What if I told you I could save you hundreds of dollars on flights with these tricks? I’m always amazed at what people are willing to spend on flights just because they don’t know any better. Then when I tell them the prices I’ve spent on my flights their jaws drop. I’m always scouring away on the internet finding flight deals, so I’ve become pretty stingy when it comes to paying for airline tickets. I hope that the tricks that I use to find more affordable flights can help you too!
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Splurging – Buying a flight without shopping around first
Saving – Doing your homework to get the cheapest price
Different airlines are different prices!! Maybe one is a budget airline and you pay for what you need along the way (for example meals will not be included in the price), while another includes everything in your price whether you use it or not. I personally prefer to choose whether I pay for services or not so I lean toward budget airlines.
Splurging – Not waiting to purchase a flight
Saving – Tracking flight prices to make sure to get the best deal
If you have your heart set on a destination… do some research before buying those airline tickets. Usually buying tickets more than three months before your departure will mean you’ll be paying a higher price. As the date gets closer, airlines will run specials or drop prices to make sure they sell the seats. If you wait too long to buy however, you run the risk of tickets selling out or missing out on sales that have ended. This is definitely one of the riskier games to play, but can save you so much money if you find the right sale at the right time!
Travel Trick – Always be aware of holidays that are coming up when you’re ready to book. Airlines love to run specials on these days. I’ve seen specials on Saint Patrick’s day, 4th of July, and of course Black Friday and Cyber Monday just to name a few.
Splurging – Settling for the departure airport that’s closest to you
Saving – Searching for flights that might be cheaper from a nearby airport.
A lot of times flying from a major hub will be much more affordable than a smaller airport that’s closer to you. For example my closest airport is Sacramento International, but international flights out of San Francisco, Oakland, and LAX are significantly cheaper. Try clicking “Include Nearby Airports” when entering airports into a search.
Splurging – Buying direct flights.
Saving – Looking for flights with layovers.
If you’re ok with traveling for a little bit longer, a flight with one or two stops usually aren’t as much money as a direct flight. I even like to search for flights that may have a long layover in a new country. Then I can use that layover to see a new place in addition to my final destination.
Iceland is a popular country to do this in and it’s beautiful there!
Splurging – Paying for checked luggage
Saving – Backpacking!
Each airline has different fees for checked luggage, but if you can find a way to pack for vacation in a backpack and only pay for carry ons, you’ll save a good chunk of money. See my post on how to pack more effectively! I promise it’s not as hard as you’d think!!
Splurging – Flying from weekend to weekend
Saving – Being flexible on departure and arrival dates & flying during the week.
Weekends and holidays are prime time to fly, so of course the prices are going to reflect that. Rumor has it Tuesdays are the cheapest day to fly on but I’ve seen cheaper prices on Mondays and Wednesdays as well. If you’re flexible on the dates for your vacation you’ll usually end up finding a better deal online. Try using the +1, +2, or +3 days function that some airlines have when searching for flights. This will allow you to find the best price within 1-3 days of the dates you enter. Or even better, use their “Low Fare Calendar” if they have one.
Splurging – Browsing in a public window when searching for flights
Saving – Opening a “Private Window” when searching for flights
The theory is that airlines use cookies to track your searches and may increase prices because they know you’re probably interested in purchasing. Whether or not this holds true across all search engines and airline websites, I always pop over to a private browser just in case. It’s an easy step to ensure that you’re not getting taken advantage of.
Splurging – Not using airline miles or points
Saving – Getting points towards your vacation every time you spend money
or fly
There are lots of options for credit cards that have rewards and some of them have a huge signup bonus too. I personally have a Southwest Credit Card which I love (right now they’re holding a 40k signup bonus). I’m able to pay my rent online, so I get massive points every month! I also get 1 point per dollar, so I just use my credit card for all my purchases. Just be sure to pay it off every month!
Here is a list of flight search engines to help you get started on your vacation:
- GoogleFlights
- Skyscanner
- Momondo
- JetRadar
- Kayak
- AirWander
I hope these tips have you saving money in no time! If you’d like help finding a cheaper flight, check out my “Beat My Price” travel service that I offer here. I’d love to help!
