The pricing of airline tickets is incredibly complicated, with algorithms that alter prices every minute. It significantly disadvantages the typical customer and frequently leads to consumers overpaying for flights.
With so many people competing for the same flights at once, finding affordable airline tickets is difficult. However, there are several strategies for finding inexpensive flights that not everyone is aware of.
Many websites promise to find you inexpensive plane tickets. But it can be difficult to know where to begin your search for low fares due to their sheer number.
That’s why we’ve put together this proven strategies on how to find cheap flight
1. Use Incognito Mode or Delete Your Cookies
We know firsthand what other digital marketers can accomplish with cookies since we are also digital marketers.
We can attest that online travel agencies and airlines can set cookies in your browser to provide customized costs for different flights.
Due to pricing competitiveness, realistically speaking, we doubt many websites do this. They don’t want you to do this, so if Skyscanner were to start displaying a higher price instead of the previous one, you could go elsewhere and locate the earlier, lower price.
Especially on your third or fourth visit, it is in their best interest to present you with the most affordable options.
Additionally, it is very simple to check and demonstrate when a website is personalizing prices. Run the same search by opening a private browser. Compare the rates between the incognito window and your browser when it is logged in. If they are different, the website is using your cookies to display personalized pricing to you.
We believe that if a website did this, it would quickly develop a bad reputation. Although it’s simple to check, it looks unlikely to us. So feel free to clear your cookies to be certain. Don’t let it keep you awake, though.
2. Browse Airline Specials
You might find some last-minute offers from the airline if you wait until the final weeks to make your reservation.
Depending on how eagerly the carrier wants to sell any unsold seats, this strategy may or may not be successful. Or perhaps they’ve just introduced a new route and are looking to spark interest. The good news is that you don’t always have to take a redeye flight to save money when you take advantage of these discounts.
3. Book Early
Frequently, experts would advise you to book your flights five months in advance to get the best deals. Or for a year, or for seven. In actuality, nobody is aware of when prices will be at their lowest.
Ingenious airlines would never do this. In order to maximize their earnings, they would raise the cost of booking if everyone made their travel arrangements five months in advance.
Yes, occasionally airlines may provide promotions. To get rid of last-minute seats. However, unless you are positive that a sale is about to happen, you’ll probably see the cost of your ticket rise.
4. Utilise Airline Reward Schemes to Fly Cheaper
Choosing the cheapest tickets we can locate is typically an important step in our process of finding inexpensive flights. Never sign a contract with a single airline merely for the benefits.
However, when the prices are comparable, we attempt to choose our favourite carriers. You may maximize the value of frequent flyer reward programs by giving a select few airlines priority. As opposed to reserving any airline at random and dispersing your reward points among too many different airlines, do this.
When you fly, be sure to sign up for the rewards program offered by almost every airline. Nothing is lost if you do this. These do accumulate over time, making them a terrific way to get free flights, discounts, upgrades, and even things for online shopping.
5. Avoid Traveling During Peak Periods
If you want to take a flight at a low price, you should avoid traveling during busy times. Due of the increased demand during certain seasons, airlines frequently increase ticket prices.
The busiest travel times are usually around holidays and other significant events. This includes December, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve, among others.
So adjust your travel dates and try to avoid these times as much as possible.
Instead, aim to fly during the off-peak season. You will find that flight prices are generally lower during these times.
The off-season times can differ based on your destination. Generally, months with holidays, festivals, or tourism seasons are considered peak times. Avoid them and find the cheapest time, i.e., one with no holidays or tourist seasons
6. Use More Than One Travel Portal
You should shop around and check prices on at least one third-party booking site before making a reservation directly with the carrier. Sometimes a third-party website will have the better bargain. There are several options available, but Momondo, Google Flights, and Priceline are three of the finest.
Given that it compares the costs of more than 30 travel websites and carrier websites, Momondo is likely the most thorough platform. They also feature top-notch research tools that make it simple to locate inexpensive routes. Additionally, unlike most, they disclose the costs of Southwest Airlines flights.
7. Use A Travel Rewards Credit Card
However, Travel Rewards Credit Cards are essentially free money every time you book a flight. They won’t help you find cheaper flights.
For every dollar you spend on flight, you will receive a certain number of points. Every flight we purchase is done so using our American Express card, which earns us points for every dollar spent on travel.
Additionally, some credit cards provide benefits like free domestic flights or access to airport lounges.
Even if you are ineligible for any travel rewards credit cards, booking flights is a significant investment, therefore charging it to a rewards-based card will result in savings over time.
You can earn bonus rewards points just by using the card if you apply for the correct travel rewards credit card at the proper moment, on top of the points you already earn when you use the card to pay for flights. Sometimes, these points are sufficient to fully cover the cost of your tickets.
8. Be Flexible With Your Travel Dates, Times Anf Locations
When you fly and where you go are the two main variables that affect how much an airline ticket costs.
Being as flexible as you can with regard to these two factors will increase your chances of finding the finest airfare deals.
Avoid traveling over significant holidays such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, and school breaks. Remember to look into local holidays like Chinese New Year, which may result in price increases at unforeseen times of the year.
The day of the week also has a big impact on flight costs. If you can be flexible about the day you travel, you could save hundreds of dollars as most people like to travel on weekends.
According to data, Sundays are generally the least expensive day to book a flight. Although this isn’t always the case, it demonstrates the value of comparing pricing throughout a week and making reservations on the day that is less expensive.
Finally, try to be flexible about your final destination. Whether they are closer or less well-known, some locations are simply less expensive to fly to. Operating costs and supply and demand are the key factors.
Most people won’t want to buy a ticket to Hong Kong just because it’s less expensive when they wish to visit Samoa. But if a more affordable ticket to Rarotonga becomes available, the savings would be worthwhile.
Keeping your options open can help you find a cheaper flight to a place even cooler than you had imagined.