Including how to get cheap airline tickets
Traveling is a fun, rewarding experience that most people associate with luxury. Here’s the good news: air travel doesn’t have to be reserved for the wealthy! Anyone can fly if they’re able to find airline tickets at affordable rates. Nowadays, that’s easier than ever.
There’s no sense in keeping secrets, so we’re uncovering them. Here are some tips and tricks to flying on a budget that travel agents don’t want you to realize.
Trying to find low-cost flights isn’t easy and can take up a lot of time, especially if you’re on a strict budget. Between social media adverts and every changing prices, trying to find the best deal for your family can be frustrating.
Here are our best tips to help you find low-cost flights quickly and without you needing to pull your hair out!
Use Incognito Mode
Ever Googled flight prices in the morning and watched them changed by the afternoon?
Some flight prices are based on your cookies in your browser. When a flight route is highly searched it can spike the price to scare you into booking the tickets quickly before it rises again.
Searching for your flight in incognito mode stops your cookies being saved which mean you see the lowest price.
You can set incognito in both Chrome and Safari. If you press Command or Control if using the PC, and Shift N. If you have Internet Explorer press Command, Shift and P. This will open a new window and your cookies will not be saved meaning that you will see only the lower costs.
Using an incognito browser means that your cookies aren’t saved. So if you want to know exactly what the cost of your flight is then using this method is your best course of action.
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Compare Rates From Several Airlines
You might have your heart set on flying with British Airways, but Virgin might have better prices!
Using search engines can help you narrow down the choice between cost and airline.
On search engine websites, you can search through arrival airports, dates and airlines. The search results will show compatible flights from every airline that goes from your airport to your destination airport. Don’t settle on an airline until you’re certain they’re offering you the best deal!
It’s true that search engines can be more expensive. They take a commission from the airline so you may find some sites list the same flight but for more. It’s worth looking at ALL the search engines so you can at least get a base price for what you’re looking for.
Here are our top five search engines that find low cost flights.
1. Skyscanner – really easy to use and the search engine we use the most. Normally the best for finding cheaper flights.
2. AirFare Watchdog – brings up any errors in prices.
3. AirWander – shows if it’s cheaper to do any stopovers.
4. JetRadar – this brings up budget airlines which many don’t as the commission is less.
5. Google Flights – not normally the cheapest place to look but it’s an easy way to compare flight dates.
It’s only recently that a lot of search engines are showing budget airlines more. If you’re looking for a budget airline then don’t just rely on the search engines, look separately to make sure you have all the options.
Like all search engines, none are perfect. You may need to use all the search engines to make sure that you’re not missing out on the best deal.
Find the Cheapest Day to Fly
It’s been heavy rumored that flying out on certain days can be cheaper. There’s no set rule but the best way to check is look at the whole month you want to travel and see if there is a cheaper day that would work for you.
If you’re using Skyscanner then:
1. Download the app.
2. Put in your destination.
3. Select one-way as it’s easier to see the prices of each flight.
4. Change the view to chart so you can easily see the price bars.
You can do this again to find a return flight bargain too. This is one of the easiest ways to find out which days it would be cheaper to fly out on.
Search for sales or errors
Sometimes airlines make mistakes when setting prices. This can happen for so many reasons like r=technical glitches, human error or currency mishaps. if you know where to find these deals then you can make a serious saving.
AirFare Watchdog is a great resource that can help you find when mistakes have been made. They share the slashed prices all in one place.
It’s a really easy site to use and can be great if you need to grab a bargain.
Search for Flights from Nearby Airports
Some flights are cheaper when they depart from certain airports. For example, a round-trip flight from London Gatwick to JFK starts at around £830. If you leave out of another airport on the same dates it could be cheaper.
The same is true if you land at a different airport – more popular airports might offer better deals. Explore all of your options by expanding your search to other airports!
Don’t Travel During Peak Months
Some destinations are frequented more often during certain seasons, so plane tickets will be more expensive during those months. Avoid visiting popular destinations during school breaks, like Christmas or during the summer holidays.
It may be a no-brainer but thinking about the time of year can save you money.
Fly with a Basic Economy Ticket
If your kids are bigger and you don’t mind everyone sitting apart then Basic Economy tickets may be for you.
They do come with certain disadvantages (no seat selection and often no refunds), but they wind up being cheaper than the next highest class. You might save hundreds on your ticket by flying Basic Economy!
Book In Advance
If you know you’re traveling months in advance, book your tickets as soon as you can! As the date of the flight approaches, ticket prices soar.
Pay in other currencies
Before you book, check if it’s worth paying in another currency. It may sound crazy but this could save you money.
If you decide to do this, always use a credit card that is free for making a foreign-transaction. If you don’t then any savings you make will go in fees.
