Travel expensive… You can pay hundreds just to fly an hour by plane across several states.
But there are tricks that seasoned travel hackers recommend. substantially reduce your costs. All it takes is a little know-how and a little patience!
Know when to buy the cheapest tickets
When you can find the best airfare prices, they will vary greatly depending on the peak season at the destination and the date of purchase.
Off-season
Before you start looking for a flight, determine the best time to find the best deal. Typically, the best flight deals are in the off-season.
The most popular tourist season varies by world, so do research your specific destination. In the off-season, the weather is usually less favorable, but the attractions remain the same.
shoulder season
High season attracts crowds and dramatically increases airfare. The intermediate season, the months before and after the peak season, offers a chance with ideal weather conditions and less crowds. With the fall in demand, more affordable flights appear.
For example, tThe highest tourist season in the UK is in July and August. Flights during this time are likely to be the most expensive. In the off-season (May, June and September), flights will become more affordable.
21-175 days prior to departure date
Once you’ve decided when you will travel, it’s time to start looking for flights. According to CheapAir research, the best time to book a flight is between six months and three weeks (or 175 to 21 days) of date of your departure for domestic flights. The optimal booking window may vary slightly depending on the destination, but somewhere in that range is a good place to start.
Midweek
Source: Giphy.com
When looking at flights, try to time your purchase for the middle of the week. Tuesday or Wednesday best days to find deals according to CheapAir…
Stay flexible
If you can keep some flexibility with the dates you choose, you can save even more. While there is no constant day of the week when air tickets are cheaper, demand on any given day will affect the price.
That being said, if you can travel on a less popular day, you can save some money. You can find out if the nearest date offers cheaper flights by changing the departure and arrival dates in the search engine of your choice.
Know where to book the cheapest flight
Now that you know the optimal time to book your flight, it’s time to start your search. Instead of checking the fares of individual airlines, try using a search engine. This method will give you a better idea of the available flights and prices.
Comparison sites
Here are some good places to look:
There are several other options, but I’ve always had the best luck with the combination of these three.
If you have time, you should check prices regularly. If you don’t feel like you have time to check prices regularly, consider setting up price drop tracking. When the price drops sharply, you will receive an email.
Directly through the airline
When I find a good fare on a search engine, I usually go straight to the airline’s website. Usually the airline has a similar price or even lower price.
Even if it’s a little more expensive, you may have more options to cancel or change your flight in multiple ways after purchase. With so many factors involved in travel planning, buying the ticket with the most cancellation options is probably a good idea.
Use a VPN to buy cheap flights
VPN is a virtual private network. It allows you to securely and privately access the network by routing your connection through a server and hiding your online activities.
How does this help you find cheaper plane tickets?
Well, if you’ve ever bought airline tickets, you’ve probably noticed that today you can search for airline tickets, but the next day they went up significantly. This is because airline sites can tell you where you are viewing from (creepy I know), and where you live can actually determine the price you pay for your ticket.
VPN confuses the location system that airlines use because it constantly redirects your computer’s IP address. This means you can get the same cheap ticket price anywhere in the country.
Check out low cost airlines
Low-cost airlines may not have the best reputation for comfort, but they can get you from point A to point B on a budget. If you’re okay with less legroom and fewer perks, then be sure to check them out.…
Some of them include Southwest, Frontier, Spirit Airlines, Ryanair, and Aer Lingus. Fortunately, there are dozens of budget airlines out there. You just need to be willing to sacrifice a little comfort to get to your destination.
More details: Need help with your budget? Try a weekly budget
Find the cheapest travel destination
A great way to find a cheap ticket is to travel to a less expensive destination. The cheapest travel destinations depend on the season. If you are thinking of a particular location, be sure to pay attention to the off-season and mid-season.
In addition, flights from major international airports are usually much cheaper than flights from regional airports. If you live relatively close to a major airport, consider going there rather than a regional airport.
Domestic flights are generally more affordable than international flights. If you really want to travel abroad, know that there are usually more affordable fares for South America than for flights to Europe.
More details: 10 cheapest and hidden travel destinations in the USA
Consider a long-term transplant
You may be surprised to know that in some cases you can save money by creating your own connection at a specific destination, but it is entirely possible!
It will take a little to collect the most affordable flights, but you can save hundreds. Alternatively, you can organize a mini vacation at a second destination on the way to or from your main destination.
If you decide to try this option, do not go with tight connections. Instead, look for flights with a break of several days. This way, you don’t have to worry about losing your connection. Since you will still have to grab your suitcases and go through security again, it makes sense to stay a few more days!
Use credit card bonuses to make flights even cheaper
One way to make any flight more affordable is to use credit cards that offer travel rewards. Every time you make a purchase with a travel reward credit card, you will earn travel points.
When it’s time to buy your flight, you can pay for all or part of your ticket with points. Using Travel Reward Points to your advantage can significantly increase your overall airline ticket savings.
More details: Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards of 2021: Save Up to $ 1,000 on Travel