The airlines don’t want you to know this, but you might’ve paid way more for your plane ticket than those seated next to you. Even if you think you’ve done everything possible to find the cheapest flight and book it, this might still happen.
You’ve undoubtedly spent a lot of time researching numerous search engines, airlines, and potential departure and arrival times, all to no avail. When calculating the price they believe they can charge you, airlines use a wide variety of strategies and algorithms.
The easiest way to make sure you get all the deals on time is to sign up for the cheap flight alerts by Matt’s Flights. This way, you’ll never miss a deal. Besides signing up for flight alerts, here are seven more things you can do to find cheap flights anywhere.
1. Look for Tickets One by One
Even if you’re traveling in a large group. Depending on demand, airlines sometimes offer a few tickets in each of many distinct cost classes. If you search for four seats but only one is available in the lowest price class, most automated systems will display the highest fare class for all four tickets.
If you think there could be a shortage of available seats, try looking for them one at a time. Doing so will give you confidence that you got the best deal available on your ticket purchases. Select a seat next to an empty one if you can, lock in a low fare, and then immediately book a second ticket for the empty seat next to the first. It requires some time and energy, but it can be quite rewarding.
2. Consider Booking a Flight and a Hotel at the Same Time
Booking a flight and hotel together can save you money compared to booking them individually. Rather than just lowering their room rates, several hotels instead offer bundles at deeply discounted rates. This is an excellent chance to uncover bargains at major companies that are reluctant to have a cheap price next to their name.
3. Don’t Cancel Your Flight Because It’s a Holiday
If you can shift your trip by only one day, you can save a lot of money. Thanksgiving and Christmas flights often provide the best deals. The only time this is not the case is if your trip falls on a three-day weekend around Labor Day or Memorial Day. Then, on the actual holiday, everyone will be looking to fly, so that’s when you should try to add an extra day to your trip.
4. Don’t Hesitate to Pounce on a Great Deal
If you purchase your flight ticket at least 7 days in advance, the DOT mandates that airlines provide you with 24 hours to change or cancel your reservation at no extra cost. Typically, you’ll have to make a payment before receiving a full refund.
The only exception is American Airlines, which is switching to this strategy but still gives a freehold for 24 hours. The second major disclaimer is that you must contact the airline directly to make your reservation. This regulation does not apply if you purchase your ticket via an online travel agent.
5. Learn to Balance Loyalty and Comparison
Maintain a membership with your preferred airline’s loyalty program and collect points whenever possible. When points are involved, it might be beneficial to reserve a somewhat more costly ticket. In addition to free checked bags and priority boarding, sign-up incentives on many airline credit cards might be enough to cover the cost of an entire trip. However, it is wise to check all rates before making a reservation.
6. Embrace the Layover
While a nonstop flight is always preferable, a Google study found that switching planes can sometimes save you up to 20%. Some airlines even let you add a stopover location to your itinerary at no extra cost, so you can use your layover as a mini-vacation.
7. Travel During Off-Peak or Shoulder Seasons
When tourism is slower, certain places offer discounts on flights and lodging. Try not to write off Europe just because it’s winter. You can save more than $400 on airfare by traveling outside of peak season. There are fewer tourists, and you can visit charming Christmas markets without feeling bad about staying inside all day to see the museums, castles, and cathedrals. And, really, what could be more dreamy than walking around on snowy, ancient cobblestone streets?
Final Thoughts
Getting a good deal on a plane ticket doesn’t have to be a hassle. Although finding cheap flights will require some time and persistence on your part, you can get there by following the advice in this article. There are a lot of methods to get around the high cost of travel, such as signing up for price drop notifications and being adaptable to your vacation dates. This way, you can save money even on your vacation.
