How to get the Cheapest Airline Tickets
Getting the cheapest airline tickets certainly requires a little bit of work. While there is nothing difficult about it, it does require that we be flexible and persistent. If it saves us oodles of cash, why not? The best hacks for getting the cheapest airline tickets take advantage of the unusual. All you have to do is figure out what other travelers won’t do… then be willing to do it. You also can benefit financially by the patterns airlines follow.
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Here are some awesome hacks for getting the cheapest airline tickets possible:
Be Willing to Connect And Layover
We have all seen the frustrated traveler muttering under their breath about too many connections between flights. Very few travelers are willing to accept several connecting flights and even fewer are willing to deal with a layover. As someone who is trying to fly as cheaply as possible, you should be looking for these opportunities. If you are lucky enough, you might get a free flight altogether. Being a flexible flyer has its benefits to be sure.
Travel in the Middle of the Week
As mentioned above, airlines do have a pattern to their pricing. If you are willing to travel in the middle of the week, for example, you can save a great deal of money on your airline tickets. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays seem to be the best days to save money. Why is that? Simply because these are the days that are traveled on the least. Take advantage of that pattern and adjust your vacation to travel on those days. You will save some money.
Purchase Directly from the Airline
While using a travel site can certainly net you some savings, buying directly from the airline can often save you some cash as well. Check out the prices both ways and then go with the one that makes the most sense. Some of the advantages of buying directly from the airline include discounts, potential refunds, price matching and so on.
Sign Up for Flight Alerts
I just got an alert this morning for a New York City Round Trip Flight, If you sign up for sites like the CheapFlights Newsletter and do a few searches for the flights you want, they will email you when prices drop for your favorite locations.
Split Your Flight
Round Trip Airfare can typically be more expensive than buying the individual flights. Splitting out the airfare into individual flights lets you see which times are the most expensive. I’ve found that Sunday’s are typically more expensive than Tuesdays to fly, so try adjusting individual days or times to find the cheapest option for each leg of your flight.
Take Advantage of Airline Programs
Airline programs are sometimes not worth the paper that they are printed on but the ones that are good are very good. From travel miles to frequent flyer programs, it is certainly worthwhile to find out what is being offered before buying your tickets. If you travel all of the time via the air, Airline programs are almost a must. Invest a few moments into each airlines programs to see what is available. You can do it online and it will only cost you time.
Book Far in Advance And Follow-Up
Be sure to book your flight far in advance to get the maximum savings on your tickets. Just because you book in advance, however, that does not mean that you should stop paying attention. Check out the cost of your flight on a regular basis in the months and weeks leading up to your flight. Many airlines will match prices if you call them on it and some of them even offer price matching after the flight. How cool would it be to get a partial refund after your flight is over?
These are only some of the ways you can save cash while booking airline tickets. What are some of your favorite methods to travel on the cheap?
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