Navigating the Sky
It’s 2024, and although everyone dreams of catching flights for a few dollars, many flights are still very expensive. During high season, such as summertime, flights can spike, or in winter, flights to snowy spots can also double in price. Other factors, like certain pop stars touring the nation, can also have an impact on flight prices, so how can you navigate this to find a cheaper deal?
There are loads of ways to knock down the price of your flights, especially if you’re a little bit flexible with your travel plans. Booking at the right time, using airline rewards or credit cards, considering other airports and tracking flight prices are just a few great examples. Before you know it, with these tips, you’ll be a savvy flight saver and jetting around for less than everyone else.
Fly Smart, Spend Less: Insider Tips for Booking Cheap Flights in 2024
When to Book
The number one tip for finding the cheapest airfares is to be flexible. This is not always easy, as you might be traveling for a special occasion, event or meeting, but shifting your trip by a day or two can lead to big savings. Most people fly away for the weekend, so avoiding Fridays and Saturdays is a good start, whereas flights mid-week are often far cheaper.
Other flexible options to consider include shifting airports - if there’s a smaller regional or alternative city airport at your destination, it might have different prices. Flight search engines will often give you the option of searching flight prices with flexible dates or by month, and if you’re not even sure where to travel yet, sites like Skyscanner allow you to search trips to ‘Everywhere’ and pull up a list of cheap destinations for you.
If you’re planning a trip to a specific destination but are flexible with dates, make sure you start looking as far in advance as possible, making note of any flash sales; there are sometimes last-minute deals to be found if you’re in a tight spot.
Rewards
There are dozens of ways to score cheaper airfares by using rewards, miles and points, and you can do endless research into this. With credit card rewards, it often works by spending money - every time you spend you earn points, and with enough points, you can buy airline miles.
However, many credit cards also have sign-up programs where they’ll give you thousands of points for signing up, which can be used towards flights. Sometimes, purchases can get double points or earn perks, such as companion passes.
If you’re a frequent flier, make sure you sign up for airline rewards programs, as flight points can mount up quickly. If you travel frequently for business and flights are expensed, you’re essentially getting air miles for free, which can eventually be put towards your own trip.
Where to Book
When it comes to booking any flights, treat it like buying a car - you wouldn’t buy the first one you see! Although you should check the airline’s own websites, often comparison sites such as Skyscanner and Kayak will have lower flight prices or can put together flight itineraries that work out cheaper and can’t be found through the airline.
These booking sites, including Google Flights, also let you set alerts based on date or price, meaning you’ll get an alert when the price goes up or down for your intended trip and you can be the first to take advantage.
Additionally, although we all love to fly in comfort and first class is the ultimate dream, if you’re going somewhere on a domestic flight or long haul and don’t mind taking hand luggage, choosing different airlines can affect the price. Budget airlines like Spirit in the USA, Ryanair in Europe and Jetstar in Asia offer flights for incredibly low prices. They’re not luxury, and extras cost more, but they can get from A to B for less.
When to Fly
Closely related to flexibility, choosing the right time to fly is a major factor in pricing. If you’re off on a dream trip to a destination, consider that most people choose to vacation over the summer due to the weather. Similarly, school holidays are always pricier, as this is the only time families can fly; therefore, demand is higher.
Likewise, if you’re planning a skiing or snowboarding trip to Colorado or Canada, peak December or January will have the highest prices. Despite this, all of these examples can be done for less, by visiting in off- or shoulder-season. Many destinations are better during these times thanks to fewer crowds and cooler weather, and if you’re doing snowsports, the beginning and end of the season still promise great snow and activities.
Before booking a flight, do a little research into your destination. Are there any big events happening during your planned dates? Perhaps Taylor Swift is playing, or the Las Vegas Grand Prix is in town. Unsurprisingly, flights are likely to peak during these times, so avoiding major events can save you money unless you’re vacationing to see the event itself.
Positioning Flights and Other Hacks
Have you ever heard of a positioning flight? Many people haven’t considered how many affordable flights fly from major airports such as JFK and LAX. If you don’t live anywhere near one of these airports, you might be worried about the upcoming cost of a flight, but positioning flights are super affordable, smaller flights that you can book to reach these international hubs.
Although you’re initially spending on the smaller flight, it can save you tons of money overall by allowing you to catch a flight from a larger airport. Other hacks for finding the cheapest airfares are endless but aren’t guaranteed. Many people claim that flying on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday is the cheapest, which is logical, but certain things can affect this. Try browsing for flights in incognito mode or even in a different country with a VPN to bring up a whole new list of potentially cheaper flight prices.
Importantly, if you’re traveling as a group, make sure to book tickets one by one. If you book as a whole group, sometimes airlines add hidden penalties to protect themselves in case you all cancel or want to sit together, but if you each book individually, you’ll often find the fare goes down.
Budget-Friendly Flying
By utilizing these strategies and staying flexible with your travel plans, you can still find great deals on flights in 2024. Remember to compare prices across multiple platforms, take advantage of loyalty programs, consider alternative airports and be open to traveling during off-peak times. With some patience and research, booking cheap flights in 2024 is achievable, allowing you to explore more destinations without breaking the bank. Happy travels!