Every year we seem to find ourselves making trips all around the world. From visiting family during the holidays to going on business trips, flying is one of the most common ways to travel long distances. Despite its monopoly on the long distance travel market the airlines still maintain high prices that leave many people thinking twice about their voyage. There are a few ways that you can work around the high airline tickets though. With a few pointers you’ll be on your way to a cheap holiday or a reunion that won’t leave you feeling remorseful for spending the money. This can be one of the most important areas that you might want to save money, especially when it comes to the over crowded and budget tight holiday season.
1. Book Early
Saving money on your airline tickets can be as easy as booking a flight a few months in advance. In fact, the sooner you make the plans to fly the better. If you intend on taking a vacation in the winter months it might be a great idea to try to book as early as April so you can lock in a deal without having to worry about it again. Flights made as early as this might be subject to change, but airlines will have to keep you scheduled on a flight even if the flight ends up being pricier than what you originally paid. With the tickets already purchased you’ll have more money for preparation and can put the entire vacation out of your mind until it is time to go. Booking early also means you’ll have as many seats as you need secured, so larger family will feel secure knowing they are all on the same flight.
2. Book online
Looking for flights online as been common practice for awhile, but many people still try to book through a travel agent or by calling the airline directly. There are many advantages to booking online that go further than the home convenience aspect. In fact, when you book online you can actually opt out of some of the hidden fees that sneak up in your total price. While booking make sure to pay extra attention to baggage and food information as you could have a chance to skip out on some of the bigger fees these items can add on to the ticket price. Another great think about booking online is you get to play with flight dates. If you have some flexibility in your schedule then make sure to pick different departure and return dates to see which dates actually give you the best price. You might also want to clear out your browser history if you decide to come back to the same deal. Most airline sites will recognize the cookie and not show you the same deal that you originally found.
3. Keep an Open Mind
Shopping for a flight can be frustrating, but part of this frustration can be reduced if you simply keep a broad time period in mind. A lot of people tend to shop for flights that tend to be at a convenient hour, which is part of the over crowding problem, especially during the holidays. If you’re looking for a flight in a hurry then try searching red eyes to see how much the price difference is. Typically these flights will save you a good chunk of change and will be a whole lot less crowded than the flights that leave during a normal hour. This will allow you to get some rest on your flight so you won’t feel as tired when you arrive at your destination. It might also make the flying anxiety subside a bit, since there will be a lot more room for you to breathe and get comfortable before take off.
4. Mind Your Flight
If you book a flight early it is important to keep an eye on the price of your ticket as time progressed. Sometimes flights decrease in price because of lack of interest or other unforeseen reasons. When this happens many different airlines will actually offer up a discount to anyone that calls up and points out the price difference. This is a lot like matching prices that department stores partake in, so don’t be afraid the ask your airline about it. You should also always keep an eye on your flight to see if it has been canceled. The sooner you know your flight isn’t going to happen the sooner you should be on your phone trying to get re-booked. This might get you on a sooner flight, or flight that might be a little bit nicer than the one you booked. A lot of people who wait too long to rebook often end up with flights the airline provides, which could leave you waiting longer to get to your destination. If the chosen date doesn’t work out for you then you might have to ask for a refund and book with a more expensive company, which no one wants to do when they’re trying to save.
5. Change Fees
When you book a flight you don’t always know what is going to happen between the time of booking and the day of the flight. Sometimes things happen hat force us to postpone a trip or cancel it altogether. A lot of airlines will offer a change fee for your ticket at a fairly affordable price. This will allow you to swap up your ticket for a more convenient time, or post pone the ticket for an entirely different trip. Although this might not actually save you money if you do end up taking the flight, it will save you a whole lot of money if things happen to go awry. Although many people don’t see this fee worth purchasing, those who have lost hundreds on a missed flight might urge anyone to pay the simple fee.
