Flights can be an expensive part of any trip, so in order to save money, booking the best flights is crucial.
Know How to Search
Booking a cheap flight requires some knowledge on which search engines deliver the best results. Certain travel search engines can inflate their prices, while other sites don’t include the budget airlines. Google Flights can give flight dates and times and make it easier to compare that way, but it doesn’t always include the best prices. There isn’t a search engine that is perfect, but using multiple ones can give good fares. When searching, use a private browser in order to see lower prices. When previous searches are remembered by your browser,you could see inflated costs.
Find the Cheapest Day to Fly Out
Even though Tuesday is thought to be the cheapest day to fly, there is no one set day. Search the month of the trip and the route in order to find the cheapest day for the trip.
Consider Budget Airlines
Budget airlines offer cheaper tickets, but it’s important to read the fine print. Know which airport the flight is actually going into. Also check luggage allowance, since some even charge for a carry on.
Book Your Own Connecting Flights
For flights that need a transfer, it may be cheaper for an individual to book the connecting fights themselves instead of having the airline do so. It’s important to do research and not book any tight layovers. Booking with two separate airlines can be problematic, because if the connection is missed, the second airline doesn’t need to reschedule the flight without a fee.
Pay Attention to Local Airlines
Not all search engines include small, local airlines. If you are flying to an obscure place, use a Google search to see if there is a local airline, and then check that airline directly for any offers not found in a normal search.
Take Advantage of Award Miles
If an individual frequently uses the same airline, they can take advantage of award miles they’ve accrued. However, they’ll need to make sure they are comparing the actual cash value of the ticket to get a good deal.
Don’t Wait to Book
If there is a certain location and time where a traveler needs to be, rarely will the flights get cheaper the closer it is to departure date. If the trip won’t allow for some flexibility, booking early is the way to go.