Six Things To Do To Save On Airline Tickets

Air travel is one of the miracles of the modern world. Fast and efficient, flying is the best way to travel long distances. However, besides even the hassle of security lines and the discomfort of narrow seats, there is one huge downside to traveling by plane: the price. Business flying is frequently very expensive — but it doesn’t necessarily have to be that way. Often, significant savings are possible. Here are six of the best ways to spend less on airline tickets.

Method

Use all search methods. The internet has made it possible to search quickly through hundreds of available flights for the best deal.

Many such flight aggregator services are available, including Expedia, Kayak, Orbitz, TripAdvisor Flights, Skyscanner, Priceline, Travelocity, Momondo, and Hotwire. Meanwhile, sites such as Yapta and AirfareWatchdog offer automatic airfare alerts, notifying you if a ticket price drops either below a certain price or by a significant amount.

While flight aggregator sites are the primary way to find inexpensive tickets, checking on the sites of individual airlines is also a good idea. Sometimes airlines will offer special prices available only in this location. Another way to learn about insider deals is to sign up for an airline’s email alerts or follow them on social media.

 

Check Airports

Look at different airports. Depending on where you are flying to and from, there may be more than one nearby airport. If so, it would be foolish not to check for a cheaper alternative. Fares at different nearby airports can vary drastically. Just remember to check the respective ground transportation costs as well, since differences there can also be significant.

When to Travel

 Fly the right day. If possible, it’s best to fly on a Tuesday or Wednesday. These days are less popular with travelers, and so flights cost less. Friday and Sunday, meanwhile, are the worst. Of course, these rules are certainly not set in stone. That’s why using a flexible date search when looking for a ticket is smart. The flexible search function on flight aggregator sites allows you to search a whole range of dates for a trip, helping you pinpoint the exact cheapest day to go.

Time

Be flexible, time-wise. A flyer who insists on taking a nonstop trip at the most convenient time possible will probably have to spend more. However, if you are willing to fly at such undesirable times as early in the morning or late at night, or to make at least one stop, you are likely to get a significantly cheaper ticket.

Stay On Top of It

Check options often. Airline ticket prices are far from static. In fact, they often change even multiple times a day. Start looking early, and keep checking back frequently, if you truly want to save. Regularly looking up prices will also help you to get an idea of what constitutes a good deal for your route. The best individual day to search for flights is Tuesday, when prices tend to be at their lowest.

Fees

Check for extra fees. The ticket itself is only part of the total cost of air travel. An ostensibly cheaper flight from one airline might be more expensive once you factor in such extra costs as baggage fees. For example, some airlines will let you check bags for free, while others even charge for carry-ons.

Traveling by air will never be exactly cheap, but that doesn’t mean it can’t at least be cheaper. Sometimes, savings even hundreds of dollars are possible. Since airline tickets can be costly, it’s important to do all you can to save. Be sure to keep these six tips in mind the next time you are booking a flight.

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