Simple Tips for Airfare Savings

In an effort to make my recent blog “Budget Vacation, Luxury Destination” more concise, I decided to create this separate guide for more in depth information on airfare savings.

There are so many people in the world who are EXPERTS at airfare budget hacks, and I am not one of them. I told Seth that I felt like a phony blogging about the seemingly obvious and simple methods that I know about flight savings. He reminded me that there was a time in my adult life when I didn’t know how a flight connection worked, and I was intimidated by the idea of traveling altogether. That same type of person is who this guide is meant for – those who are just learning like I recently had to do. This is basic level, easy to understand tips to get you started. Then, you should google some of these wizards who can fly their family first-class to luxurious destinations on points and miles alone! Respect!

Travel Rewards:

• Creating a frequent flyer account for any airline you fly with is a free and simple way to earn frequent flyer miles. This can be done before or during checkout when purchasing flights. You can also use the airline’s app or send an email request to claim missed miles within the company’s allotted timeframe after completing an eligible flight.
• Welcome bonuses offered by credit cards can provide instant gratification in accumulating points/miles for travel, but I only recommend this method if you are able to responsibly signup for a new card without risking damage to your credit score (adulting is fun, right?). I recently broke down and signed up for an American Airlines co-branded credit card, because they usually offer more points while you are on a flight. It only required a single purchase costing $1 or more, and I was awarded 70,000 miles – which will pay for 2 roundtrip tickets to our next destination!
• Transferable credit card points is another enticing feature for those who know they will be traveling frequently. Certain credit cards offer points that are transferable to various airlines and hotels, making the points you earn more flexible and potentially more valuable.
• I have several friends who use their favorite travel credit card instead of their debit card for everyday purchases. They pay off the entire balance monthly, and ultimately rack up enough travel points to cover airfare and/or hotel stays for their annual vacation just by purchasing what they already need with the credit card. We personally love the travel perks of our Chase Sapphire Reserve card.

Baggage fees:

• Baggage fees are often overlooked by travelers, but they can really add up for large parties. This is especially true when flying with budget airlines such as Allegiant. After paying all of the fees, you may find these budget airlines don’t save in your situation. Calculate in all of the fees when comparing prices.
• If you don’t have elite status or a travel credit card that offers free checked bags, you can save money and time by only bringing carry-on luggage. I use a rolling suitcase of the max dimensions as my carry-on, and put my purse in a large shoulder tote as my personal item. My shoulder tote sometimes contains swimsuits, beauty products, or shoes if we are traveling for longer periods of time, but for shorter trips I leave empty space for potential shopping purchases. Families with kids too small to manage their own carry-on, or needing to pack large quantities of liquid, could consolidate into one or two large checked bags. Compression bags are useful for freeing up more space in luggage, especially if you are packing bulky winter gear.

Airfare websites:

• Google Flights has a tracker feature that helps predict prices and an alert can be set for notification of price drops.
• Hopper app shows average costs of flights based on the time of year, and predicts prices.
• Skyscanner compares flight prices for multiple destinations, and is great to use when the price determines your destination.
• Kayak is another search engine that can help you find great deals on your flight.
• Orbitz is where I tend to book most of our flights for hotel rewards. If you aren’t using miles, sticking to one booking site can save on trips with free loyalty programs.
• Expedia reward points can be used on flights, which is good to know for those who would rather save up rewards for airfare instead of hotels.

Flexible dates:

• If you have the luxury of flexible travel dates, use this to your advantage and save on flights and hotels.
• Research the shoulder and low season for your desired destinations. This is when prices tend to dip for airfare and lodging, and you will most likely avoid large crowds of tourists.
• For example, our summertime in the U.S. is one of the cheapest times to visit Mexico, but be mindful of hurricane season risks. We monitor forecasts via National Weather Service website and Storm Radar App.
• Compare flight prices to various days surrounding your intended travel date. Tuesday and Wednesday are historically the cheapest days of the week to fly.

Alternate airports:

• Driving a little further from the closest airport (departing and arriving) could save hundreds of dollars on your tickets, so it’s worth comparing all options.
• For example, we prefer to use our local airport in Asheville, but will make the 2 hour drive to Charlotte if the price is right (after factoring in time/fuel/hotel costs). If necessary, we will stay at a hotel near the airport that offers free shuttle service. We will also pay to leave our car at the hotel, because it is always cheaper than airport parking. The shuttle will pick you up when you return, just call the hotel after landing.
• Additionally, we have opted to fly into an airport a little further from our destination too. It is worth searching airports within an hour or so of your destination and comparing prices with Uber, Lyft, or one-way rental car prices factored in.
• Comfort and time should be included in your decision to use alternative airports. We don’t feel it is worth the extra hassle most of the time, but we always look into this option. You never know when you’ll save a shocking amount of money for a little extra effort!

Book now, pay later:

• Several booking websites are now offering “book now, pay later” interest-free flight purchases, which has been more common for hotel bookings in the past. Some travelers prefer to book trips far in advance and make monthly payments.
• Unless you plan to immediately pay off the bill after booking with a travel credit card for rewards, an interest-free payment plan is the cheaper option. It’s unlikely you will get enough rewards to make up for high interest fees of using credit cards to finance your trip.
• Several airlines offer PayPal, Affirm, Uplift, and Klarna financing services to help budget trips when booking directly on the airline’s website.
• Some third party booking sites also offer these same payment options such as Priceline, CheapOair, and also Expedia (if booking hotel + flights package).
• If you utilize “book now, pay later”, read the terms of the arrangement to be sure it is an interest-free plan you can confidently handle.

I hope you have found these tips helpful! Feel free to comment or email with any questions or feedback. If you came from my “Budget Vacation, Luxury Destination” blog, don’t forget to head back and finish reading!

-Amanda Kendler <3