How and where can I find cheaper flights?
I'd love to travel more but I feel like flights are so expensive. Are there any tips and tricks you use to get cheap flights? Websites or apps that I should be aware of? Thanks!
The key to purchasing cheap airline tickets is to stay at the destination over a Saturday night. Air fares for the most part, have been priced to the extent where business travelers are charged the most, and those are the people that cannot stay a Saturday night. So anytime that you will not be able to spend a Saturday night at the destination, chances are you're going to be facing a more expensive airfare. If you know the precise dates of your trip, you should always book in advance as many days as you possibly can. With those two items, booking in advance and staying a Saturday night, you're bound to get the best fares and the lowest fares.
Try a budget airline, like Spirit or Frontier. While they don't have the most amenities, they get you where you need to go for a fraction of the cost. Just make sure you're traveling light because there are usually extra charges for checked bags or carry-ons.
Also, check the prices of flying into nearby airports. Some cities even have multiple airports you could fly into. It might add a little extra travel time after you land, but it can help you save a bit of money on your flights.
Also, check the prices of flying into nearby airports. Some cities even have multiple airports you could fly into. It might add a little extra travel time after you land, but it can help you save a bit of money on your flights.
Always search flights in stealth mode on your browser. Check Google Flights to get a feel for which airlines fly your chosen route and check their sites. Often, you’ll find a low fare calendar which gives you the dates of the lowest prices for the route you’re looking for. Check often.
Something that has helped me get cheap flights is being open to some wiggle room when it comes to the dates I fly. If you're willing to fly on a weekday or during off hours, you can usually find flights that are cheaper than the flights that are on more in-demand days. I also subscribe to notifications for deals so that when airlines have sales or discounts I can take advantage of them. Some airlines or credit cards also have loyalty or reward programs that you can use to earn points that can help make your flights cheaper.
Not gonna lie, I thought checking flight info in incognito mode was a myth until this exact moment! But I totally second flying Spirit. Seats feel like I'm riding in a rickety roller coaster BUT it saves money. I also always look at Skyscanner for the best prices, but make sure to buy directly from the airline since they usually have the cheapest tickets compared to third-party websites AND they're a lot easier to deal with should anything go wrong, especially if you're booking a connecting flight. Third-party websites will typically not help you if something goes wrong with your flight.
Sometimes I find cheap flights but then it ends up costing more for the extras like bags or seats. Is there a way to know all these ahead of time? Are there airlines that are good to minimize those costs?
I found Southwest A/L was the best to minimize those costs so book flights directly with them.
You can sign up for email alerts from different airlines to get notified when they have sales. You can also try to fly on days when other people are typically not flying. For example, I recently took a flight on Thanksgiving day that was really cheap because most people already want to be at their destination on Thanksgiving, so they're not flying.
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Reader Tips from How to Buy Cheap Airline Tickets
Sign up for alerts from your nearest airport and your preferred airlines because they may post about cheap flights or offer different deals.
For international travel, flying out of or to a major international airport is generally cheaper than flying into a smaller one.
Flying out on a Tuesday is usually the cheapest day of the week, so try to plan your travels around then.
Reader Tips from How to Book a Flight
Try to book your flight directly through the airline instead of a third-party service because there's usually less hassle around your travel.
Consider getting flight insurance to get a refund on your airfare if the flight cancels or if there's a problem.
Reader Tips from How to Book an Airline Ticket
Try to book with the same airline for every flight because they may reward you with free upgrades or perks for staying a loyal customer.
Make sure you only pack as much as you need so you don't get charged with any oversized baggage fees on the day of your trip.
Track flight prices using something like Google Flights so you get alerted if the ticket price drops.
