Air travel can be expensive, so check out our 5 Money Saving Tips for Your Next Flight. Any steps you can take to drive down the price are definitely worthwhile, especially if you are hoping to take a vacation on a tight budget.
With that in mind, here are some handy hints on how to keep costs low and still be able to make the most of your aviation options this year.
5 Money-Saving Tips for Your Next Flight
Choose a cheaper time to fly
The price of flights fluctuates dramatically, and a whole heap of factors are at play in determining how much you will pay for a ticket.
The good news is that no matter what season you choose to fly in, the day of the week and time you pick can have the biggest impact.
In general, flying midweek is better than at the weekend from a price perspective, and Tuesday is optimal, with 3pm being the best time because it is generally the least desirable among travellers.
Likewise if you are willing to travel on major public holidays, then you could make significant savings, since most people do not want to fly on Christmas or Thanksgiving.
Also during these times, there are a number of discount codes from sites like ShipTheDeal.
Arrange parking ahead of time
Rather than rocking up on the day of your flight and expecting to get a good deal on your parking, it is far better to book in advance to secure significant discounts compared with the regular price.
For example, if you’re travelling from Houston IAH, by using OneStopParking, you could keep your vehicle close to the airport at one of a number of participating locations for just a few dollars a day, rather than having to pay through the nose for a space if you procrastinate.
Be open to any destination
If you have a specific destination in mind for your flight, then you will only have a handful of options in terms of airlines and the pricing will be similarly restrictive.
Alternatively if you are open to a bit of spontaneity and you do not mind leaving things up to chance, you could always pick a place to visit according to which flights are the most affordable at the time you book.
Deal-spotting is easier to do if you do not have an agenda when you start your search for flights, and this approach could also lead you to discover amazing locations that you might not otherwise have considered.
Bring food & drink with you
Buying snacks to sustain you at the airport itself is a bad idea if you are aiming to save money, as prices tend to be inflated, so it is better to stock up before you arrive and keep what you need to stave off hunger in your carry-on luggage.
In addition, while you may not be able to bring liquids through security at most airports, you do not need to; just take an empty bottle with you and fill it at the public fountains that many major interchanges offer once you are in the departure lounge.
Avoid checking your luggage if possible
For shorter trips, it makes sense to sidestep checked luggage altogether and instead aim to put everything you can into your carry-on bag instead.
This is because lots of airlines charge a premium for checking your luggage, and if you are efficient with your packing then there is no need to face up to such fees.
There are lots of other ways to save money when you book a flight and visit an airport, all of which revolve around planning ahead and being prepared, as it is those last-minute problems that tend to cost you the most.
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