in

How to Save Money on Air Travel: 7 Best Strategies

While there are many different ways to save money on traveling, you can also think smartly and creatively to reduce your overall expense if you are planning to take a flight. Yes, you read it right! Air travel is not only super convenient but can also very inexpensive if you know how to strategically book your flight, manage your luggage and plan your trip. Want some help in this regard? We’ve got you covered. In this article, we are going to give you the 7 best tips on how to save money on air travel.

Now, without further ado, let’s get into it!

Book Your Flight at the Right Time

Your flight schedule can make a lot of difference when it comes to your airfare estimation. Do your homework beforehand. Check all the flight schedules around your desired travel dates, if you are only traveling for leisure or you don’t have anything important in particular you can always be flexible with your flight schedule and trip planning. 

Another very effective saving strategy you can work on is that you can book your flight around 3 to 4 months before your departure date. This way it would be easier for you to find a cheaper flight, which certainly won’t bust your budget. The rates tend to go up, especially after that period. Check out the different websites for the best airline ticket prices for the flights on your chosen dates.

Check Airfare Comparison Websites for Best Deals

When it comes to airfares, there are tons of factors that come into play, resulting in fluctuation of rates. Sometimes airfares get really high while other times they could get incredibly low, allowing you to save many bucks on your ticket. This is why one of the best tips on how to save money on air travel is to check different websites to compare prices and get your hands on the best deals before you buy your plane tickets. Some of the best websites to book cheap flights in the USA include Momondo, Kayak, Priceline, Expedia, Hotwire, Orbitz, and Agoda. These are also some of the best hotel booking websites used by travelers all around the world. 

Use Your Credit Cards and Other Saving Methods

If you travel frequently, you would probably have signed up for different reward and discount programs offered by many local and international airlines. They let you earn points and redeem them to avail yourself discounts on your ticket price and other related travel expenses. The details about these reward points are usually shown in the mobile apps of the concerned airline. All you have to do is to become a member of these reward programs. 

Another thing to use while traveling is plastic money if you want to save some money on your air ticket. Banks and other financial institutions offering credit and debit cards also offer different types of discounts and concessional offers if you use their services on a regular basis. 

Book With Seasonal airfare Discounts

Well, if you think you can wait for a while and there is a special occasion coming ahead, then you should probably delay or reschedule your travel plans if it doesn’t change a thing in your life. It is mainly because different airlines introduce seasonal deals and special marketing campaigns to increase their sales, offering reduced airfares mainly during the off-season. 

You can learn about such offers by checking the airfare comparison website, social media handles, and other types of marketing channels where the national and international airlines usually advertise. In today’s world, you may also get notified about upcoming offers and discounts via the airline mobile app. Also, Fall and Spring are usually low-traffic seasons, which means plane tickets usually become cheaper during these times of the year. 

Pick the Cheapest Days to Fly

Are there any cheap days to fly? Of course, if you are flexible with your flying schedule, you may end up saving a lot of money, especially if you travel by plane regularly. If we take a look at general pricing and airfare policies, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays are probably the cheapest days to take a flight. 

Whereas, Fridays and Sundays are a lot pricier mainly because leisure travelers either start their trip on Friday, which is obviously the beginning of the weekend, and end their trips on Sunday and take flights back home. So, keep that in mind as well if you want to save some money on air travel. 

Pack Only the Things You Need

One of the best tips on how to save money on air travel is to pack light. There’s a certain baggage weight that is allowed to take with you on a plane for free. If the baggage limit exceeds, you would probably have to pay your cargo charges separately. So, keep this in your mind when packing things for your next flight. Make sure to only keep stuff that you actually need on your trip. You can also put things in your backpack if you think your luggage is getting extra heavy. However, make sure that your backpack is small enough that can be easily stowed under your seat or the overhead bin. 

Take a Longer or Connecting Flight

If you are not in a rush and can easily spend your time during a long layover, then you can certainly save some money while traveling by plane. Connecting flights are actually cheaper than direct flights. It is mainly because a lot of people do not prefer them as they are in a hurry to reach their destination and avoid a long wait at the airport for the next flight. Connecting flights not only take a lot more time than nonstop flights but also passengers are not allowed to leave the premises of the airport during their stay. That said, lounges and waiting areas in the airport these days have become pretty comfortable, especially if you talk about any international airport. They have many different facilities like internet connection, restrooms, duty-free shops to explore and dining area among others. It is to make your stay as convenient as possible. 

There you have it — the 7 best tips on how to save money on air travel. 

Well, now you know about the different ways to make traveling by plane cheaper, finding the best flights, and saving money on airfare. 

What do you think?

Written by Spencer K