Here Are 5 Little-Known Ways to Save Big on Your Next Flight
Shopping for cheap flights is a challenge, but with a little training, you can become an expert on finding the best deals out there. Sure, you can compare discount travel sites to see if you can find lower airfares, but there are more useful ways to finding the cheapest flights.
Here are five tips to help you find cheap airline tickets, including what is the best day to find cheap flights and more!
So, What’s the Cheapest Day of the Week to Fly?
One thing you should look for in a cheap flight is the departure day. Flights that leave anytime from Monday through Thursday morning will most likely have lower airfare than other flights. This is what is known as “off-peak travel”. Adjusting your travel dates to fall on these days can help you save big on your bookings. But how do you now which day of the week is really the cheapest day to fly? If you’re flying on a U.S. domestic flight, two of the best days to pay less on flights are Tuesday and Wednesday. The one day during the week you don’t want to purchase your flight on is Friday. Travelers who purchase their tickets on Fridays are more likely to buy tickets that are more expensive than usual.This could potentially be due to the fact that many people think if they book fast enough they may be able to beat the peak hours of the weekend rush. Of course, most people opt for flights that depart on the weekends so they don’t have the need to take off work or reschedule meetings. It’s for this reason that weekends are often the most expensive time to fly due to peak travel and peak booking, so airfare is more likely to increase.
Book Promotional Fares in Advance
If you know you’re traveling, you shouldn’t wait to book. It’s best to book your trip at least 21 days in advance, chances are there will be more seats available and better travel times to pick from compared to if you waited only a week or two before your travel. But, if you’re looking to travel high season or to a popular destination then you should book between 60 and 90 days ahead of time.
Many airlines and hotels often offer discounts to travelers who pay in full upfront, as opposed to charging a reservation to a credit card. However, for promotional non-refundable tickets your dates will need to be firm; otherwise changing these promotional tickets can cost far more than you anticipated.
Check Out Nearby Airports
Convenience is always the first thing that comes to mind when booking flights, but it’s something you’ll definitely pay for! Instead of flying into main hubs like JFK, look into flights landing into a
nearby airport like one in Newark, New Jersey. Likewise, many Los Angeles travelers routinely check the Burbank airport before booking flights out of the always busy LAX.
