I don't fly anymore. Between the airlines having been turned into a political weapon and knowing what's going on behind the scenes in the commercial airline industry as a whole, I personally feel I no longer want to risk flying and that it's simply not worth the hassle.
In Corporate's quest for hefty profits, the airlines are rapidly closing any loopholes that lead to passenger savings. Just the other day I read that one of the major airlines is now going to start charging passengers yet another additional fee based on their body weight, as if they were nothing more than a piece of baggage.
If you're going to fly, KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AS A PASSENGER.
The airlines are not going to tell you what your rights are because that might cost them money. What are the airlines obligations to you their customer if they cancel your flight or overbook it and bump you?
Fly Rights - U.S. Dept. of Transportation
Air Passenger Rights - European Commission
BE AWARE OF EXCESS FEES AND AVOID THEM
The airlines have gotten so ridiculous about these added surcharges and given their track record lately, I'm waiting for them to charge additional for a safe landing. Or installing automatic window shades on timers and for an added charge, you can look out the airplane window for 30 seconds.
KNOW AIR FARES AND HOW THEY WORK
Flight prices can change multiple times a day depending on several factors: airlines change the prices of their flights according to market demand, and they drop prices mostly when demand for a route is low, which often happens in winter (outside the holidays). You can also expect flight prices to drop between 4 months and 3 weeks before the departure date, and early on in the week, such as on Tuesday afternoons and Wednesdays.
Airlines regularly change prices during the week depending on competitor’s prices and other factors, which is done to maximize profits and increase the number of filled seats.
Recent data reveals that average airfare can spike by over 30% during peak holiday weeks. In contrast, off-peak times surrounding these events often present more affordable options.
There are several travel sites where you can sign up for free email alerts on discounted fares. My favorite one is Scott’s Cheap Flights (now called Going.com), which sends flash sales and other cheap flight deals directly to your inbox. Another popular site to check out is Dollar Flight Club, which sends out low price fares and allows you to track flight prices.
All you have to do is input a preferred home airport and they will send alerts whenever flight deals appear. Scott’s Cheap Flights also offers a premium version for a $49 annual fee, which I used for three years. The features and deals are much better with the premium version, so I recommend signing up for the free trial.
USE FREQUENT FLYER PROGRAMS
Earn rewards with airlines and hotel loyalty programs. You should also check to see which airline alliance they are a part of, as you’ll gain rewards for flying on partner airlines as well. The major players are One World, Sky Team, and Star Alliance.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF STOPOVER PROGRAMS
One of my favorite travel hacks that I’ve used time and again is leveraging airline stopover programs. It’s like a two-for-one deal on your flights. Here’s the deal: many airlines offer free stopovers, especially in their hub cities. This means you can explore an additional city at no extra flight cost. For instance, say you’re flying from the U.S. to Bangkok with a stop in Dubai. With a stopover program, you can extend your layover in Dubai for a few days without any additional cost on your airfare. It’s like getting a mini vacation within your vacation!
In addition to that, some airlines even offer complimentary hotels, meals, and experiences if you have a long layover in a destination.
BE FLEXIBLE WITH YOUR DATES AND TIMES
This tip will likely save you the most money during your travels. Here are some key strategies to consider:
AVOID TRAVELING TO A DESTINATION DURING ITS HIGH TIMES
Cancun during Spring Break week? Probably not the best idea.
GIVE YOURSELF SOME WIGGLE ROOM AROUND YOUR PREFERRED TRAVEL DATES
It’s always a good idea to give yourself at least a week buffer before and after your preferred travel dates to find the best flight deals. Skyscanner and other flight aggregators provide flexible search options that help you locate the best deals during a given timeframe. Typically, I begin my research with Google Flights to find the cheapest dates. Then, I pivot to Skyscanner, Hopper, and ultimately the airline website to find the best deal.
