Finding cheap airline tickets can help you save some money to spend at your destination. Here are a few tips to help you find cheap airline tickets.
- Plan in advance and sign up for newsletters.
To get the best deals, you should plan at least 3 months ahead. This will give you enough time to search for good travel deals around your travel dates. Sign up for newsletters or email alerts about low fare deals and offers from your favourite airlines. Follow them on social media and stay informed.
- Be flexible with your travel dates.
Airfares vary depending on the day of the week, time of year, and upcoming holidays. You should understand that tickets tend to be higher during peak seasons such as Christmas and summer seasons. If you are travelling around the holidays, it is cheaper to fly on the holiday itself because most people prefer to get to their destination before the holiday.
Sometimes, departing a few days before or after your desired travel date can save you some money. Tickets are also a bit cheaper during the week as more people tend to travel during weekends. Also, early morning flights and late night flights are usually cheaper, compared to other times when most people would find it convenient to travel.
- Check individual airlines’ website.
If you are searching for airfares on a platform other than the airlines’ website, always compare rates on the site. Airfare search engines are great and convenient, but it may cost you more booking on these platforms. Take advantage of discounts and coupons offered on the websites which may not reflect on other platforms.
Staying informed and knowing about current promos will ensure that you are not charged normal rates when there is an ongoing travel deal you could benefit from.
- Try alternative routes
This method is not for everyone, but if you feel up to it, then you can save lots of money for a bit of inconvenience. For instance, it may be cheaper to fly from Lagos to London and take a budget airline to Frankfurt, Germany rather than flying direct to Frankfurt.
You should compare prices and decide what works for you. If you are flying from one international location to another, try shopping as though you are from another country or ask a friend in a different location to check the rates for you. The aim is to ensure you are settling for the best deal you can get as prices may vary.
- Do not purchase your ticket too early or too late.
Research shows that the cheapest days to fly are Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. Friday and Sunday are the most expensive days.
The best time to book your ticket is six to eight weeks before your flight and up to three months for extremely busy travel periods. Airlines start releasing more affordable seats three months to the date, so if you book too early, you may be the one on the aircraft who paid the most for the same seat.
You should also not book too late (at least 18 days to your travel date). Delaying and hoping the price will drop may not be a wise decision as airfares become higher as you approach your travel dates.
- Sign up for frequent flier programs
Earn miles and rewards through loyalty programs. This is a good way to get free flight upgrades on your favorite airline and their partner airlines. For instance, if you fly KLM you can collect points/miles and get credited on Delta Airlines or Air France through their partnership program. Sticking with loyalty programs can earn you a free ticket once you have accumulated the required miles.
Now you know how to find cheap flight tickets, find out how to save money for your trip.
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