With the cost of air travel skyrocketing, finding affordable flights can seem next to impossible nowadays. However, with the right strategies and tools, scoring budget-friendly fares is still achievable. The key is flexibility. By broadening your search across different travel dates, airports and destinations — and piecing together creative routings — you open up your options dramatically.
Of course, planning ahead and avoiding peak travel days also helps keep costs down. Additionally, leveraging flight search engines, airline mileage programs and travel agent expertise can unveil further money-saving opportunities you may miss when booking directly through airline sites.
With an open mindset and these key tips in your back pocket, cheap airfares are still within reach. Read on to unlock insider secrets for stretching your travel budget and taking more vacations without breaking the bank this year. The journey to affordable flights starts here.
Use Flight Search Engines
Finding cheap flights starts with using the right flight search engines. Flight search aggregators that comb through hundreds of sites to find the best deals pay dividends if you need to find a cheap flight. For example, if you are flying to one of the large NY airports on business, use a flight aggregator to search the best flight options for the period you need. They make it easy to quickly view prices across different dates and airports to help you find the cheapest flights. Flexible travel dates will yield the most options. Set up price alerts and you’ll be notified when fares drop on your chosen routes.
Don’t Fly on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays
Flying on weekends tends to be more expensive because more people are traveling. Prices also rise on popular business travel days like Mondays and Fridays. To get the best fares, consider flying in the middle of the week – on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays. Flying early in the morning or late at night can also save money compared to peak travel times. Avoiding the crowds leads to cheaper flights.
Be Willing to Fly Anywhere!
Consider all your airport options, even those that are further away. Expanding your airport search by 50-100 miles can open up cheaper flight options. Also look across a wider geographic area. Flying into a big hub city and then connecting on a budget airline to your final destination can cost less than a direct flight. The savings add up when you’re willing to piece together an itinerary.
Save Up Frequent Flyer Miles
Loyalty programs offer some of the best flight deals. Airlines want to keep frequent flyers coming back, so they offer major mileage discounts to their members. Sign up for an airline mileage credit card and try to put all your household expenses on it to rack up points. Redeem your miles for flights when there’s an off-peak “Low Mileage” award chart in place.
Work with a Dedicated Travel Agent
The internet makes DIY travel tempting, but a good travel agent has insider tricks that can help you save. They have access to discounts and reduced rates that you can’t find online. Their expertise allows them to recommend cheaper routes and spot promotions you might otherwise miss. They can advise you when to book and notify you of sales. With no service fees, you have nothing to lose by working with an agent.
Finding cheap plane tickets requires flexibility, planning, and using the right online tools and resources. Avoiding peak dates, expanding your airport and destination options, leveraging loyalty programs, and using a travel agent can unlock significant savings. With some effort, you can travel more often, even on a budget. Happy and safe travels!
