Save money on flights with these 10 tips

Are you thinking about taking to the skies for a well-earned break, but don’t want to completely break the bank? Whether you’re going on a short city break, or a big adventure, there are some basic tips and tricks which can help you to grab savings on flights. We’ve come up with a list of the 10 best ways to save on airline tickets so that you have more of your holiday budget to spend on the fun stuff. 

10 ways to save on airline tickets

When it comes to the best ways to save money on airfares, being flexible about when and where you travel, getting your timing right, and staying dedicated to the cause can get you a seat on a flight for cheaper. In this blog, we’ll look at all of it in more detail to help you give yourself some time away — plus, a holiday from the money worries to boot. 

1. Be flexible

‍Flexibility is one of the most effective tips for saving money on flights. If you’re not too fussed about when and where you want to travel, you can make the most of any deals and offers. In fact, being flexible will help you reap the benefits of all the hints and tips on this list. It’s simply a great mindset to have if you want the best deals  when you’re booking flights.

Prices will often vary depending on the time of year, where you’re going and where you’re coming from. With so many variables, it makes sense to keep an open mind. Why not try booking your flights with a general idea of when you’d like to go, rather than trying to find flights for a pre-planned holiday?

Flight comparison websites can help you search all flights departing from your chosen airport. You can search for flights “anywhere” to pick and choose the cheapest journeys. Not only is this a fun way to travel but you may find yourself in some wonderful places you might never have considered otherwise.

Even if you have your heart set on a particular destination, you can still use these websites to see if you can save on flights by going on a different day, from a different airport or by connecting your flights.  

2. Book off-season

If you are able to be more flexible (there’s that word again!) about the time of year you’re willing to travel, one of the best ways to save on flights is to book outside of the busiest seasons. Of course, summer is going to be a peak season for many destinations, whereas winter will sometimes be quieter and less costly. You might be able to bag some bargains when it comes to your accommodation as well. 

Now, visiting a beach destination during its coldest months is probably not the best way to make the most of the location. But you could consider booking on the shoulder-season months, typically in spring or autumn. Many places will still have nice weather into October or as early as March, so why not benefit from some sun rays at a discount? You might be able to catch savings of up to half price by choosing seasons carefully.

3. Pick the best days to book and fly

Did you know that what time of the week you fly can have a big impact on the cost? Booking your flights during the week can often be a great deal less expensive than at the weekend. Tuesdays and Wednesdays can be good for a bargain, and even Saturdays are better than Sundays for weekends.

Check out any calendar views or pricing graphs that the flight booking service has, so you can spot the best deals. While you’re there, take a look at what time of day you can travel to potentially make it cheaper. If you can bear the lack of sleep, a flight in the wee hours of the morning might give you some solid savings.

You can also save on airfares by being mindful of which day of the week you actually book your flight. Not when you travel, but when you jump on to your laptop and search for your flights. For example, lots of business travellers will make their bookings on Fridays so the airline companies will up their prices at those times — whereas searching on a Sunday can save you up to 30%.

The type of flights you’re booking can also influence the best day of the week to buy. If you’re looking for a long-distance flight you might benefit from searching on a Tuesday. Airlines release their last-minute deals and sales on Mondays so the next day you’ll often see competitors dropping prices against each other.

4. Book early

While it’s possible to save on last-minute flights , as a general rule you will more likely be able to save money by booking early. Airfares are normally at their cheapest when they’re first released. It’s suggested that booking international flights is best as much  as a year to six months in advance, or a few months for domestic flights.

While last-minute flights can offer you great deals, they are unpredictable and you may find that all of the seats on your preferred booking have been snapped up. If you want to book during peak season (like school holidays), or you’re committed to specific dates and destinations, you might be better off booking as early as possible.

5. Check price alerts

Airlines use dynamic pricing for their flights. With the constant changes, keeping track of them can be a daunting — and almost impossible — task. Thankfully, you can set price alerts to immediately let you know when your chosen route goes up or down.  This means you can hop online to buy them before they go up again.

6. Research fare bundles and deals

As well as jumping on fluctuating flight prices, it’s also possible to shop around and compare prices to get the best deals on airfares. Sites like Expedia are a great resource for finding bundles including your flights and accommodation. You can also use sites like Skyscanner, Google Flights and Travel Supermarket to compare prices and find deals.

However, it’s worth mentioning that some cheap flights can come with a whole load of extras that you have to pay for. Check the full deals and what’s included whenever you research the cheapest flights. For example, what luggage is included? You can sometimes be stung with extras that make your flight just as expensive in the long run. 

7. Get insurance in advance

Yeah, travel insurance is not the most exciting part about booking a holiday but it is important.. The best-laid holiday plans can be ruined by lost luggage or flight cancellations. You can protect your holiday by booking it on a credit card(which sometimes carry their own travel insurance) or buying your own. While it’s an additional cost, it can save you lots of money in the long run if anything goes wrong.

8. Use private browsing to search flights

As we mentioned above, flight pricing is very unpredictable and fluctuates constantly. Part of what makes fluctuating flight prices so unpredictable is demand. Airlines monitor how many people are searching particular flights by tracking online traffic. If you’ve been checking back on one flight over time you might notice that its price increases. By making the price higher each time you check, airlines want to encourage you to make a decision more quickly. 

You can combat this by clearing your cookies and using private browsing. You might find that by clearing your cache and going incognito you can access less expensive prices for the same flights. Private browsing also hides your location from the website, meaning it can’t use that data to impact on the prices you are served.

9. Use reward points and air miles

Some airlines and credit cards will give you travel rewards, which can help you save on flights and even get upgrades to premium, business, or first class. Sometimes using airline miles over cash to pay for flights can help you save, but that isn’t always the case, especially if the cash prices are particularly low. But if you have to book an expensive, high-demand flight you might see the benefits.

10. Flights with connections can be cheaper

Using connecting flights to save money can be a good strategy. This is especially effective when it comes to booking long-distance flights. When you’re searching for flights remember to uncheck the ‘direct flights only’ filter for best prices.

Another tip to save money on flights is to broaden your searches to airports in less major cities to find the best prices. Or you could consider overnight layovers but be mindful of whether you’ll need accommodation if you decide on that option. It’s important to keep in mind that while you can get great savings this way, you can also run the risk of missing connecting flights if early flights are delayed. We recommend checking your flight delay compensation options.