How could you take advantage of promo airfares and low cost carriers, which are currently dime-a-dozen? Check out our old and new hacks for booking an airline ticket at minimum costs.
Timing is Key
Timing is an essential element in order to get ahead of everyone who’s also in the lookout for budget airfares. Although there is no exact basis that will back it up, there were studies that show scheduled flights during the midweek (Tuesday and Wednesday) as well as Saturday are among the cheapest. You must also be on the lookout for airfare sales from various airlines that are usually disseminated before the peak travel season sets in. With the help of social media, you can follow the official pages of your target airlines so you can get a heads up when discount airfares are available. They only release limited slots and the earlier you get wind of the sale, the better.
Book in Advance or Very Late
When you book is also a key factor in obtaining a budget airfare. Usually, booking close to your travel date costs more. If you are traveling to a domestic destination, booking at least two weeks ahead is ideal. If you are flying overseas, obtaining a slot three to six months before the flight will help you access the best deals. There are also cases when booking last minute can turn up huge discounts on your plane tickets. When airlines fail to fill their planes, they usually offer tickets at bargain prices. This is quite difficult if you have a pre-planned travel. But if you are carefree and can make do with a flexible travel date and itinerary, this is one way of saving money on your plane fare.
Keep Track
Airfare trends vary from city to city and from airline to airline. Keeping yourself updated on the current trend or subscribing to online resources that provide fare predictions will help you decide on the best time to make a purchase. Those online resources are very helpful since they can tell if the current fares are likely to rise or drop. One important tip: based on observations, airfare sales are often released on a Tuesday. That means you have to stop yourself booking on a Monday or else you will find yourself gnashing your teeth to learn that the prices dropped considerably the day after.
Do Your Homework
Travel agencies can well ease the burden of booking your flight, putting together an itinerary, and making hotel reservations. But remember, they do not do it for free. The best way to save on your travel budget, therefore, is to have a hand at everything. Start by shopping around for a plane ticket from various fliers. Doing a little bit of research and making a few inquiries usually go a long way.
Travel Light
Most discount airfares require a luggage limit. So naturally, if you are traveling with too much heavy baggage, you must forget about it altogether. But do not worry. Packing light is possible if you know the secrets to packing right! As an added bonus, by not filling your bags with unnecessary stuff you will have more opportunities exploring your destination, doing what the locals do, like shopping for toiletries at a grocery or convenience store and doing laundry at a corner shop.
Be Computer-Savvy
There are technical tricks that can help you save on your airfare. For one, you must clear your Cookies and Internet browsing history so the airline’s website will not be able to track how much you are interested on a particular flight that may prompt them to change the price. For another, you may fake your location if you are from the US and try paying with your credit card using the local currency from which the airline is based. In most cases, that is significantly lower than US dollars.
By maximizing your airfare savings, you will have more to spend for the best experience of your destination. So go ahead, scout for the best prices before you book
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