Traveling is easy and so is booking flights. But all we always do is spend more than we wanted to or expected to.
After all, if flights are expensive then you aren’t going anywhere. But here’s a small guide that will that will reveal the secrets of booking cheap flights.
Before starting the guide, it’s good to ignore all the myths. You may come across online myths about finding cheap flights. Know that they are all silly. The very first thing to know about booking cheap flights is that there is no magic bullet to it. There are no exact days or specific time periods in which you can book your airfare.
With the help of a bit of a research and expert opinions as well as consistent travelers, find below the guide:
1. THE 24 HOUR RULE
Whenever you book a flight, always check if the airfare has fallen the next morning. If it has, then within the 24-hour period give a call to the airline and cancel your booking while you pay them a penalty which wouldn’t be that costly.
2. FLEXIBLE IN YOUR TRAVEL DATES AND TIMES
Obviously, flying during peak seasons will cost you double than what it is supposed to. If you’re going to fly when everyone is going to then you’ll end up paying higher fares.
So try and be flexible with your dates. Moreover, it is always flexible to travel during you’re the weekdays than the weekends. Taking an early morning or a night flight would also be cheaper than the rest of the day.
3. LAST-MINUTE TRIPS
Airlines are known to cut their prices when their flights aren’t full. So, always be looking for it.
4. FLY WITH BUDGET AIRLINES
With the advancement in everything, new Low Cost Carriers have emerged in the market which service with long haul routes for a little money. Many at times, Low Cost Carriers offer no-fare tickets and the passenger only has to pay the taxes.
Just make sure you always follow their rules and their fees. Always check before booking if the cost of the ticket and the fees is not more expensive than the larger airlines.
5. CHECK YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA SITES
Airlines have seen experimenting largely with social media sites. But you have to be fast because some deals may be gone within hours. So being active on social media sites can also help a lot.
6. NEVER FLY DIRECT
In the case of long duration destinations, never take a direct flight. It’ll cost you more than you might have thought of. That is why it is always good to take two flights, so that you can save a lot of money.
You can also fly from one airline while going and returning with another one. This can be done with the airports too.
7. FREQUENT FLIER TO THE RESCUE
Become an elite member of any of the airlines’ frequent flier program. If you’re using credit cards that offer rewards, then go for them. So always check if those rewards can be redeemed for miles or travel gifts.
8. SEARCH TICKET PRICES FOR PER PERSON
Don’t search for multiple persons. You’ll always find that booking for a single person is relatively cheaper than booking for many at once. Airlines show a higher price when booking for many. For example, if you’re a family of 4, then the airline will give you a fare of 4 people in the same row which would be costlier. Therefore, always search for tickets as a single person. Afterwards, in the checkout process, you can pick your seats so you and your family are sitting together.
9. LOOK FOR TICKETS IN OTHER CURRENCIES
If your country’s currency is strong compared to the other currencies, then search for airfare in a currency which is weaker. This might not work, but it’s always worth trying.
10. KNOW YOUR PRICE
It is more important to know what you want to pay, rather than what you hope to pay.
Always know what is the lowest price for you or what you’re willing to pay. There will never be a perfect price, but wait for what’s your price – something that fits your budget.
Be realistic too. Don’t look for heavy discounts, that is not just possible sometimes. No two people on a flight pay the same price, so all you can do is hope you get the price you feel good about.
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