Travelling by air is one of the fastest, most comfortable and enjoyable ways of transportation. However, it is one of the most expensive transport mediums too. Although many airlines have been trying to minimize their flight rates and offer better deals to gain a competitive edge, there are a few tips that you can follow for finding cheap flights. Here are a few tips that can help you grab the cheapest tickets for your next air travel and save big.
Tips for finding cheap flights
Book early
This is one of the most obvious tips to save money on flight bookings. Did you know that you can save as much as 10% of your flight ticket price by booking 3-4 weeks (or earlier) before your travel date? The closer you get to your travel date, the higher the price you will have to pay. The flight ticket price usually shoots in the last couple of weeks so the sooner you book the better. So the thumb rule to get the lowest price for cheap flights booking is that you book three months to 4 weeks in advance from the flight departure date
Compare flights carefully
The timing of your flight booking plays a very significant role when it comes to air travel costs. If you need to travel during the peak season, you will definitely end up paying more than if you book on regular days. Weekend flights are also more expensive than weekday flights. The scheduled time of the flight also influences your flight rate. Flights operating during the day time are more expensive than those operating during late night or early morning hours. So, compare flight costs based on these factors before booking and save money.
RELATED READING: What You Should Expect and Why you Should Travel on Budget Airlines
Book a connecting flight
Direct flights are fast and convenient, but if you want to save money on your flight booking, consider booking a connecting flight. Some flights have one-stop, while others may have two or more stops depending on the flight route. The more the number of stops, the lesser you will need to pay. You may even save money by booking a flight operated by multiple carriers.
If you plan it right, you can also take time during your connecting flight’s layover to explore a bit! We’ve done numerous times, especially when connecting in London.
Join your favorite airline’s frequent flyer program
Most airlines value their customers and reward their frequent passengers with special facilities and discounts. If you have a favorite airline and frequently fly with it, then subscribe to their frequent flyer program. When you do that, you get certain points whenever you fly with them. Later, you can redeem those points for special discounts and offers on your next flight bookings. Also, check if your credit card is tied up with an airline that can help you accumulate points more quickly when you make payments with it. Some of the perks that you can get with frequent flyer programs include extra baggage allowance, favorite seat selection, priority check-in, free upgrades, etc.
Join the airline’s social network
Join the social network of airlines you are interested in and keep an eye on their latest offers, promotional deals, festive discounts, heavy discounts on last-minute bookings, and other such news. Many airlines announce special discounts and flash sales on their social media pages. Sometimes, you can save as much as 20%-50% using these flash sales. So, act quickly and use your time on social networks to save some money. Sometimes finding cheap flights is just a follow away.
Check various travel portals
There are several online portals and mobile apps that allow you to book your flights online. Open the same flight on multiple platforms and compare their final rates after adding all taxes, charges, convenience fees, etc. Some portals like Cleartrip offer special discount codes that allow you to save a significant amount of money on your flight bookings. So, do some research and find the cheapest flights between your origin and destination airports.
Set Price Alerts
A good tip for finding cheap flights is to sign-up for Fare Alerts, a feature that many travel portals including Cleartrip offer. You need to specify the route for which you need fare alerts. Since the flight prices fluctuate every day, as soon as the price drops you will get a notification and you can book immediately.
With these tips for cheap flight bookings, you can certainly save your money.