6. Pack Light
One of the biggest expenses people tend to incur through flying is because of their luggage. Most airline sales contain a luggage limit that is fairly reasonable if you can leave out a lot of the extras. Typically keeping your luggage to one suitcase per person or less if possible will get you through your check in and onto the flight without forcing you to pay extra. However, if you’re someone who tends to pack everything and the kitchen sink then you might want to pay the fee for an extra bag rather than paying the fee at check in. One way to really free yourself from baggage fees is to simple bring along a carry on. This will allow you to keep your personal items close to you at all times so you don’t have to worry about them getting lost in baggage. This will also allow you to leave the airport directly after you land, instead of having to wait an extra hour just to pick up your bag. If you’re having trouble choosing what not to bring then you might want to make a check list of must haves. Certain clothes and personal documents are a must, whereas large bottles of personal hygiene products or a multitude of books could easily be left. Also, you might want to consider mailing holiday gifts rather than bringing them on the plane with you.
7. Destination Knowledge
Everywhere you airline travels to has a high and a low season. If you’re planning a trip then it might be wise to do a little research on when you should travel to each destination. Knowing this can reduce the price of your airline tickets and help you save money throughout the entire vacation. Sometimes the highs and lows might be quite obvious, but many have strange seasons. For instance, if you’re planning a trip to London then you might want to book for an October trip. The airlines will be less crowded and the weather will still be bearable enough to walk around and enjoy the sights. If you want a warmer trip, to say the Caribbean, then May is a cheap time to book. This gives the tourist areas a break from the Spring Break crowd before they get ready for Summer tourist. You should also know a bit about the cultures of the regions as you might end up showing up during a great cultural event that many tourist miss you on. A little research can go very far when it comes to your traveling adventures.
8. Use Miles Cards
A lot of airlines will offer many of their customers miles cards, as does many credit card companies. If you tend to do a lot of flying, or perhaps like to take one of two trips a year, then you may want to sign up for a card that gives you miles back. Many people can build this miles up fairly quickly, especially if they tend to do a lot of flying for business, which essentially could get them a couple of free flights a year. If you’re looking into traveling abroad this year then you might want to use your miles points to help reduce the major price of the ticket. This can really help lower your vacation spending and will make the trip more worthwhile.
9. Reconsider Round Trip
For awhile now round trip airline tickets have been the most convenient and budget friendly ways to get to and from a destination. Currently there are so many deals for fliers that it might be wise to simply skip out on the round trip ticket and stick to the single flight ticket. When you’re shopping online make sure to look to see how much your trip would be on both round trip and single trip as you may find there is no price difference at all. These tickets can really draw people in because they believe they’re getting a reduced price when in reality they could be paying for two expensive single tickets. This is why shopping around is important. Buying single tickets is also great for anyone who believes they might be gone for longer than expected. The tickets will allow more time between one another so if something goes wrong it is cheaper to just change the single ticket instead of gaining a fee for both trips.
10. No Food
Traveling makes a lot of people nervous which causes them to want to do whatever it takes to make themselves comfortable. For many, this means eating. Airports are quite aware of how people love to take comfort in some of their favorite foods which is why there is typically a wide selection of restaurant for travelers of all types to choose from. In most there are even bars and coffee shops to help ease the nerves of travelers. This might sound great to travelers, but the truth is most of these restaurants have practically doubled prices for the hungry and weary traveler. This works because most people are tired and frustrated by the time they get to sit down to eat, so they’re willing to pay just about anything. When you’re traveling it is imperative to stay away from these places as they won’t do your wallet any favors. If you can try to bring in some granola bars or buy a candy bar from a vending machine. Typically flights will serve a small snack or meal, so waiting to eat is always an option.
Working around airline fees and time schedules can be horrible, but if you can manage to save some money then the extra trouble will be worth it. Now, when you decide to fly somewhere you won’t have to worry as much about spending a small fortune for your tickets. With these simple tips you should be able to work your way around the airline traps so you can spend your hard earned money on more important things.
