15 Top Tips to Get Cheap Flights & Travel deals
POSTED BY Mavy | May 29, 2015
Label: Travel Tips
Finding cheap flights can be a challenge and sometimes gets a bit frustrating. There are so many different websites and flights available to book that it’s easy to become overwhelmed and just book the first flight you see.
It can be really annoying if you miss out on a deal, or see the price of your flights go down after you have booked them. However, when it comes to booking flights, a little research goes a long way. Savvy travellers can take advantage of cheap deals and save a lot of money on flights.
Here are 15 top tips to help you get cheap flights.
1. Last minute deals
If you are able to travel at the last minute, you could benefit from big discounts. Sometimes airlines will drop their prices a day or two before to make sure they sell all their seats. If you are happy to take the risk then there’s a chance a last minute deal could really pay off.
2. Early bird deals
Some airlines will also reward customers for booking early. If you know when you need to travel well in advance of your trip it could be worth booking early before prices go up.
3. Be flexible with dates
Being flexible will get you the best prices when it comes to booking flights. If you don’t need to be somewhere on a specific time or date then you might want to adapt your trip according to when the best prices are. Wednesdays are one of the cheapest days to fly for example. The most popular days are usually Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
4. Pick off peak times
If you don’t mind what time of day you fly then try and book off peak flights. For example, it tends to be cheaper to fly very early in the morning or late at night. You will pay a premium to fly at the more popular, convenient times.
5. Watch out for sales
Keep an eye on travel websites for seasonal sales. Often there will be short sales offering great discounts on certain routes.
6. Consider alternative airports
Sometimes it’s cheaper to fly to an airport that is slightly further away from your destination, even if it does extend your journey a little. You could fly to a different airport and take a detour to explore a different city during your trip. Some cities have a main airport and a lesser known, alternative airport which is often cheaper to fly to.
7. Check social media for deals
Follow your favourites travel brands on social media and you will always be up to date with the latest deals, competitions and special offers. Some companies will announce flight discounts on social media first.
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8. Sign up to loyalty programmes
If you are a frequent flyer you can save money by joining loyalty programmes.
9. Sign up for price alerts and deals
Sign up for email alerts so that you know when prices go up or down. You don’t have to check a flight website hundreds of times, they can alert you of price changes by email instead.
10. Fly with different carriers
You don’t have to fly with the same airline on both your outbound and inbound flight. Sometimes going with a different carrier for each part of your journey can bring the overall price of your trip down.
11. Book at the right time
Research has shown that there is an optimum time to book before you fly. For domestic flights it’s six to eight weeks before travel and for international flights it’s around 170 days according to the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC).
12. Consider a stopover
If you are going on a long haul flight it can be a lot cheaper if you stop overnight somewhere in between connecting flights. Plus it gives you an evening in an extra destination and you can go out exploring if you wish.
13. Book your flights on a Sunday or Tuesday
Research has shown that the best days to book your flights are Sundays and Tuesdays. Check prices on different days to see how they vary. They might come down on particular days.
14. Book your flights and hotel together
Travel companies often offer amazing deals if you book your flights and hotel together. This can really bring down the cost of your holiday and it saves a lot of hassle.
15. Be flexible with your destination
If you are up for travelling to different places and don’t need to fly to a particular location then shop around for the cheaper destinations. Some places are far cheaper to fly to.