A short weekend away or a long vacation around the pool is what everyone dreams of, especially in these hard times. With budgets already stretched, it is no wonder people are looking for the cheapest flights available when booking their trip. So how do people manage to find all the bargain, low-cost flights?
It is much easier than you think, and with a few hints can unearth you a real airline bargain. Below, we discuss 8 mistakes to avoid when booking flights.
1. Booking Flights Too Late or Early
Fees for flights fluctuate greatly. If seats on the flight become scarce, then the airline will increase costs. If the flight is not filled and has a number of empty seats, then airlines will reduce costs to fill the flight up, making more revenue.
Ideally, you should book around 60 days before you plan to travel. In this period, the airline should still be making their mind up regarding price fluctuations, and you will be more likely to get a reasonable price.
Though unfounded, some companies can log your IP address online and increase the flight ticket cost when you return. If you are browsing flights, book using another computer or internet device on another IP address in case the airline is following this practice.
2. Not Checking Alternate Airports
Another mistake people make when trying to get the best-priced flights is not looking at alternate airports. Many major cities, and even smaller towns, now have access to a number of airports. When on a booking site, check all airports and the options for airlines that fly from them, for the best prices regionally.
For anyone ready to spend a little more, you can also look out for empty leg flights on private jets. These are discounted flights that are returning to their place of the rental after they have dropped the main customers at their destination. Imagine it like a taxi returning to the dept, that will give you a very cheap, discounted ride on your own private flight.
3. Not Booking Directly
Any flight price comparison site or agent needs to be paid. To do this, they take a cut of any money you pay them to arrange or find your flight. As such, you are actually paying more.
Avoid this by booking directly with the airline on their website or through their call center. Even if you find a flight on a price comparison site, go directly to their own website to book. Some comparison sites do not always have up to date information, so you may even get a better, more up to date price this way.
4. Not Being Flexible With Days and Times
When possible, try to be flexible with your times and dates. You can often get much cheaper flights by moving a day or two on either side of your specific travel dates or switching to different times. If arriving home late or spending an extra few days on holiday is really not an issue, then why not?
When changing times, be sure to check the peripheral costs involved. You may find a bargain seat, but it may arrive in the middle of the night when transportation will cost more, or you may need to book a hotel. These factors can negate the money you actually saved, so weight them up beforehand.
5. Flying on Friday and Sunday
Everybody loves a weekend getaway. Add this to the fact that people love to finish the week’s work and head home on Friday evening, and you have a recipe for booked up flights. That means more expense.
Of course, all those people need to come back on Sunday. This results in the exact same problem, so it makes sense to avoid these days. If you are going on a short-haul budget flight, you may also want to watch out for Thursday evening as stag parties and couples head out for extra-long weekend breaks.
6. Not Checking Visa Requirements
When you are traveling for work or a holiday, you should always check the restrictions and visa requirements for the country you are going to. Each country will have different requirements depending on your nationality, and not checking them beforehand can get expensive.
You may have to pay a huge, expensive visa on entry. You may even have to pay for a return flight and come straight home. The worst case is you may even have to do a stint in a holding cell before facing deportation.
If you are traveling on business, your company should arrange this for you before you go. Some countries, such as Saudi Arabia, have special Umrah visa agents who can sort it in advance for a fee. Factor these requirements into your travel budget before booking a flight.
7. Not Booking Early Morning Flights
Yes, the early morning flight is a pain. You have to get up at an ungodly hour and travel to an airport that is barely open. However, it offers a whole host of benefits, one of which is the price.
The early morning flights are the cheapest because they are the least desirable. However, they also provide you with an extra day at your destination, assuming it is only a short-haul flight. In addition to this, early morning flights are typically the least delayed because they are the first flights in the morning, and flight paths are generally empty.
8. Booking at the Weekend
The week is a busy time, and it may be tempting to leave all your browsing and flight booking until you have some spare time at the weekend. However, everyone else is doing exactly the same, and you decrease your chances of finding a bargain flight or cheap seat.
Many airlines have their discounts and sales put out early in the week, making Monday to Wednesday the best times to book. Alternatively, set up alert systems from the airline website to tell you when flights are available on the route you are seeking.
Take a Break
Using our tips for booking flights, we hope that you can grab a bargain flight and get some well-earned rest. If you enjoyed our article, we have plenty of more money-saving tips for your vacation. Take a look at our blogs on finance and lifestyle to start saving today.
The post 8 Mistakes to Avoid When Booking Flights for Vacations appeared first on Spiritual Media Blog.
