If you’re wanting to save money on flights you’re going to be taking, it will require a bit of forward planning. There are a few things you can do to help you enjoy your flight experience without spending more than you need to:
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Fly at Night
Night time flights – those that depart late at night and arrive in the early hours of the morning are often cheaper than those where you’re leaving and arriving during daylight hours. These flights are sometimes known as ‘Red Eye’ flights. Look for these as a cheaper option.
Fly Midweek
Flights during or just either side of the weekend are often more expensive than those mid week because more people prefer to fly at or near the weekend. Choose to fly mid week (Tuesday – Thursday) to achieve cheaper flights.
Book Early
If you book your flight really early, i.e. virtually as soon as it’s been scheduled – you can often get an advance reservation which means that you’ll pay less for it than if you wait.
Book Late
The alternative to booking really early, is to book extremely late. This doesn’t always work as sometimes flights do get booked right up, but if a flight isn’t fully booked, you can sometimes get a really good deal by booking last minute, although you do have to take pot luck a bit more.
Think Luggage
Many airlines now charge extra if you put baggage in the hold of the plane, and a lot extra if you go over their maximum weight limits, so if you can travel light and just have a single carry on bag which falls within the weight categories you’ll save money. (Some ways of doing this are to wear heavy items such as coats while you travel).
Compare Ticket Prices
With so much airline competition these days, ticket prices can vary quite a lot depending on who you fly with. Check out the different prices offered both online and off (these do sometimes vary), for the various airlines to choose the one that offers best value for money. There are also many websites that compare cheap flights.
Check Your Payment Method
A few airlines such as Ryanair, EasyJet, Flybe and BMI Baby charge different prices according to how you pay, so be aware of which airlines do this, and use the best form of payment you can to avoid additional costs. It can sometimes work out cheaper to purchase a pre-paid card just to purchase your flights with.
