You’ve finally decided to take that big trip you’ve been dreaming about, and you’re just looking for some low cost flights to book it. Well, look no further, as we have 10 simple tips to help you save on your flight booking costs and still get the flight you want. From creating and using a travel rewards credit card to shopping around and buying in advance, these tips will help any traveler save money on their travel expenses in no time! Happy low cost flights booking!
Sign up for Cheap Flight Alerts
Cheap flights are often hard to find, especially when you’re looking at an extended trip (think: a couple of months or more). One of your best bets is signing up for cheap flight alerts. Sign up for as many newsletters as you can and then set a filter in your email that moves all newsletters to a folder or label—you won’t have to see them, but you can check that folder from time to time and look out for deals!
Use Incognito Browsing
When searching for flights, use incognito browsing to view prices. Airline websites typically have a list of dates with prices listed and you can use your computer’s incognito/private mode to see if prices are lower than normal. If they are, book them immediately! The incognito feature is also a good way to ensure you aren’t seeing higher airfare on a specific date because someone else searched that day.
Use Google Flights
Google Flights can be a great tool for finding low-cost flights, and using it properly can save you money. Here are ten tips to make sure you’re getting low cost flights when booking with Google.
Use Kiwi
To get a low cost flight ticket you’ve got to know where to look. There are a few online travel agents that can offer you big savings, but Kiwi is one of them. This site searches dozens of flight booking sites at once and lets you know if there are better deals available. It’s very easy to use and their prices are consistently low because they keep cutting out middlemen. A great way to save some money on flights!
Be Flexible with Dates
Because most airlines release seats for sale at different times, it’s best to book flights at least three months in advance. But if you find a flight that fits your schedule, be flexible with your travel dates. For example, if you found a $400 flight from New York to Los Angeles on January 1st and another on January 2nd for $200, buy both! You can easily sell one of them back to someone else for a profit.
Use ExpertFlyer
ExpertFlyer is a great tool to have in your low cost flights arsenal. It’s a free service that you can use to track airfare prices and availability, along with getting alerts for price drops and ticket sales. I was just on ExpertFlyer yesterday, actually, checking up on some cheap tickets to Europe!
Consider Hidden City Ticketing
The concept of hidden city ticketing is simple: if you live near an airport, book a flight to another city that’s close to your actual destination. Once onboard, ask for a new boarding pass with your final destination, then disembark before reaching your previous point of departure. This can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars by avoiding airport or airline fees and taxes.
If All Else Fails, Get a Last Minute Flight Deal in Person
The best way to get a low cost flight ticket is to use an online travel website. It’s fairly easy, in theory. All you have to do is select your destination, input your itinerary, and choose when you want to leave and return. In practice, however, you might find that these flight search engines are frustratingly slow or glitchy or require too much personal information.
Know What is Checked Bag on Each Airline (Except Southwest!)
There are no free checked bags on Southwest, so be careful and consider bringing a smaller bag that you can check. In general, most airlines offer either one or two free checked bags. If your ticket doesn’t include at least one free checked bag, there is usually an option to purchase additional pieces of luggage for $25-50 each depending on the airline and the number of pieces you purchase.
