Love to travel and plan trips frequently but are troubled by rising fuel prices and subsequent airfare hikes? If your answer to that question is yes, then read on for some sure shot ways to get the best deals and cheapest airfares available.
1. Prioritize your needs
Is finding the cheapest airfare the most important thing on your list? Are you willing to settle for fewer frills and have a clear idea of what you need and what you don’t? Prioritizing your needs and preferences is the first step before you go ‘cheap airfare hunting’ and will help you compare and weigh options as well as know which tradeoffs you are willing to make more easily.
2. Select a multi stop flight
One of the easiest ways to get the cheapest airfare is selecting a multi stop flight. Airlines often offer lower fares for flights with multiple stopovers or connecting flights. If you are ok with stopping at several places before reaching your destination, then these flights can be a great way to cut down your travel expenses.
3. Timing your booking
If you plan to travel during peak vacation or peak travel periods, then planning your trip and booking early can help you save significantly. Most airfares generally become more expensive in the last few days before the travel date, so booking tickets early help during such periods.
On the other hand, sometimes booking last minute too can actually save you money. This typically happens when airlines are flying below their seated capacity and thus offer last minute deals to lure travelers and fill up their flights.
4. Shop around and compare airfare deals
There are a number of aggregator sites that allow you to search and compare cheap flights and exclusive deals across all ources including airlines, wholesalers, online travel agency sites and search engines and let you book tickets directly. A number of budget airlines that offer really cheap airfare and that are usually less accessible can be found through such sites.
5. Recognize a good deal and book instantly
If you see a great airfare deal, book it instantly. Special deals offered by airlines to pull in demand typically expire within a few days or even few hours at times.
6. Be flexible
Be sure to check out airfares from and to all of the airports near you or your destination.
Additionally, the day you book your tickets can determine the price you pay. Several airlines offer fare sales on specific days, usually Tuesdays and Wednesdays. In addition timing the days you fly can be as important as timing when you plan to book. Several airlines offer cheaper airfares for flights during the weekdays than during the weekends. So it is a good idea to check prices for different travel dates as experimenting with your itinerary can be the key to finding cheaper airfares.
With the abundance of information sites, tools and aggregator sites now available online, finding cheap airfares is no longer a bewildering and frustrating experience. While there is no magic formula, just doing your homework and following these tips can help you find some of the best deals available online.