The cost of flights can vary considerably, and you don’t always have to settle for economy class or cut down on in-flight services to receive discount fares. By investing sufficient time into searching for cheap flights from major airlines, and by remaining flexible in your flight dates and choice of destinations, you can find ways to reduce this aspect of your holiday spending significantly, leaving you with more money to enjoy your time away.
If you haven’t done so already, signing up for online newsletters from the major airlines could inform you when they have promotions and limited offers. You can also get information on flight promotions by checking magazines and other publications for the latest news. However, you should always check the details of these promotional fares, as they may only be applicable in certain circumstances and may not include tax, airport fees and other charges.
When arranging your flight dates, bear in mind that flying on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays is usually cheaper than other days of the week. Flying late at night or early in the morning is also often cheaper than doing so during the day. By booking your flights more than a month in advance, you stand a better chance of receiving discounted fares. The same can apply when booking flights at the last minute.
If you’re booking flights using a travel agent, they may also be able to negotiate cut-price flights for you, though if they don’t have any for your chosen dates and destination you may wish to consider altering your plans to save money. By using the same airline for all your flights, you may also be able to benefit from round-trip fares and other discounts or, at the very least; you could receive a discount on booking and service charges when booking multiple flights at the same time.
On the whole, travelling outside of peak season is usually the best time to secure cheap flights, and you may not find bargains so readily available during the most popular months of the year. If this is the case, you may wish to consider making some cut-backs to your flight and asking yourself questions such as whether you need to fly first class or if economy will do. If you’re travelling a short distance and your flight only lasts a few hours or less, you may not require services such as in-flight meals and entertainment, which can cost extra depending on the airline you’re travelling with.