How to Find the Best Flight Deals
Finding the best flight deals is just one of the many challenges every traveler has to endure in order to stay on budget. It’s never easy but with a little know-how and some tips from a pro, I think landing the best flight deals will be just a walk in the park.
For many travelers, stepping into the airport is a bit of an adrenaline rush. Everyone begins the process of shuffling through security, baggage check, and entering the airport. After a couple hours of sitting around waiting (usually because your flight is delayed), you finally are allowed to get in line and board the airplane. As you look around, you see that everyone on the airplane is there for a different purpose. A young couple on their honeymoon cuddling by the window seat, a pre-occupied business man frantically answering his last emails before the plane takes off, and a middle aged woman whose weary heart is returning from her mother’s funeral on the other side of the country. Whether you are planning a dream vacation or a boring business trip, finding a flight can be a hassle – let alone the best flight deals! With rising fuel prices and the current state of the economy, finding the best flight deals is becoming more and more important. So what are the best ways to find great flights on a budget? This all depends on how you would like to travel. Aside from the obvious tip of flying coach instead of first class, there are many ways to cut costs while still enjoying your mile-high trip.
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When can you get the best flight deals?
First off, be mindful of when you will be booking your flight. Plan as far in advance as possible to make sure you know where you will be traveling to and have your plans secured. However, wait and purchase your airfare 8 weeks before you will be leaving for your trip as this is usually the best and cheapest time to purchase your airline tickets. If you purchase your tickets too far in advance, you will be stuck paying a higher fare because the company may still be unsure about the exact flights they will be offering at the time of your departure. For some reason, the eight week rule works great when trying to find the best flight deals. Specifically, purchase your tickets on a Wednesday morning. Statistically, Wednesdays eight weeks out from the trip date offer the cheapest flight options as well as the most options for you as a traveler.
Secondly, it is important to consider what type of airline you will use. This is particularly helpful if you are traveling in Europe, where flights throughout the continent are short and it does not take very long to travel between countries. Economy airlines, such as RyanAir in Europe, offer extremely cheap fares if you will not be taking anything with you but a carry-on bag. You can get flights for under 40 Euros with these circumstances and enjoy fast transportation all over Europe. The United States also has many economy airlines to consider and most of these offer great local flight options for short trips. Generally, you will not receive food service on these flights so if you are comfortable packing light and traveling easy, an economy airline might be your best bet for cheap airfare.
Hunting the best flight deals: Larger or smaller airport?
Another important thing to consider when searching for the best flight deals is the airport you will be flying into/out of. Larger airports offer cheaper fares than smaller local airports. Is it worth a two hour drive to a larger international airport than paying extra money for a connecting flight from your local town? If you are unable to find a ride or are uncomfortable leaving your car at a large airport, many small local airports offer shuttles to larger airports for a small fee that would be cheaper than the gasoline it would take to drive there yourself. Another upside to this is that in addition to cheaper travel tickets, you do not have to pay to store your car at a large airport which can get very expensive on extended trips.
If you are traveling a route that contains multiple destinations or layovers, consider taking the time to research how much it would cost to book all of your flights separately versus going with the scheduled layovers offered by the flight companies. Sometimes, you can save a few hundred dollars just by looking up the individual flight prices and booking them separately. This can be very time consuming, but also extremely worthwhile if you are attempting to travel on a budget! When considering whether or not to book flights separately, you must also be mindful of layover times. You might want to allow extra time between your flights in case one of your flights is delayed. Because you are booking these flights separately and not as part of a package, the airline will not re-schedule your flight if you miss your ‘connection’ due to a delay on your previous flight. This can potentially be a large and very frustrating risk but depending on your travel plans, can be very worthwhile and one of the largest money saving techniques when searching for the best flight deals.
Lastly, compare, compare, COMPARE! There are many travel sites such as Travelocity and Orbitz that offer different incentives and deals depending on where you are traveling to. Different travel sites will have different offers and you can save some serious money by taking an afternoon to research your flight path and see which companies offer the best options for you. If you are planning on taking a major international trip, it may even be helpful to seek the help of a travel agent. Many times, travel agents have access to incentives or sales not otherwise offered by other booking companies. Finding a flight or better yet, the best flight deals can be an exciting adventure, but can also be extremely expensive if smart techniques are not used to find the cheapest flights. The biggest thing to understand is that nothing is ever concrete with travel and the cheap bargain prices are out there, you just need to be pro-active in hunting them down. With a little effort, time, and persistent research, anyone can be very successful in saving hundreds of dollars on their travels by air. Good luck with your ticket hunting, and don’t forget to book on a Wednesday! I hope you get the best flight deals out there.
