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I’m no expert when it comes to proper budgeting and finances, but I am known for finding deals and using money-saving tips to travel at a low cost.
Especially being a U.S.-based traveler, it can be overwhelming and discouraging to try and plan a trip while only seeing flight prices that make you keep putting it off. Trust me, you’re not alone and I’ve been there too.
Booking flights may seem like a straightforward task on your list of to-dos when travel planning, but if you’re looking to stick to a budget, it’s important to understand where and how to look for the best deals. After all, there are many factors that go into calculating airfares, so understanding them as well as the airlines do will have you one step closer to attaining your travel goals without multiplying the cost of your trip.
Here are some of the best tips and strategies that myself along with many other experienced travelers have utilized for years to find the cheapest flights:
STRATEGIES FOR FINDING THE LOWEST FLIGHT PRICES
USE FLIGHT SEARCH ENGINES
Finding the best flight deals takes some time and research. However, utilizing flight search engines such as Google Flights and Skyscanner makes it much easier.
Flight search engines are great comprehensive resources for comparing prices between airlines, dates/times, destinations, and more. You’ll find that there are numerous flight search engines out there and each one has their pros and cons, but at the end of the day they are reliable for providing you with the best flight prices 99% of the time.
My personal favorite is Google Flights, but I always am sure to cross reference fares across sites and recommend that you do the same.
BE FLEXIBLE
Flexibility is arguably the best strategy when it comes to finding the lowest flight prices and is the top approach I’ve taken that allows me to travel so frequently. Avoiding having strict travel dates, times, and destinations can end up saving you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.
Travel dates: Typically, airlines hike up the prices on the busiest travel days (Friday-Monday), so flying during the week will often be the first step to finding the lowest flight prices.
Flight times: Be open to flying first thing in the morning or late at night. Since these flight times aren’t appealing to most travelers, prices are almost always cheaper then.
Destination(s): This is the biggest factor where flexibility can really help you cut costs. If you keep an open mind and look into various possible destinations, you might be surprised at what you find. If you’re not sure where to start looking, you can search based on a global region (i.e., Latin America, Southeast Asia) and within a specified travel period (i.e., 2 weeks in September or October). This is my favorite feature about Google Flights and is usually the driving factor behind picking my travel destinations.
GET COMFORTABLE WITH LAYOVERS AND ALTERNATE ROUTES
Along with being flexible with your travel dates, times, and destinations, considering alternate travel routes or being open to having multiple layovers in your flight itinerary can save you significant money in the long run.
For example, let’s say that you’re wanting to travel to Peru. While you might be wanting to visit Cusco, it might make more sense to first fly into Lima. After spending some time there, you can then travel to Cusco at a low cost via bus or local budget airline to get your desired destination at a much lower expense.
When it comes to layovers, oftentimes you’ll find airfare deals on flight itineraries with 2 or more stops totaling travel times anywhere from 10-18+ hours from your initial departure to your final destination arrival. Yes, this means long hours on planes and in airports, but is worth the fraction-of-the-price ticket. On the bright side, if you have a remote job or side hustle, this is a great opportunity to get some work done before getting to your destination.
CONSIDER BUDGET AIRLINES
In your flight search, you’ll likely notice that most of the cheapest flights and airfare deals are offered by budget airlines. This is largely because budget carriers prioritize route profitability over network profitability. Some easily recognizable ones in the United States are Spirit, Frontier, and JetBlue.
When it comes to budget airlines, it’s no secret that they lack some of the luxuries that full-service airlines offer. However, my budget travel logic is that if I can still get to my destination safely and save a significant amount of money, it’s worth sacrificing seat selection, priority boarding, and extra leg room.
Note that budget airlines do vary from country to country and no two are the same, so if you’re looking to travel whether it’s within the U.S., Latin America, Europe, etc., be sure to research thoroughly and let flight search engines do the hard work for you.
TRAVEL LIGHT
Ditch the checked luggage and stick to a personal item and a carry-on. Traveling with less luggage will not only make your travel journey more convenient but will also save you from paying outrageous baggage fees. Most full-service airlines include the allowance of a personal item and carry-on in the original ticket price while, on the other hand, you’ll generally always have to pay for anything more than a personal item with a budget airline.
If you do struggle with packing light and leaving your favorite outfits or travel gear at home, consider techniques like rolling your clothes in your suitcase or backpack to save space, or using products like compression cubes to make the most out of the space you have.
TRAVEL DURING OFF-SEASON
Visiting a popular travel destination during its off-season has many perks. For starters, you’ll have the benefit of there being fewer tourists and crowds. On top of this, off-season traveling usually translates to lower prices, not just for activities and accommodation, but flights as well. Once peak travel season is over and airlines have taken advantage of their prime profitability time frame, ticket prices return to the ‘low’ or ‘normal’ price range.
Keep in mind that since it is the off-season, you may need to research and double check if the attractions you want to visit will be open while you’re there and pack appropriately for the weather (winter, wet season, etc.).
USE POINTS AND CREDITS
Although this is the last tip in this guide, it’s without a doubt one of the first steps you should take to start booking cheap, or even free flights.
Loyalty programs are unique and specific to each airline and will reward you anytime you book with them. At certain times of the year, airlines may even run deals to allow you to earn 2-5X the points on each purchase. After you’ve racked up your points, you can redeem them and apply the value toward your plane ticket. I’ve booked cheap and free international flights on multiple occasions using this method.
Your other option if you’re someone who doesn’t tend to cater to a specific airline and therefore doesn’t benefit much from loyalty programs is to apply for a travel credit card. With these, you’ll earn points for every dollar spent, and typically earn extra points on travel-related purchases. You can later redeem these points for flights, hotel stays, and more. Each travel credit card has their pros and cons, so be sure to do your research to find the best one that suits you. I personally use and love the Chase Sapphire Preferred travel credit card, however you can also check out my blog post where I share highlights and comparisons of 2022's top-rated travel credit cards here.
Traveling on a budget might not be the most glamorous lifestyle, but if it works, it works. Being able to travel often by saving money anywhere possible to experience cultures, landscapes, and people from all over the world is well worth the early morning wake-up calls, long travel days, and extensive flight searches.
Now that you know how to find cheap flights, where will you travel to next?
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