Lets face it, flights and hotels are usually the biggest budget item on any given trip.
Here are some insider tips, from a frequent traveler to get the best bang for your buck, with a bit of research and pre-planning on booking the best flight options.
- Google Flights
This is a great way to look at different flight options, and choose wisely! Google flights shows multiple carriers, best rates, you can view a calendar view, set reminders (so it is doing the work, watching your flight options behind the scenes), and will show you if you are actually looking at a good deal.
- Travel mid-week (Tues-Thurs)
When you fly matters. Most people work Monday-Friday jobs, and want to maximize their weekend travel. AVOID weekend travel days to get your best deals. Flying on Tuesdays-Wednesdays are usually your best options, so flexibility matters.
- Look at carrier flexibility calendars
Same as Google Flights, many carriers provide Flexibility Calendars to choose best rates. On the booking screen, directly on the carrier websites, look for wording such as: “Are you flexible?”, “Are your dates flexible?”, etc., and it will provide you with options (like below), for the best deals.
- Bundle for savings
Once you establish your most reasonable flight dates, check for bundled packages, using those cheaper flight dates, here. Woooohoooo! Can you get some mega-savings, by purchasing you’re airfare, hotel, car, excursions, etc.! Well worth it!
5. Best rates are not always the best option
Be mindful (and demure…ha ha) though, because JUST because you have a CHEAPEST RATE, doesn’t mean it is the best value. One example of this is with Delta. Your cheapest options will most often be Basic Economy, but you may not want that. I never do, personally. If you have the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card, you get free upgrades, based on availability….unless you are in Basic. Economy – which gets no upgrades. You also get no assigned seat until check-in with a Basic ticket. The upgrades ALONE, for us, our worth always booking Main Cabin. Check on exactly what you get, with your ticket before you hit PURCHASE.
6. Use carrier credit cards
Some carrier credit cards provide discounts if booking with points. Delta is one of these. Can you tell I am a big Delta fan? Huge! AND….drumroll….Delta takes a whopping 15% off your flights IF you are booking with points! Did I mention that this credit card is bomb?! Also, you get a free companion pass every year . And, Every year, I wind up with Delta certificates, just from flying with Delta, and having normal flight challenges. Delta is very good about providing a flight certificate for future travel if flights are late, or if they are offering a certificate (sometimes $500) for volunteers to take a later flight (and yep! I volunteer!), so you can use your annual companion pass and pay the rest with a Delta certificate to double up on your savings! Good, good stuff right here!
7. Book in advance
Occasionally, you can find last minute deals (see below in bullet number 8) but they are only good if you have that specific time off. Most people, like us, need to plan ahead, and that is going to get you better deals. Most ticket fares have an advanced purchase option in the fare rules. Advanced purchase options are usually 21 day advanced purchase, however, cheaper fares (depending on the destination) may already be sold out by then. I am a fan of 2 months or more, for booking the best fares.
- Last minute deals and promotions
If you do have flexibility, or a sudden open spot in your schedule, you can find last minute deals. Check going.com, as they have some good ones occasionally. You can also check here on this website. Once you access the page, Make sure you scroll down to see the last minute deals. You can also watch for unique specials like unreal deals.
- Try secondary airports (close by) to provide more options
Try other airports that are close by, to check price range differences. For example, I am in the Orlando area, which is a super busy airport. When I am flying friends and family in, I also check flying in and out of Tampa, Lakeland (it is now open! Yay!) and Orlando Sanford Airport for comparison shopping. These are a bit further (40 plus minutes), but sometimes the savings, out-weigh the distance.
- Travel during off-peak season
Finally, off-peak season will 100% get you mega-great deals! However, depending on where you are going you may want travel insurance. We travel to Mexico A LOT, during hurricane season. The prices are crazy reasonable, but you have to be prepared that your trip may be moved or canceled.
Did I miss any? What tips and tricks do you use? Let me know in comments!
