Flight Essentials
Insider Tipps for Seamless Booking
Having trouble finding the perfect flight deals for your next adventure? Don't worry, we've got you covered! Booking flights can be overwhelming with so many options and prices constantly changing. Our comprehensive guide is here to help. We've gathered expert tips and strategies to make booking affordable flights a breeze.
Whether you're planning ahead or looking for the best deals, we'll guide you on how to find the perfect flight without exceeding your budget. Let's dive into the world of flight bookings and start planning your dream trip today!
2. Be Flexible with Your Travel Dates
Traveling during peak seasons, holidays and weekends often means higher fares due to increased demand. Consider traveling during off-peak times, such as weekdays or shoulder seasons (the period between peak and off-peak seasons), to find cheaper flights.
Use flexible date search options on flight comparison websites to easily compare prices across different dates and identify the cheapest options.
Many airline and booking portals websites now offer convenient tools to help you identify the most affordable days to fly. Keep an eye out for booking systems with a 'calendar view' feature, allowing you to compare prices throughout the entire week you're considering for your travel.
Keep in mind that being flexible with your departure and return dates can sometimes result in significant savings, even if it means adjusting your travel plans by a day or two.
1. Best Time to Book Your Flight
Airlines typically release flight schedules and fares around 11 months in advance. However, it's advisable to wait a few months after the release before booking, to take advantage of potential fare promotions and save money. So, booking your flight for a later date can result in lower fares.
For domestic flights we recommend to book your tickets between one and three months before your planned departure date. This is because airlines often release their cheapest fares around this time frame. Booking too early might mean missing out on these discounted fares, while booking too late could result in higher prices due to limited availability.
When it comes to airline ticket prices, it boils down to supply and demand. In essence, when there's limited availability, prices tend to rise due to increased demand. So, for popular destinations or peak travel periods like summer vacations or holidays, it's advisable to book your tickets well in advance. Thinking about flying to a popular beach spot or a trendy adventure location? Booking your trip early can help you avoid high prices. Generally, booking 3 to 6 months ahead can get you good deals.
International flights should be booked three to five months ahead of the trip.
While last-minute deals do exist, they are rare and can be unpredictable. It's generally advisable to book early to secure the best prices and ensure availability, especially during peak travel seasons.
3. Flexible Flight Destination with Skyscanner
As we know, when it comes to saving money on booking flights, flexibility is key. With the flexible destinations feature on Skyscanner, you can do just that - and potentially save a lot of money in the process.
The best time to utilize the flexible destinations feature is when you don't have a fixed schedule and are open to various destinations. This can be particularly useful if you haven't decided on your vacation dates yet or if you're simply looking for a cheap flight regardless of the destination.
Open the Skyscanner website or app.
Click on the "From" field and enter "Everywhere" or "Anywhere."
Choose your desired travel dates or leave it open for flexibility.
Click on the "To" field and enter "Everywhere" or "Anywhere."
Optionally, select additional search parameters such as the number of travelers and class.
Click "Search" to find flights.
4. Use Fare Comparison Websites
Fare comparison websites and flight search engines aggregate prices from multiple airlines and booking platforms, allowing you to easily compare fares and find the best deals.
Take advantage of filters and sorting options on comparison websites to refine your search based on preferences such as price, airline, departure time and duration.
We recommend the following flight search engines for finding great deals on airfares:
+ Skyscanner is renowned for its flexible search options, allowing users to explore flights to various destinations and find the best deals. They also enable users to see flight prices per month or year by simply selecting a route.
+ It's comprehensive search includes data from many travel agencies, various airlines, including low-cost and regional carriers, offering users a diverse range of flight options at competitive prices
+ Provides transparent pricing, clearly displaying fares, fees and additional charges upfront. This ensures users have all the necessary information to make informed decisions.
+ Our personal experience with Skyscanner has always been great and we have often found the best prices here.
- Skyscanner does not cover all airlines and all flights in the world.
+ Kayak simplifies the process of comparing flight prices across multiple airlines, offering a straightforward search experience.
+ Kayak displays price trends for selected city pairs, based on travel dates chosen by the user. Easy-to-read graphs highlight the cheapest and most expensive dates, offering a significant advantage over airline websites.
+ Kayak's map-based search suggests travel destinations based on price, ideal for travelers who have specific dates but are undecided on the destination.
+ Kayak offers "Hacker Fares" that combine one-way flights from different airlines for potentially lower overall prices, often not visible when booking directly with airlines.
- Sponsored flights appear first in search results
+ Kiwi combines different airlines and schedules, making it incredibly easy for world travelers to book multiple airlines with just one click.
+ Kiwi's booking tool hacks flights for you by combining all airlines, budget or major, for the cheapest route without relying on codeshares, perfect for budget-conscious travelers.
+ Kiwis Search Radius feature is fantastic! You can draw a circle around your desired area to find the cheapest flights.
- Not all airlines are covered
+ Momondo is known for its extensive search capabilities and user-friendly interface. It offers comprehensive flight options and often includes budget airlines that may not appear on other search engines.
