Many people can agree that it is generally the airfare that makes up the majority of the trip’s cost. Even though transatlantic flight prices have declined in recent years, they can still be expensive. Travelling abroad on a budget isn’t always easy but trying to book cheap flights can be the difference between a wonderful trip and a miserable one.
When trying to find the cheapest flights to a particular destination, we’ve all experienced the tiresome, repeated search. When it comes to frugal flight booking, there are endless search engines and constantly fluctuating prices. We’ve put together some top tips, which will help you save time, money, and frustration when booking your next flight.
Find out when it is best to book cheap flights
The possibility of lining up countless dates before booking a holiday isn’t always feasible. When you are flexible, however, it can make all the difference. Weekday flights are generally cheaper than weekend flights. Generally, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays are the best days for bargains (since these days aren’t as popular for travel).
If you’re looking to really travel on a budget, many airline websites make it easier to find cheap airfare. If you’re looking for a weekly booking system, look for one that shows you the price throughout the week. In addition to this, the comparison site Skyscanner presents flight prices in a handy graph. This makes it easy to determine the cheapest days to fly.
Consider your flight time carefully as well. You might find cheap flights at 6 am but remember to factor in travel time. There is little chance that public transportation will run and you will not be able to get a lift.
Check which locations are on offer
Remember that peak season in the UK won’t necessarily be peak season elsewhere in the world. Prices vary depending on where you’re flying to.
If you’re not bothered about where you can fly to, you can try and save money by using Skyscanner. You’ll just need to enter the airport you’ll be departing from and click on the destination box and select the option ‘Everywhere’ when it appears. All you’ll need to do next is choose the dates and hit click search. Your chosen airport’s flights will be listed from cheapest to most expensive on that date.
The idea of trying somewhere completely different is a great option if you aren’t able to be flexible about dates. You shouldn’t be deterred by new places. Taking a look online, you may find it has everything you’re looking for, including sun, sea, sand, and lots of other activities.
Use flight price search engines
The best way to find a great deal on virtually anything you buy is to shop around and do your research. You can compare cheap airfare prices faster and easier on a lot of sites. Search for good deals on bundles (such as flights and hotels) on sites such as Expedia. Before you check airline websites to see if separate bookings are cheaper, do this.
With Momondo, you can easily see which days of the week are the cheapest around the dates you’ve chosen. You can also alter the search to focus on the quickest route if that’s more of a priority to you. In addition to Skyscanner, Google Flights, Travel Supermarket and Kayak are good sites to use.
Look to book early rather than search for last-minute deals
There is a misconception that last-minute deals are cheap, but this is rarely true. The best time to book flights is well in advance since they’re most affordable when they’re first released (usually a year before the trip but sometimes even earlier than that). So when flights go on sale, book them right away. Particularly if your trip coincides with a school holiday or a big local event, you need to plan ahead. You’ll want to get the best travel deal before prices skyrocket. You may be able to find great deals from flight inclusive packages or flight inclusive holidays if you look early enough.
It may be possible for costs to dip again before rising a few days before departure. If it’s a popular flight, prices may not dip at all (if it’s a risk you don’t want to take) or it may sell out before you get your flight tickets. Although, Lastminute.com is definitely worth checking out if you’re more flexible because as the departure date approaches, the price of the flight drops.
The Hopper app will tell you whether leaving it late is worth it. Based on the prices of millions of flights over time, you can enter where you want to fly from/to and get a price prediction.
Budget airlines may charge extra fees
Beware of mysteriously cheap flight deals, especially with budget airlines. The hidden costs often accompany promotional pricing, which isn’t a welcome surprise. Several factors can raise the price of flight tickets, such as seat selection, air taxes or baggage fees.
A plane ticket’s price is often dominated by air taxes. Before purchasing anything, be sure to check what is included in the price. Sometimes airlines add extra features like travel insurance without asking.
Similarly, try to travel light if you can. When it comes to hand luggage, you’re usually free to take it on the plane, but make sure that you weigh and measure it before you arrive so that you don’t have to pay extra!
Even so, don’t get too excited just yet about budget flight deals due to the increased costs. Don’t let the destination airport charge you extra if you consider all the extra costs for a flight ticket.
Book flights in Incognito
One of the most important techniques to get inexpensive flights is to be as anonymous as possible during the flight search process. The best flight deals and rates vary according to demand. Airlines utilise statistics on how many people look for and purchase plane tickets to determine how much to charge.
Consequently, if you’ve been checking back on a particular flight, you might find that it’s becoming more expensive. It’s the airline’s way of getting a few extra pounds from you because they know you’re likely to buy it.
It may be helpful to delete your search cookies in order to avoid this. and if you wipe your browser history, see how the cheapest price changes.
If you want to search in a private browser (the option is available when opening a new window or tab), you can do so. By concealing your location and identity, airlines will not be able to determine your prices.
Use a credit card to pay for flights
Making larger purchases with a credit card can provide some protection. In the event that a travel company or airline goes out of business, you are protected if you spent over £100 on a flight.
It may be helpful to use your credit card instead of a debit card since debit cards do not offer the same protection. The exchange rate on credit cards is generally better than that on debit cards when spending abroad.
Certain credit cards also offer air miles and cashback on flights. The return on investment might be worth spending a bit more on your flight.
Book cheaper connection flights
If you’re looking to book a long-haul flight then it would most likely be cheaper to book a flight with a connection rather than a direct one. It may take you longer to travel, but you will probably save money in the long run.
Compare flights on comparison websites by unchecking the ‘direct flights only’ box. However, be mindful of the dangers associated. If one of your earlier flights is delayed, you may miss your connecting connection.
It’s also a good idea to browse comparative sites by country rather than a city. Airports in major cities are always more expensive, whereas airports on the outskirts typically cater to inexpensive carriers. Including these alternatives in your flight search could save you a lot of money.
If you’re not in a hurry to go anywhere, it can be worth contemplating a layover to save money. Check if it would be cheaper to stay somewhere else for a day or two en route.
Combine your flight and accommodation bookings
You’ll receive discounts on flights, air transfer, accommodation and certain activities if you manage to book a package holiday. Due to the large volume of bookings made by holiday companies, they often obtain the best discounts and can even offer holiday packages cheaper than regular flight deals.
However, if you like to explore and eat out a lot on holiday, this might not be the ideal choice for you. By eating at your hotel, you’ll save a significant amount of money since food and drinks are included.
