Searching for plane tickets and finding the best deals doesn’t have to be a difficult process. Although it may seem complicated at first, there are specific tools and practices you can use on your next flight search. This way you can save time and money.
Searching online to find the best deal may not be the most exciting part of your trip, but it’s necessary. Here are some tips to help you find and book the flight best suited to your needs.
How to search for cheap flights
When you want a good deal on a flight, it’s a good idea to start with a metasearch engine such as Kayak or Google Flights; This is because these sites search the airline’s website and online travel agencies simultaneously, so you can quickly find the best price. Note that some airlines, like Southwest, don’t appear on most third-party sites.
Once you find a good flight on a metasearch engine, you’ll likely head to an online travel agency like Expedia, Orbitz, or Hotwire, or the airline’s website, to book the flight. Online travel agencies can help you save money in several ways. First, they can combine two one-way flights to separate airlines on a single route, which you won’t be able to do by booking directly on the airline’s website. They can also follow them price trends for your flight and you can choose to be notified if the price drops.
Another way to save money when booking through an online travel agency is to enter reward program. For example, members of Expedia’s One Key program can save up to 30% when booking a flight and hotel together, and can use OneKeyCash to earn cash back on flights, hotels, cars, and more. other activites.
Alternatively, travelers who value simplicity may prefer to book their flights through the airline’s website. This way, if something goes wrong, there is no third party to complicate customer service issues.
Compare flight options and prices
There are a number of factors to consider when comparing flight prices, keeping in mind that the cheapest ticket is not always the best option.
Cost of checked baggage and seat selection
When looking for good deals on flights, remember to consider factors such as checked baggage included in price and features seat selection. These, if not included in the price and added later, can drive up the cost and make a plane ticket that seems affordable at first glance not so cheap after all.
If you’re an airline “elite” frequent flyer or credit card holder, you’ll likely qualify for perks like free checked bags and free or discounted seat selection. So it may be cheaper in the long run to pay more for regular travel. (economy) ticket on this airline knowing that you will save money on additional fees.
Refundable reservation against non-refundable tickets
You should then consider booking refundable tickets for a non-refundable fare. “Even though non-refundable tickets tend to be cheaper, the flexibility of a refundable fare may be worth the extra cost if your travel plans are likely to change. »says Alex Miller, founder and CEO of Upgraded Points.
However, if your plans are set and you don’t mind the possibility of having to pay extra if you change, the ticket with the most restrictions might make sense. “Non-refundable tickets can provide significant savings”according to Miller
“Determine whether the refundable option is worth the extra cost based on how certain you are of your travel dates and whether the cheapest fare, with restrictions, even allows for some changes. Just be sure to read the fine print to understand the restrictions before booking.
Be careful when choosing a Basic Economy ticket
Usually the cheapest tickets you see are basic economy fares, which may not include things like seat selection or even carry-on luggage. Plus, you often win fewer kilometers of frequent travelers compared to a regular economy ticket. Additionally, passengers with basic economy tickets Board the plane last, increasing the risk of storage space filling up above the seats, which is obviously a problem. So while a basic economy ticket may save you money, the added cost and potential stress could actually negate the benefits you receive.
Track flight times
Often the cheapest flights are at odd times of the day, either very early in the morning or the last flight late at night or after midnight. This must be taken into account when looking at the price of the ticket, because it may be more expensive to get to the hotel or to your destination at these times of the day. Public transportation may not run as often, if at all, late at night or early in the morning. This may involve paying a considerable amount for a taxi or Uber. Remember that most airports are not very close to the city center.
Cheaper flights can also have long delays which add unnecessary travel time. Consider the money you’re likely to spend at the airport waiting, as well as the value of your time, before booking a cheap flight, especially to a less popular destination.
Tips for Booking Flights and Saving Money
These tips for booking plane tickets will help you save money on your next trip.
- Consider getting a travel rewards credit card
- Use points and miles
- Be flexible
- Activate notifications for flights that interest you
Consider getting a travel rewards credit card
If you have the right travel rewards credit card, you can save money on your next flight. Some offer discounts on flights, while others help you save money on baggage or other fees you would otherwise have to pay.
Meanwhile, many airline credit cards, including United Explorer and Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express, offer free checked bags.
Use points and miles
Booking a flight with airline miles or credit card points is a great way to cut costs. While you might think you have to be a frequent flyer to earn enough miles for a flight, that’s not really the case. You can earn lots of points by using a travel rewards credit card for everyday purchases.
“With the right rewards program and strategy, you can save a lot of money on airline tickets using points and miles,” says Miller, who has earned millions of points and miles by maximizing his credit card spending.
Using points and miles can be very important when talking about a vacation to an exotic destination, for example. Miller adds: “For expensive long-haul flights, using miles can result in savings of hundreds or even thousands of dollars compared to the total cost. »
Be flexible
Saving money on flights is easier when your travel plans aren’t predetermined and can be changed. Jarrod West, Senior Content Partner at Upgraded Points, advises travelers to “They are as flexible as possible, both on their dates and their destination.”
If your travel dates are flexible and you don’t just have a specific location in mind, you can go to a place where there are sales on certain datesinstead of trying to find deals for a specific destination and time.
THE Google Flights has a fantastic way to help you find the cheapest destinations from your country’s airport. Just search for “Anywhere” in the destination field instead of typing in a specific location. Your search results will appear in map with flight prices, so you can easily see which destinations have the best deals.
Adjusting your travel days can also result in significant savings. Many sites offer flexible date searching, allowing you to quickly see the days with the cheapest flights.
Activate notifications for flights that interest you
Some websites send flight deal alerts to help you choose the best time to buy your ticket to get the best deal. The Hopper mobile app uses historical data to predict the cheapest flight dates. You can set the notification you want to receive yourself or refer to the coded calendar when searching for a flight.
Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) tracks deals from the airport of your choice and sends you free alerts when there are good deals. Skyscanner and Airfarewatchdog are two other sites that can help you find cheap flights by sending deal alerts.