I really do love a good deal and whilst I don’t always stick to the cheapest budget I always try and get the best deal I can - which means I can spend hours trawling the internet to try and find the very best deals on all of my holidays! I’ve got my searches down to a fine art now and have shared below my top cheap flight tips below.
Using flight search engines
My absolute go to website is Skyscanner - I spend a lot of time on here. The search function is really good and you can easily find the best deals on flights. I’ve also heard great things about google flights but I haven’t used this one as much.
Be flexible
If you’re flexible on the dates you travel you’re far more likely to find a good deal. Travelling during the week tends to be cheaper than at weekends. Using a flight comparison site like Skyscanner (above) is a great way to find the cheapest flights using the calendar view.
If you’re also flexible with your destination you can find some great deals. Where could be peak season in one destination could be shoulder season in another and therefore cheaper. Again using Skyscanner and the destination “everywhere” function is a great tool for finding where you can get to.
Do your research
Shopping around can help - sometimes it might be cheaper to book flights and accommodation separately but sometimes packages can be cheaper particularly if the company has an offer on. Also be aware with which company you are booking with as some of the online travel agencies don’t have great policies for cancellation etc and you could get caught out. You just need to weigh up a cheap flight vs risks elsewhere.
Last minute deals are a thing of the past
While you can sometimes get a last minute deal it’s actually very often cheaper to book early - even sometimes up to a year! This is particularly true if you’re travelling in school holidays or around an event.
Also, if you know when you have to fly and you already have other things booked like accommodation that isn’t refundable then it would more likely be worth getting your flight now as if you wait for the flight prices to come down it could backfire on you and you could end up paying more.
Beware the extra costs
Whilst the budget airlines might show cheaper prices the added extras like baggage and paying for a seat can soon add up so it’s worth bearing this in mind.
Travel light
If you can fly with hand luggage only this will save a lot with budget airlines. Even taking one bag on the hold between you will save money. If travelling with children you get to take child equipment on board for free so it’s worth popping stuff like a bag of clothes in with the pram bag - provided you don’t exceed the weight allowance.
Pay for flights on a credit card
This won't necessarily save you money but this does give you added security when booking in case something goes wrong. Depending on your credit card you might also get points or other rewards for spending. If you tend to fly with a particular airline then look to see if you can get a credit card that offers airlines with that airline. Just be weary of all the costs involved with using a credit card such as annual fees and interest if you aren’t able to pay it off in full straight away.
Flying with a connection
If you’re travelling long haul then a flight with a connection might be cheaper than flying direct - you just need to weigh up how much extra hassle it might be - plus how much you might spend in the airport on the connecting flight.
Set flight alerts
If you have a destination/ some destinations in mind then it might be worth setting a flight alert for this particular route on Skyscanner (and other search engines).
Consider nearby airports
If you’re looking to fly out of a particular airport (or in) consider close by alternatives as they could be cheaper - for instance search all London airports rather than a particular one. You can use google flights world map to be able to find these alternatives easily.
Check your codeshares
If you’re flying long haul and the flight is a codeshare then check the other airline for their flight price as sometimes they are very different!
Consider alternative transport
Sometimes a flight might be the only way but very often - particularly in Europe - trains can be a lot cheaper and also make for a better adventure. Buses are cheaper still but take longer and are less comfortable so I would usually advice against this option particularly if you have children with you.
Myth buster - staying private when searching for flights will not bring your costs down. It’s a myth that’s been spreading around for years now and there is no research behind this to suggest it actually works. Also if you are private you would lose out on any target advertising/ deals that might come your way through searching.
Add comment
Comments