Welcome back! For most trips, airfare is the most expensive part of the trip, and finding a cheap flight deal can be what makes or breaks your trip. This week, I’ll share some of the best tips on finding cost-effective airline tickets that I’ve come across over the years. So let’s get started.
Be Flexible
The cost of an airline ticket depends a lot on when you are flying, not just the time of the year but even the day of the week. As I mentioned last week, travel experts at Expedia say the best day to book your flight is on Sunday, the best day for travel is Wednesday, and the best deals to be had are when booking 21-60 days ahead of your trip.1 But what if you are traveling for the holidays or the summer? Everyone knows that ticket prices are higher during holidays and summer, and so is the hassle factor, but it is important to remember that if you are going to fly when everyone else is flying, it’s going to cost you. So, for example, if traveling to Paris is a bucket list item for you, make sure you go in the spring or fall when there are fewer visitors and cheaper flights. Flying off-season is always the smarter way to go.
Not only can you be flexible with your travel timeline, but you can also save yourself some hassle by being flexible with your destination. Now, I am not suggesting that you should change that trip to Hawaii and instead plan a vacation for Beattyville, Kentucky. What I am suggesting is that you consider flying into a less popular airport near your destination or maximize your flexibility by being open to different destinations altogether. The truth is there is always an airfare deal to somewhere, and while it may not be your first choice, you may just discover your new favorite destination AND have more money in your pocket to spend once you get there.
The moral of the story is that when you are locked into one place at a specific time, you are pretty much stuck with what you get, and that’s that. Try being a little flexible, and a world of new opportunities will be within reach, even if it isn’t Beatysville, Kentucky.
Stay On Your Toes
Years ago, a friend gave me a great tip after he scored a round-trip ticket to Japan for $700 instead of the normal $1500 price tag. No one has the time or bandwidth to scour the web for flight deals every day; that’s a full-time job. Thankfully, it’s someone else's. Before you look for specific flights, make sure you are signed up for what I consider to be some of the best sites and newsletters out there. Join the mailing list for several airlines and “last-minute deal” sites because they will give you access to the very best deals out there. And, while the majority of them may not work for you, there will be that one diamond in the rough that does. Remember, these “deal” flights are typically only available for about 24 hours, which is why subscribing to these sites and newsletters will make sure you don’t miss out.
Aside from joining airline newsletters, the best websites for finding travel deals are:
- Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) – The BEST for upcoming US flight deals.
- The Flight Deal – Great for global flight deals.
- Holiday Pirates – The best for European flight deals.
- Secret Flying – A great site for flight deals from around the world.
Search Effectively
If you want the best deals on airfare, you need to use lots of search engines. The problem is not all travel search engines are created equal. In fact, many of the major search sites don’t even list all the flights available, especially those from budget carriers. On the other hand, some of these sites only show you the flight costs directly from the airline’s site, not the discounted prices available. And while there is no perfect search engine, my favorites are Skyscanner and Google Flights because I feel they consistently return the most comprehensive results.
- Skyscanner – The best booking site out there. They have a great user interface (and a great app for mobile)
- Google Flights – Great search engine that lets you see prices for multiple destinations.
I hope that has sparked some travel inspiration in you for the week! Happy vacation planning, and don’t forget to join me here next week when we will talk all about tackling road trips.
Until next time…
One last thought, I believe an educated investor is an empowered investor. If you like what you’ve read and think your friends and family can benefit as well, please share.
Sources:
NomadicMatt.com
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