What to consider before you book your next flight
Rising fuel costs, growing uncertainty, and an increase in the cost of living means that flying can be very expensive. Airlines are doing their best to keep customers happy, but they also have their profits and shareholders to consider, which means ticket prices are rising and all kinds of additional surcharges are being added. But don’t let that put you off—there’s a world to see and now’s a great time to see it! There are plenty of ways you can save money on flights and enjoy your dream vacation for less, including:
Look for flights on Tuesday morning.
Airlines don’t want empty seats on their flights and so they’ll try and offload those unsold tickets. Many of them release their fare sales on Tuesday morning, so this is the best time to check and buy.
Don’t leave it until the last minute.
It’s true that you can get cheap tickets by booking late, but book too late and you’ll pay extortionate prices. There is a sweet spot that falls between “too late” and “too early”. It varies by airline and destination, but if you keep checking the flight, you can monitor the prices and find the best deal.
Don’t pay for an upgrade.
You can’t beat a free upgrade on a flight, but you can definitely beat a paid one. Paying for an upgrade can be very costly and is best avoided. Everyone gets there at the same time and unless you’re going to be spending many hours in the air, that upgrade won’t make much of a difference.
Fly off-peak.
As with all companies, airlines have peak and off-peak times, and if you book during those slow days and seasons, you could save a fortune. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday are some of the slowest days and you’ll typically pay less for early morning flights, as well. Booking a morning flight will also reduce your chances of a delayed flight or overbooked flight.
Watch out for extra fees.
Pay attention to those extra fees. Most airlines charge for check-in luggage, oversized luggage, and seat selection, but some will also charge for online bookings and more. The fees might seem small to begin with, but they all add up.
Pick a seat at a later date.
Avoid paying those seat selector fees by choosing your seat later. If you arrive early on the day of your travel, you could still choose your seat and won’t pay a small fortune to do so.
Take your own drinks and snacks.
In-flight snacks, drinks, and meals can be pricy, but there’s nothing stopping you from bringing your own food. Buy some supplies from your local discount store or make your own snacks at home. You could even take drinks onto the plane providing you buy them after going through security.
Fly during the holidays.
Summer is one of the busiest times to fly. The kids are off school, many adults have time off, and so it’s the perfect time to book a vacation. But it’s also the most expensive. To save heaps of money, consider flying during the holidays, including Thanksgiving and Christmas. Ticket prices are usually a lot cheaper and it should be just as easy to get time off work/school.
Only take carry-on luggage.
Baggage fees can vary wildly from airline to airline, but most won’t charge you for a carry-on suitcase or bag. Check the size and weight limits, and consider cramming everything you need into that carry-on. Choose clothing that coordinates and can be interchanged to make several outfits. Pack travel-sized versions of toiletries. Wear your coat and your bulkiest outfit on the flight, and don’t pack anything that you won’t need. Not only will you save yourself some money, but it’ll also save you time as you won’t need to queue to leave/collect your bag.