+ When searching for a fare on Momondo flights, you're presented with a graph of flexible dates, allowing you to quickly identify if there are cheaper options available before or after your selected flight route.
- Momondo sometimes may present appealing prices, but clicking on them may reveal, that the flight isn't available
+ When booking a flight through Expedia, you have the option to cancel and receive a full refund if done within 24 hours of booking (terms may change).
+ Expedia frequently offers sales, last-minute travel deals and bundle discounts.
- External flight insurances could offer greater coverage or be more cost-effective compared to Expedia's options.
Expedia
Momondo
Kiwi
Kayak
Skyscanner
5. Consider Budget Airlines
Budget airlines often offer lower base fares compared to full-service carriers by adopting a no-frills approach and charging extra for amenities such as checked baggage, seat selection, and onboard meals.
When comparing fares, be sure to factor in additional fees and charges associated with budget airlines to accurately assess the total cost of your flight.
Keep in mind that budget airlines may operate from secondary airports, so consider the location and transportation options when evaluating potential savings.
6. Be Open to Connecting Flights
Opting for flights with layovers or connecting flights can sometimes result in lower fares compared to non-stop flights.
For instance, a non-stop flight from New York to London might be more expensive than a connecting flight with a layover in Dublin. By being open to connecting flights, you could save hundreds of dollars on your ticket.
Use flight search engines to compare prices for both, non-stop and connecting flights. In some cases, the difference in price may be significant enough to justify the inconvenience of a layover.
When booking connecting flights, pay attention to the duration of layovers and consider factors such as airport facilities, transit visa requirements and potential delays.
7. Unlock Travel Rewards with Airline Miles and Reward Programs
Take Advantage of Frequent Flyer Programs: Enroll in frequent flyer programs and airline loyalty programs offered by airlines you frequently travel with. Earn miles or points for every flight you take, which can be redeemed for discounted or free flights, upgrades and other travel perks.
For those looking to elevate their travel experience, American Express travel rewards credit cards are a top choice. With enticing sign-up bonuses, generous earn rates on spending and a suite of additional benefits including complimentary travel insurance and airport lounge access, these cards are designed to enhance your journey while accelerating your mileage accumulation.
Learn More: For further information on maximizing mileage accumulation and utilizing travel rewards credit cards, visit the "Credit Cards" section on our website. Discover tips, strategies and recommendations to help you make the most of your travel rewards journey.
80.000 membership points upon application
50.000 membership points upon application
$200 bonus upon application and no annual fee
8. Clear Browser Cookies and Use Incognito
Some booking websites may use cookies to track your browsing history and adjust prices accordingly, potentially showing higher fares if they detect repeated searches for the same route.
To avoid potential price hikes, clear your browser cookies or use incognito/private browsing mode when searching for flights.
Alternatively, use multiple devices or browsers to compare prices anonymously and ensure you're getting the best deal.
10. Consider Alternate Airports
Flying into or out of alternate airports near your destination can sometimes result in cheaper fares compared to major airports.
Use flight search engines to explore nearby airports within a reasonable distance from your intended destination. A great way to do this is by using the search radius feature from Kiwi.com. Be sure to factor in transportation costs and travel time when evaluating potential savings.
Keep in mind that alternate airports may have limited flight options and transportation connections, so weigh the pros and cons before making a decision.
9. Utilize VPN Services
Airlines and booking websites may employ dynamic pricing strategies based on the user's geographic location. By using a VPN to mask your IP address and appear as though you're accessing the internet from a different country, you may access lower fares targeted towards users in that region.
Choose a reliable VPN service provider that offers servers in the country you wish to appear from.
Install the VPN software on your device and connect to a server located in the desired country.
Access Regional Fares:
By connecting to a VPN server in a specific country, you can access booking websites and see fares tailored to that region.
Explore flight options from the perspective of travelers in that country, potentially uncovering lower fares or exclusive deals.
11. Saving Money on Group Flights
When it comes to booking flights for multiple people, it's common to assume that booking all tickets together will result in the best deal. However, in some cases, it can actually be more cost-effective to book each ticket separately.
Why Booking Separately Can Save Money
Dynamic Pricing: Airlines often use dynamic pricing algorithms that adjust fares based on demand. When you search for multiple seats at once, you may encounter higher prices due to limited availability in certain fare classes.
Limited Seat Inventory: Airlines typically allocate a certain number of seats at different price points. By booking separately, you may have access to lower-priced fare buckets that are not available when booking multiple seats together.
Availability of Promotional Fares: Airlines frequently release promotional fares and discounts, but these may only apply to a limited number of seats. Booking separately increases your chances of securing these discounted fares for each traveler.
Tips for Booking Separately
Compare Prices: Before booking, compare prices for booking all seats together versus booking each ticket separately. Use flight search engines to explore different options and find the most cost-effective solution.
Check Fare Rules: Be sure to review the fare rules and restrictions for each ticket. While booking separately may save money, it's essential to understand any limitations, such as changes or cancellations.
Coordinate Timing: If you decide to book tickets separately, coordinate with your travel partners to ensure you select flights with similar departure times and layovers. This will help minimize any inconvenience during travel.
