Travel

Everyone always asks me how I can afford to always travel. There is no amazing secret sauce to give you a killer deal every time but there are a few things I do which definitely can help.

Look for surrounding airports-

Depending on where you are going you can sometimes find a killer deal by flying in or out of a close airport. For example when I fly to the Los Angeles area I always look at all the airports near LAX. Usually I can find a better deal by flying into Long Beach or Burbank and as an added bonus I don’t have to deal with the bigger airport.

For international flights I also check the big airports close to Salt Lake like Denver or Los Angeles because there are more airlines that fly out of them and usually have more competitive fares. I recently looked at a fare from Denver to Iceland for under $550. This same fare from Salt Lake was almost $900. I could easily get a cheap flight to Denver or drive.

Budget Airlines-

A lot of people stick with the legacy carriers like Delta or American Airlines but sometimes you can find a great deal by flying a low cost airline but be careful because these airlines usually have a fee for everything from a carry-on to picking your seat. This past year I few Allegiant Airlines from Provo, Utah to Phoenix, Arizona; the ticket was $110 round trip ($150 dollars cheaper than the next lowest airline). I knew that I would have to pay for my carry-on along with some other fees but it was still considerably less than anyone else.

Make sure to know all the extra fees before you buy a ticket from a low cost airline that way you don’t end up spending more money than if you would have just gone with another airline.

Non Direct Routes-

Direct flights can be much more expensive than if you have layovers because of how supply and demand work. Airlines take a gamble on long nonstop routes whereas using the hub-and-spoke system airlines can use smaller planes going shorter distances and funnel people through eliminating some of the risk of unreliable demand.

Airlines know that for passengers it’s all about convenience. Most people want to get to their destination in the shortest time possible with the least chance for delays or lost baggage. You pay for the convenience and peace of mind. If you are looking to save money look and see if having a connection can save you a bit of money.

Sign up for Weekly deals-

I hate a cluttered inbox but if you are a frequent traveler or someone who wants to find a great deal on airfare you should sign up for weekly emails from the airlines or a travel company like Farecompare.com.

If you have a flexible schedule you can look at Kayak Explore. You can look for different fares from your airport across the world. You can filter it by date, season, or even type of activity. This tool is a great starting place but sometimes the fares it shows as available are not the price or the trip duration is too long or too short.

Travel in the Off Season-

If you tend to travel during peak times you usually won’t find a great deal on airfare. Tickets to Hawaii during Christmas time aren t going to be cheap BUT if you can go in February you usually can find cheaper tickets and even cheaper hotel rooms.