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Our Top Tips in Getting Low Cost Flights
1. Use search engines like Skyscanner to find the best prices quickly.
2. Use incognito mode while searching for prices to stop the price rising.
3. If you plan to fly a lot then find a good rewards travel card that gives you feel air points.
4. If you need to go long-haul, booking your flight individually could slash costs.
5. Book quickly and don’t wait. Prices tend to go up the closer the time of flight.
Flights can be the most expensive part of a holiday, but your airline tickets don’t have to break the bank. Make sure you’re getting the best deals possible before you confirm your purchase!
Laura x
If you enjoyed this post and would like some more money saving ideas, then head over to the saving my family money section here on Savings 4 Savvy Mums where you’ll find over 50 money saving tips to help you save your family more. There’s enough tips to help you save over £300 a month! You could also pop over and follow my family saving Pinterest boards for lots more ideas on how to stop spending and save more; Money Saving Tips for Families and Managing Money for Families.
Love this post? Then why not save it to Pinterest so you can easily find it later.
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9 Secrets to Getting Low Cost Flights
9 secrets to getting low cost flights for your family. These are all easy things that everyone can do to save money on their flights.
Pay in other currencies
Before you book, check if it's worth paying in another currency. It may sound crazy but this could save you money.
If you decide to do this, always use a credit card that is free for making a foreign-transaction. If you don't then any savings you make will go in fees.
Fly with a Basic Economy Ticket
If your kids are bigger and you don't mind everyone sitting apart then Basic Economy tickets may be for you.
They do come with certain disadvantages (no seat selection and often no refunds), but they wind up being cheaper than the next highest class. You might save hundreds on your ticket by flying Basic Economy!
Don’t Travel During Peak Months
Some destinations are frequented more often during certain seasons, so plane tickets will be more expensive during those months. Avoid visiting popular destinations during school breaks, like Christmas or during the summer holidays.
It may be a no-brainer but thinking about the time of year can save you money.
Use Incognito Mode
Ever Googled flight prices in the morning and watched them changed by the afternoon?
Some flight prices are based on your cookies in your browser. When a flight route is highly searched it can spike the price to scare you into booking the tickets quickly before it rises again.
Searching for your flight in incognito mode stops your cookies being saved which mean you see the lowest price.
You can set incognito in both Chrome and Safari. If you press Command or Control if using the PC, and Shift N. If you have Internet Explorer press Command, Shift and P. This will open a new window and your cookies will not be saved meaning that you will see only the lower costs.
Using an incognito browser means that your cookies aren't saved. So if you want to know exactly what the cost of your flight is then using this method is your best course of action.
Compare Rates From Several Airlines
You might have your heart set on flying with British Airways, but Virgin might have better prices!
Using search engines can help you narrow down the choice between cost and airline.
On search engine websites, you can search through arrival airports, dates and airlines. The search results will show compatible flights from every airline that goes from your airport to your destination airport. Don’t settle on an airline until you’re certain they’re offering you the best deal!
It's true that search engines can be more expensive. They take a commission from the airline so you may find some sites list the same flight but for more. It's worth looking at ALL the search engines so you can at least get a base price for what you're looking for.
Here are our top five search engines that find low cost flights.1. Skyscanner - really easy to use and the search engine we use the most. Normally the best for finding cheaper flights.
2. AirFare Watchdog - brings up any errors in prices.
3. AirWander - shows if it's cheaper to do any stopovers.
4. JetRadar - this brings up budget airlines which many don't as the commission is less.
5. Google Flights - not normally the cheapest place to look but it's an easy way to compare flight dates.
It's only recently that a lot of search engines are showing budget airlines more. If you're looking for a budget airline then don't just rely on the search engines, look separately to make sure you have all the options.
Like all search engines, none are perfect. You may need to use all the search engines to make sure that you're not missing out on the best deal.
Find the Cheapest Day to Fly
It's been heavy rumored that flying out on certain days can be cheaper. There's no set rule but the best way to check is look at the whole month you want to travel and see if there is a cheaper day that would work for you.
If you're using Skyscanner then:
1. Download the app.
2. Put in your destination.
3. Select one-way as it's easier to see the prices of each flight.
4. Change the view to chart so you can easily see the price bars.
You can do this again to find a return flight bargain too. This is one of the easiest ways to find out which days it would be cheaper to fly out on.
Search for sales or errors
Sometimes airlines make mistakes when setting prices. This can happen for so many reasons like r=technical glitches, human error or currency mishaps. if you know where to find these deals then you can make a serious saving.
AirFare Watchdog is a great resource that can help you find when mistakes have been made. They share the slashed prices all in one place.
It's a really easy site to use and can be great if you need to grab a bargain.
Search for Flights from Nearby Airports
Some flights are cheaper when they depart from certain airports. For example, a round-trip flight from London Gatwick to JFK starts at around £830. If you leave out of another airport on the same dates it could be cheaper.
The same is true if you land at a different airport – more popular airports might offer better deals. Explore all of your options by expanding your search to other airports!