The cost of air travel has plummeted in recent years, especially compared to the general cost of travelling a decade or more ago.
The rise of the low cost, no frills airlines have slashed the price of a ticket to fly, but since the increase in fuel prices, airport taxes and other incidentals, it isn’t as cheap as it was.
However, there are ways to reduce the cost of flying if you know how, are prepared to be flexible and play the system. Here are 5 ways that you can minimize your travel costs.
Delete your browsing history.
You can try this right now. Delete you browsing history including cookies (use Internet Options on Control Panel). Now go to an airline site, get a quote for a site from here to there and make a note of it. Now close your browser.
Open your browser again, go to the same airline, get a quote for the same flight. Notice anything?
Get Price Alerts
Using comparison websites, for instance Skyscanner or Kayak, look for the flights going to your desired destination on the day you want to go, and then set up a price alert. These will give you regular updates on changes to the fare being charged. Do this on multiple sites, there’s no obligation. International flights are typically cheapest 34 days before departure, 20 days for domestic flights, according to Kayak. When you see what you think is a great price for your ticket, book it.
Check the Airline’s Website
If you are looking at comparison websites, before committing to a flight and airline you’ve chosen, have a quick check at the airline site for that flight because they may well have a discount for a direct booking. But don’t forget to delete your browsing history before you do!
And don’t forget to minimise your use of the services the no-frills airlines offer. Look for savings by travelling light and not checking in big bags for instance because this can significantly raise the final cost of your trip.
Compare Booking in a Foreign Currency
If you have a calculator handy, have a look at the airline website on a foreign site, for instance Ryanair’s Spanish site and see if the same flight booking through using a foreign currency is cheaper. Check out any credit card charges for foreign exchange purchases, but there might be a few quid to save that way!
Look for small airlines
Some airlines are too small to appear on comparison sites. You can get great deals on flights by looking at your intended destination airport website and seeing which airlines fly there. If an airline only goes there 2 or 3 times a week for instance, you may be able to get a better deal directly from their website.
Travel is something where almost no price for anything is set in stone. Daily deal websites such as DealZippy will get their customers great deals on places to visit and stay, often including flights. Where they don’t, getting the best flight deal is a game which, if played well can result in a saving that can be converted into spending money.
Being flexible on times, routes and airlines gives you the best chance of saving the most on your travel plans.
