With the holidays coming, I have many clients searching for the least expensive flights for travel to visit friends and family over the coming months. Here are ways to get the least expensive flights you can.
And read to the end to learn why I DON'T book flights for clients!
1. Be Flexible
Have a few days or locations can save you hundreds!
Look into what days are the least expensive to fly. Sometimes a stay that shifts to a Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday can mean a big difference in pricing.
Look into other airports! Sometimes a 90-minute drive is more cost effective than something out of the airport closest to you. Just be sure to do the cost/benefit analysis of drive time and fuel.
The best place to find the details of where and when to fly can be found through Google Flights. You can even track flights to watch as prices fluctuate.
2. Book Early
The best time to buy your airfare depends on when you're going in the travel season.
If you're traveling off-season, the least expensive time to book a flight is 2-3 months before travel while during peak season your best bet is to book 5 months out.
Buying your flights early allows you the most availability for your travel. The closer you get the less likely it will be to get your preferred day and flight.
Early booking also allows you to take advantage of sales that may occur if you book directly with your favorite airline. So be sure to sign up for airline promotional emails!
3. Hide your research
The more your search engine knows that you're the higher the chance they drive up the price.
Clear your cookies every time you are doing a flight search because prices will go up if a route is searched for multiple times.
Use an incognito window to find the lowest prices, and don't log into your frequent flier account. Take a screen shot of the rate and THEN log into the account to capture your rate. If it goes up, go ahead and book then call into the customer service number to get the proper pricing.
4. Book your flights individually
Unless you have small children or NEED to sit with your travel companion.
Booking with a group usually generates a higher per fare price whereas if you book each person separately the price is typically lower.
Once you book the first and select that seat, you can immediately book the next person and usually still get next to your travel buddy.
Carrie, you're a travel agent!
Why don't you book flights for your clients?
I can, but I prefer that my clients book their own because I find that my clients have better control and receive better customer service should a flight get cancelled or delayed when they work directly with the airline.
Airlines want to make YOU happy rather than a travel agent because they want your loyalty with your frequent flier points/dollars/miles. Whereas hotels and resorts want to make sure I'm loyal to them, so I send more clients their way so, as a result, they'll work hard to take care of anyone I send their way.
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