There are various methods to buy an airline ticket, but timing and technique play a big role in how well you do. While it’s harder to find items at rock-bottom costs these days, savings can still be had. Here are five suggestions for saving money if you’re considering a break.
- Be Flexible
If your tee times are set, you might need more sway room for when you fly. However, your chances of getting a deal are better the more room you give yourself. Tuesdays are the cheapest days to travel domestically, according to a recent poll by personal finance startup NerdWallet, with economy tickets costing, on average, 24% less than peak averages on Sundays. In addition, NerdWallet discovered that although price variations are negligible throughout the week, Wednesdays produce the lowest average costs for foreign flights. Being adaptable to departure and arrival airports also helps.
- Set a Price Alert
It’s not possible to predict airline prices with precision. However, computers are generally better at it than our brains. So set up a price alert using a website like Google Flights to do yourself a favor. This will notify you when the cost of a particular route has decreased. Given that many airlines have lowered their change and cancellation costs, you can rebook at the reduced fare if you’ve already purchased a flight.
- Come and Go from the Same Airports
Try to use the same airports on both sides of a roundtrip flight, advises Gordon Dalgleish, president of major golf travel agency PerryGolf. You are purchasing two one-way tickets if your arrival and departure airports are different, Dalgleish warns, “you will pay heavily.”
- Be Smart with Points
Savings might be realized by converting airline or credit card points. However, how you use those ideas might also have an impact. When traveling with points, purchasing two one-way tickets can give you more flexibility if your plans change. Many reward tickets cannot be changed once your trip has started.
- Planning Ahead
While making reservations well in advance only sometimes results in lower prices, it beats booking at the last minute. According to Dalgleish, airlines typically release tickets 330 days before departure so you can book 330 days before your return leg. Consider this for the spring of 2024!
