With airlines out-of-control increasing fares, closing savings loopholes and imposing new restrictions, it's getting more difficult to score any airfare savings.
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Southwest Airlines is leading the charge with now charging plus-size passengers for two seats ( I believe that's called discrimination!), imposing fees and restrictions on both checked and carry-on luggage, assigning seats and other ridiculousness. Personally, I hope they go bankrupt.
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Signs are this may be the handwriting on the wall. I just read an article the other day where passengers aren't putting up with this corporate greed nonsense, airline bookings continue to drop so airlines are being forced to being back free perks they'd once done away with to try to appease flyers.
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Personally, I'll no longer fly. There are other modes of transportation besides airlines and I won't give them one red cent of my money until they clean up their act.
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But for those still wanting to fly, here are some savings strategies.
Book flights early and smart
Booking flights early is a tried-and-true method for securing the best rates. By planning your trips well in advance, you can take advantage of early-bird discounts and avoid the price hikes that often occur closer to the departure date. This strategy is part of the advice to plan your next dream vacation without breaking the bank.
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In addition to booking early, being flexible with your travel dates and times can lead to significant savings. Flights on weekdays or during less popular hours are often cheaper. Using flight comparison websites and setting up fare alerts can help you find the best deals and ensure you’re getting the most value for your money.
Know your rights as a passenger
The airlines are not going to tell you what your rights are because that might cost them money. What are the airlines obligations to you their customer if they cancel your flight or overbook it and bump you?
Fly Rights - U.S. Dept. of Transportation
Be aware of excess fees and how to avoid them
The airlines have gotten so ridiculous about these added surcharges that given their track record lately, I'm waiting for them to charge additional for a safe landing. Or installing automatic window shades on timers and for an added charge, you can look out the airplane window for 30 seconds.
Know air fares and how they work
Flight prices can change multiple times a day depending on several factors: airlines change the prices of their flights according to market demand, and they drop prices mostly when demand for a route is low, which often happens in winter (outside the holidays). You can also expect flight prices to drop between 4 months and 3 weeks before the departure date, and early on in the week, such as on Tuesday afternoons and Wednesdays.
Airlines regularly change prices during the week depending on competitor’s prices and other factors, which is done to maximize profits and increase the number of filled seats.
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Recent data reveals that average airfare can spike by over 30% during peak holiday weeks. In contrast, off-peak times surrounding these events often present more affordable options.
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​There are several travel sites where you can sign up for free email alerts on discounted fares. My favorite one is Scott’s Cheap Flights (now called Going.com), which sends flash sales and other cheap flight deals directly to your inbox. Another popular site to check out is Dollar Flight Club, which sends out low price fares and allows you to track flight prices.
All you have to do is input a preferred home airport and they will send alerts whenever flight deals appear. Scott’s Cheap Flights also offers a premium version for a $49 annual fee, which I used for three years. The features and deals are much better with the premium version, so I recommend signing up for the free trial.
Use Frequent Flyer programs
Earn rewards with airlines and hotel loyalty programs. You should also check to see which airline alliance they are a part of, as you’ll gain rewards for flying on partner airlines as well. The major players are One World, Sky Team, and Star Alliance.
Take advantage of stopover programs
One of my favorite travel hacks that I’ve used time and again is leveraging airline stopover programs. It’s like a two-for-one deal on your flights. Here’s the deal: many airlines offer free stopovers, especially in their hub cities. This means you can explore an additional city at no extra flight cost. For instance, say you’re flying from the U.S. to Bangkok with a stop in Dubai. With a stopover program, you can extend your layover in Dubai for a few days without any additional cost on your airfare. It’s like getting a mini vacation within your vacation!
In addition to that, some airlines even offer complimentary hotels, meals, and experiences if you have a long layover in a destination.
Give yourself some wiggle room around your preferred travel dates
It’s always a good idea to give yourself at least a week buffer before and after your preferred travel dates to find the best flight deals. Skyscanner and other flight aggregators provide flexible search options that help you locate the best deals during a given timeframe. Typically, I begin my research with Google Flights to find the cheapest dates. Then, I pivot to Skyscanner, Hopper, and ultimately the airline website to find the best deal.
Fly mid week when possible
As a rule of thumb, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are much cheaper for flying than Fridays and Sundays.
I've found flights with discounts as much as 75% flying mid week.
Catch an early morning or late night flight
These flights are not always super desirable, but they are a great way to unlock discounted fares. Based on my experience, the cost savings typically outweigh the inconvenience. However, there are exceptions to this rule. For example, if you’re in Paris and need to catch an early morning flight from Paris Beauvais Airport, which is conveniently located just 54 miles outside of Paris, you’ll find that public transportation options are limited. When you can’t rely on cheap public transportation to get you to the airport on time, factor taxi prices into your airfare decision.
Choose another airport
Depending on where you’re traveling to, you may find a nearby airport that’s much cheaper than the one in your destination. Instead of flying to Sacramento, go to San Francisco and then make the 1.5 hour drive to California’s capital. Is this one of the best traveling on a budget tips? It sure is!
Fly with a budget airline
This one kind of goes without saying. Whenever you look for cheap flights, you’ll often find that there are a few budget airlines out there (i.e. Spirit, RyanAir, EasyJet) that offer the lowest prices. It’s no accident – as these are considered “no frills” airlines, and you get what you pay for. These budget airlines aren’t very glamorous, but they will certainly save you money traveling to your destination.
​One important caveat about flying with budget airlines: beware of the baggage requirements! Usually, only a small carry-on and personal item is included. So, if you plan to bring larger travel bags with you, be sure to look closely at the baggage allowance prices. While the base airfare is typically cheap, prices can increase exponentially if you plan on checking a bag. If you plan on bringing more than one, I would consider a more premium airline, as the overall prices will likely be about the same.
Pack efficiently to dodge fees
Packing efficiently can help you avoid costly baggage fees, a common expense for travelers. By packing light and using carry-on luggage, you can save money and avoid the hassle of checking bags.
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To pack efficiently, focus on versatile clothing items that can be mixed and matched, and consider using packing cubes to organize your belongings. Additionally, check the baggage policies of your airline before you travel to ensure you’re aware of any restrictions or fees. By packing smart, you can streamline your travel experience and keep costs down.
Best website and apps to save on airfare
Keeping up with airfare prices has gotten easier thanks to sites like Google Flights and Kayak. To use them, just type in your home and destination airport, pick the flights that work best for you and then set an alert to track the price. After that, you'll receive emails showing if your tracked flight went up or down in price. Both sites also let you see which days are cheaper to fly in that month.
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Airfarewatchdog is another site that lets you search flight deals, so take a look and compare your options between sites to find the best price available.
Best website and apps for flight information
Once your flight is booked, you’ll want to keep tabs on gate changes, layover information and more to ensure your travel goes as smoothly as possible. Flight delays and cancellations can really put a wrench in your plans, but staying up to date on current flight and airport information can make managing these situations easier.
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FlightStats.com can help you plan a smooth trip by advising you on the best time of day to fly from a specific airport and which terminals to avoid when connecting flights. You can also view live updates of flight delays and sign up for free e-mail and phone alerts. For $2.99 per month, a premium membership provides flight alerts and access to historical flight data. Flightaware.com also tracks and predicts flight delays.
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If you’re delayed by weather or some unforeseen event, it pays to act quickly. The TripIt Pro smartphone app ($49/year) will send you alerts about cancellations, delays or gate changes, sometimes even ahead of an airline announcement. Use it to locate alternate flights, find out when better seats are available, get fare refund notifications, track your rewards program points and more.