Travel

Cheap Flights

Posted by admin on February 23, 2012 Leave a Comment

It has gotten more and more expensive to travel by plane over the last decade, and there doesn’t seem to be any relief in sight.  When fuel prices climbed, airlines raised their prices and fees to compensate.  But as fuel prices leveled off, airlines didn’t.  Therefore, things that used to be complimentary, like onboard refreshments and checking your luggage, now require a fee.

It makes the idea of traveling quite stressful for some.  But, do not give up your dreams to travel the globe.  There are ways to not bust your travel budget on your airline tickets.  From knowing when and where to shop to knowing ways to circumvent hidden fees, it is possible to not only avoid the high cost to airline travel, but to find discounts as well!

Shop multiple sources .  Put all of those online travel portals to good use.  Orbits, Priceline, Kayak, Travelocity and others scour airlines’ rates and compare them for you.  Sign up for alerts so that you can be abreast of the the best rates.

Shop the airline websites, too .  It is possible to get discounts directly from the airlines, and since some carriers don’t allow their rates to be posted on the comparison sites, it is a good idea to keep them bookmarked as well.

Take advantage of social media.  Some airlines post discount airfares on their Facebook pages and Twitter feeds.  Like and follow the airlines, because the trend seems to be heading in this direction.

Shop Tuesday afternoons at 3:00.   Some research indicates that this is the ideal time to find the best rates.  Many also believe shopping really early in the morning hours is also a good time to find cheap airfare.

Don’t book too far in advance.  Or at the last minute.  If you book your flight too far in advance, low demand for the flight you want will likely keep the price high.  And it is widely believed that airlines charge the highest rates at the last minute.  Give yourself plenty of time to shop around and plan your trip, and book your flight about six weeks in advance.

Wednesday is the cheapest day to fly.  Wednesdays seems to be the day with the most empty seats on airplanes.  Therefore, airlines will be the most apt to offer discounted airfare.

Fly out early.  Flying our before the rooster crows can save you cash!  And if there is a red-eye flight to your destination (these flights have limited destinations), take advantage of that!

Enroll in a frequent flyer program.  Take advantage of frequent flyer programs and special credit cards associated with specific airlines.  Establishing a relationship with an airline will not only get you discounted airfare, but you can also get perks like priority boarding, priority seat selection, and free checked bags (a “perk” that used to be standard).

Fly different airlines.  If you find that it is less expensive to book two one-way tickets than a round trip ticket, do it, even if it means flying with one carrier out and one carrier back.

Direct flights can cost you more money.  Booking connecting flights might not save you time, but it sure can save you money!  Just be sure to allow yourself time between flights to travel between terminals, get something to eat, etc.

Travel light.  Airlines used to allow one free checked bag.  Those days are long gone.  Bag check fees can double the cost of your ticket, so try to pack as light as possible.  In fact, if you can limit your luggage to a carry on bag, even better!

Avoid having to check bags.  See travel light.

Airfare is one of the most expensive items in a travel budget.  By taking the time to shop around and employing some widely known tricks, you can save money on your flight, and have more money to enjoy your holiday.

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