriction
When using cheap flights, you are usually limited to one carry-on bag and one personal item, like a laptop bag, a baby bag, or a handbag. Every airline has its own policies, so if you’re not well-informed, you’ll be shocked to discover that you aren’t allowed to carry more than just an extra coat.
Final Words On How To Save Money On Flights
When planning a trip, flight tickets are a major part of the total expenditure. So if you are trying not to spend a lot of money on your trip, you have to look for affordable air travel.
Apparently, the above tips on how to save money on flights will help you cut down on costs. But more importantly, before using a budget airline, learn about their safety record, maintenance culture, and on-time flights.
You can also check customer reviews and ratings to get first-hand information from people who have actually used the airline before you.
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