FLY MIDWEEK WHEN POSSIBLE
As a rule of thumb, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are much cheaper for flying than Fridays and Sundays. Recently, when I was scanning flights to Colombia, I saw 50-75% cheaper flights midweek compared to weekends.
CATCH AN EARLY MORNING OR LATE NIGHT FLIGHT
These flights are not always super desirable, but they are a great way to unlock discounted fares. Based on my experience, the cost savings typically outweigh the inconvenience. However, there are exceptions to this rule. For example, if you’re in Paris and need to catch an early morning flight from Paris Beauvais Airport, which is conveniently located just 54 miles outside of Paris, you’ll find that public transportation options are limited. When you can’t rely on cheap public transportation to get you to the airport on time, factor taxi prices into your airfare decision.
CHOOSE ANOTHER AIRPORT
Depending on where you’re traveling to, you may find a nearby airport that’s much cheaper than the one in your destination. Instead of flying to Sacramento, go to San Francisco and then make the 1.5 hour drive to California’s capital. Is this one of the best traveling on a budget tips? It sure is!
FLY WITH A BUDGET AIRLINE
This one kind of goes without saying. Whenever you look for cheap flights, you’ll often find that there are a few budget airlines out there (i.e. Spirit, RyanAir, EasyJet) that offer the lowest prices. It’s no accident – as these are considered “no frills” airlines, and you get what you pay for. These budget airlines aren’t very glamorous, but they will certainly save you money traveling to your destination.
One important caveat about flying with budget airlines: beware of the baggage requirements! Usually, only a small carry-on and personal item is included. So, if you plan to bring larger travel bags with you, be sure to look closely at the baggage allowance prices. While the base airfare is typically cheap, prices can increase exponentially if you plan on checking a bag. If you plan on bringing more than one, I would consider a more premium airline, as the overall prices will likely be about the same.Note: I just read a report that one of the major airlines is now WEIGHING PASSENGERS to charge extra based on their weight!
PACK AS LIGHT AS POSSIBLE
Want to know the secret sauce for how to travel for cheap? Pack light.
Each year, airlines are charging more and more for checked luggage and cabin bags. Basic economy airfare allows you to save money on the base fare, but you’re often required to pay extra for a checked bag and in some cases, even carry-on luggage. Some airlines even make it difficult to find out their baggage requirements for certain routes. In my opinion, the situation is getting out of hand. The only solution, it seems, is to pack as light as possible.
Therefore, packing light is a great way to minimize the number of checked bags and carry-ons you’ll bring on flights. Baggage fees add up quickly, especially on budget airlines that charge extra for pretty much everything other than the base fare.
Best websites and apps to save on airfare
Keeping up with airfare prices has gotten easier thanks to sites like Google Flights and Kayak. To use them, just type in your home and destination airport, pick the flights that work best for you and then set an alert to track the price. After that, you'll receive emails showing if your tracked flight went up or down in price. Both sites also let you see which days are cheaper to fly in that month.
Airfarewatchdog is another site that lets you search flight deals, so take a look and compare your options between sites to find the best price available.
Best websites and apps for flight information
Once your flight is booked, you’ll want to keep tabs on gate changes, layover information and more to ensure your travel goes as smoothly as possible. Flight delays and cancellations can really put a wrench in your plans, but staying up to date on current flight and airport information can make managing these situations easier.
FlightStats.com can help you plan a smooth trip by advising you on the best time of day to fly from a specific airport and which terminals to avoid when connecting flights. You can also view live updates of flight delays and sign up for free e-mail and phone alerts. For $2.99 per month, a premium membership provides flight alerts and access to historical flight data. Flightaware.com also tracks and predicts flight delays.
If you’re delayed by weather or some unforeseen event, it pays to act quickly. The TripIt Pro smartphone app ($49/year) will send you alerts about cancellations, delays or gate changes, sometimes even ahead of an airline announcement. Use it to locate alternate flights, find out when better seats are available, get fare refund notifications, track your rewards program points and more.