Flying can cost you a lot of money depending on your flying frequency and where you travel. The good news is that there are ways to save money on flights.
By following proper techniques and money saving tips, you will spend less money on your flights.
In this article, you are going to learn about 11 easy ways to save money on flights.
1. Buy tickets ahead of time
The best and easiest way to save money on flights in to buy airline tickets months ahead of your schedule.
This is because airline tickets will be cheaper at this time. The opposite is also true.
You pay a lot of money when you book a ticket on the last minute.
You could end up paying as much as first class charges on an economy ticket.
As you get to your flight time, there are not enough spots available in the airplane. As a result, the airlines will charge a premium price on a few available seats.
In addition, you get a chance to capture discounts and deals when you start shopping for a ticket a head of time.
From the images above, you can see that the flights will get very expensive when you try to book them at the last minute.
In the first image, you will pay $231 if you want a ticket for the next day.
On the other hand, the same ticket could cost you as little as $40 if you buy it for a flight that is in a month. This is a huge difference.
In order to save money of lights, you should always give yourself enough time to book tickets.
2. Shopping around will be a good way to save money on flights
The second best way to save money on flights is to shop around. Compare many airfares from different airlines all the time before you purchase one.
Some airlines drop or increase prices based on demand. Shopping around will give you a chance to buy the best ticket at the lowest price possible.
One of the smartest ways to save money on flights is to avoid hidden fees. The following are some of the hidden fees you will encounter when flying.
- Pet fees
- Luggage maximum weight and their number. For example, could pay less money on the first luggage and pay as much as twice or more on the second or third luggage.
- Cancellation fees
- In-flight wifi
- Changing seats
- Etc
Avoiding these fees and many more that are not included here will save you money on flights.
4. Buy tickets when there are promotions and discounts
If you are not in hurry to buy a ticket, consider monitoring airlines for promotions and discounts.
Some airlines offer discounts based on seasons to attract specific travelers.
You can save money when you get a discount on your airline ticket.
5. Use a travel credit card
There are a lot of kinds of credit cards. Some of these credit cards are travel credit cards that offer discounts or cash backs when you buy airline tickets with them.
The discount you will get will depend on the credit card use you.
If you want to save money on flights, consider getting a travel credit card. Choose a card that will give you the most return with the lowest annual percentage rate(APR).
6. Get airline miles to save money on flights
Airline miles a.k.a frequent traveler miles are rewards that airlines offer to people who buy their tickets. You can also get mile points if you purchase airline tickets using miles credit cards.
Once you have enough miles, you can use them to buy airline tickets or swap them with other rewards. For example, you can exchange your miles for cashback.
If you go with a mile credit card, consider whether you need one that is tied to a specific airline or a generic one.
A mile credit card tied to a particular airline will allow you to get miles when you use it to purchase tickets with that airline. Other airlines may not give you miles.
7. Purchase a bundle of services to save money on flights
Are you planning to get a rental car and other related travel services? If so, consider bundling them with your airline ticket.
You could get a huge discount when you bundle these expenses compared to purchasing them individually.
8. Do not miss your flight
Missing a flight is a huge mistake many travelers make. Many airlines do not refund missed flights due to the passenger’s mistakes.
You must read policies and terms of services related to your airline tickets.
If your schedule has changed and you can no longer fly, make sure that you work with your ticket provider on cancellation processes.
As long as you give them enough time, you could recover some of your funds. Keep in mind that you may not get 100% of your money back. The longer you wait, the lesser money you will receive.
9. Do not bring luggage when you are not allowed to have one
Local flights do not allow luggage. This is because they use small planes that cannot accommodate luggage.
If you happen to bring one, you will pay a lot of money to fly with it or be required to leave it.
For this reason, you must follow instructions associated with your ticket regarding luggage.
10. Avoid buying alcohol and other products offered during your flight
Local flights and some international flights offer paid services. For example, they could offer you free drinks and ask you to pay for food or alcohol if you want one.
Unless you are really hungry and you cannot wait until you reach your destination, you should not buy food or drinks on the plane.
Products in the airplanes are overpriced and they are not worth you money.
11. Fly from a nearby airport to save money on flights
Are you being charged a lot of money on your flight? Consider flying from a near by airport.
Small airports that do not have a lot of connecting flights tend to charge more money when you fly to from them.
If it will be cheaper for you to fly from a close by airport, drive to that airport to save money.
The airport will charge you money to keep your car for the duration of your say. You must include this expense in your calculations. To avoid this expense, you can leave your car to a friend of yours who lives near the airport.
It could also be cheaper to use public transportation such as a bus or a train to get to that airport.
