Don't Catch Feelings, Catch Flights (For Cheap)!

By a show of hands, who is not trying to save a few dollars?  

The inquiries regarding cheap fares that have landed in my inbox tells me that most of you are, like me, hoping to find the cheapest flight(s) possible. Alas, I have grown weary of responding to individual inquiries, so I am composing this post to help.

While the promos in our newsfeeds and newsletters in our email inboxes often alert us to bargains, the black-out dates and booking deadlines may not always jive with our schedule or budgets. Here are some of my tips and hacks for securing the best fares. Get pen and paper… no seriously, I literally sit down with pen and paper before I start booking – so get in the habit.

 1. Do a thorough search. By this I mean, utilize multiple search methods. You would think that each site would provide the same results, but you’ll find that this is not the case. Not only do you get different pricing, but you’ll also find different airline and flight time options.  This is why you’ll need pen and paper.

I always start with Google Flights. Google Flights utilizes a meta-search that finds all the various prices and flight times instantaneously. Google also has functionality that will allow you to choose each flight leg separately. This is not typically available through other search engines. 

Other useful search engines include Kayak, Skyscanner, Momondo, Hipmunk and CheapOair.

Once you have decided on the flight, also try booking directly through the airline. Sometimes the airlines offer the best deals directly. Also, some search engines charges fees.   Here you may be able to save a few bucks for an inflight adult beverage.

2. Know when to book. Booking on certain days or a specific time in advance can make a major difference, and by major, I mean return some money to your budget for the actual trip.  

Flight prices fluctuate by days of the week. Also, fares tend to trend upward or downward by month or by week.  They are dictated by demand and are driven by holidays, local events or business travel.  Recent insider consumer reports suggest that the cheapest day to buy airline tickets is now Sunday, rather than Tuesday, as most people think. The reports also indicate that you’ll save more money by booking your flight on a Sunday that is at least three weeks ahead of your trip.

If you are not in a hurry to book or are still playing around with your dates I would suggest utilizing the Google Flights tracker feature or the Hopper application.

The Google Flight search will show which travel dates have the best fares and provide price graphs which will allow you to evaluate fare trends by week or month. You can also opt in to track flights and prices.  Google will then send email or mobile notifications when prices for a route will likely go up or the current fare for a flight will expire and the new fare will likely cost more. Hopper works similarly. Hopper is an application that analyzes prices daily to forecast how prices will change and alerts you whether to buy or wait. Hopper is free for download and use; however, a $5 commission that goes to the company is worked into prices of the flights you book through the app.

3. Add flexibility to your options. If you don’t need to be rigid on the when, what and where you may also save additional monies. Depending on your traveling company (squad) and time commitments you may factor in the following as cost saving options:

Connecting versus flying direct. Flying direct is usually pricier that connecting along the way. Adding a stop along the way can save you top dollar and provide other benefits according to how you work it. For instance, you can consider a long lay-over to rest, catch-up with friends or family that live in that city or if it is a place you haven’t been, enough time to do some sightseeing and check it off your list.  

 Airport difference. Fares vary by airports so before booking, check for other airports nearby, for example the Miami (MIA) and Fort Lauderdale (FLL) airports in South Florida are less than an hour away from each other and fare out of or into these airports may differ by hundreds of dollars. The extra cost in taxi or shuttle service may be well worth the switch.  Note: Google flight results will return information in the Airports section alerting of cheaper fares.  

 See alternate airports by city and distance in the US (attach link) 

 Booking one-way versus return and flying different airlines. Before booking I always assess the difference in fares for two separate one-way tickets versus a round trip. I have enjoyed savings by booking one way out with one airline and returning with another. Note: if you are flying international (to a country for which you cannot claim residency) you will be asked to provide proof of departure if it is noted that you are flying on a one-way ticket.  The one-way option allows you to switch airports if necessary.

4. Change your search location. Yep, your location may influence the price of your trip. Some airlines price tickets based on the location of the sale. This is usually the case when booking domestic flights. So, should your next international trip include domestic travel in a foreign country, update your browser location before booking. Where language presents a barrier, you can run the search on a PC in one language and another on your phone.

Another way is through booking via the foreign version of the airline’s website, for example, instead of britishairways.com, try using britishairways.co.uk instead.  Prices sometimes work out cheaper when booked in an alternate currency. Note: In these instances, use a credit card that doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee.    

5.How and when you pay can save you money. My travel addiction runs so deep that I do not use any credit cards that are not connected to an airline or travel rewards. Using a credit card that earns miles doesn’t only rack up points for use on future flights but may also provide other incentives such as free luggage and seat selection.

In other instances, (using a card or not) paying for your seat, baggage and meals up-front, when the cost is not included in fare, can save you money versus doing so at the airport.  The alternative may be also true; if you are comfortable being seated anywhere you can opt out of seat selection and have one chosen for you on the day of your departure. Hey, you may able to convince check-in agent to seat where you wanted any at no additional cost. I have been upgraded to first class twice by just asking.

6. Not sure, hold it! While you decide whether to purchase or not you can opt to hold your ticket at a locked-in price. U.S. Airlines are required to allow travelers to hold domestic tickets for up to 24 hours. Some airlines also offer ticket holds for longer periods, usually up to seven days, for a small fee. This can be useful as you work through finalizing your travel plans.

7. Travel off season. Scheduling your trip during non-peak times is sure to offer the best airfares.

Not all that glitter is gold. Here are things to consider when booking.  

• Extra Fees:  In evaluating your options and before purchasing, be sure to factor in all the extra fees. Some airlines charge extra for baggage (including stowable carry-on if you purchase a barebones economy fare) and seat selections while others may already have it included in the search price.  Tip: Take your search bookings all the way through to see what the final cost will amount to.

• Aircraft Type: Some flights vary because of the type of aircraft used for the trip. If you are particular about your space, Wi-Fi availability, and engine versus propeller you should pay attention to aircraft when booking. To take for granted your comfort level with a certain airline, there are some instances where, through partnerships, airline will sell tickets for flights through a partner. I have suffered several mini-heart attacks for this.

• Whether your flight has a connection -- pay attention to the airport Some booking sites will sell tickets with connections through different airports. This is important to know; you don’t want to be looking for a gate only to find out you are in the wrong airport. Rather, you should know how to get to the next airport and how fast you need to move to make that connection. 

The tips and hacks provided in the post are not exhaustive, but as you can see, there are many things to consider that may keep you in budget or free up money to splurge on other things. The time and effort you invest in your flight search can bring you major ROI.

This is Estoy Rey with tips for your next vacay!

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