10 foul-proof ways to save money on flights

With the prices of airline tickets skyrocketing, knowing how to save on flights is essential to be able to travel with fewer worries (and your pockets a little fuller).

On the other hand, booking a plane ticket to go on holiday and spend little is one of the dreams that all travelers have in common. The ability to reduce flight costs not only makes travel more accessible but also opens up new possibilities for exploration and adventure. Therefore, understanding and applying effective strategies to optimize travel expenses becomes crucial. Among the recurring needs of travelers, finding out how to save on flights and airline tickets stands out as a priority, being the most significant expense item on many itineraries.

1. Book well in advance

Booking flights well in advance offers significant benefits, including lower fares and more options to choose from. Studies show that by booking in advance you can avoid the risk of high prices that often occur as the departure date approaches.

For domestic flights, it is advisable to book between 28 and 45 days before departure. For international flights, the ideal period extends from 3 to 4 months before the trip.

These periods allow you to benefit from significantly more advantageous rates compared to those available close to departure.

According to analyses, booking a domestic flight about five weeks in advance can lead to a 9% saving compared to the average ticket cost. For international flights, booking between 5 and 6 months in advance can result in savings ranging from 11% to 4%. Furthermore, traveling in less popular periods such as January for domestic flights or August for international ones can further increase savings by up to 20%.

2. Choose the right days to fly (and at the right time)

Strategically choosing the days and times to fly can mean significant savings on the cost of airline tickets. Why? Generally, this is because it is supposed to be a business trip and not a pleasure one; if, however, you stay in a hotel or book a flight over the weekend, the "holiday" begins immediately.

This has a simple consequence: if you go for work you don’t want to spend a lot - even if you get reimbursed in most cases - whereas if you go for pleasure you are willing to spend more.

Statistics show that the cheapest days to buy plane tickets are Tuesday and Wednesday; the least convenient is on Saturday and Sunday.

Plus, booking a flight early in the morning or late at night can lead to significant savings. In particular, 2 am on Tuesday has the lowest average price.

Being flexible with your departure and return dates, therefore, can open up the possibility of taking advantage of the best rates. Comparing prices for different dates, even just 2-3 days before or after your desired date, can make a difference in the total cost of your trip.

3. Use specialized search engines

For those who want to save on flights, the use of specialized search engines represents an effective strategy. These tools offer a detailed price comparison between different airlines and itineraries, allowing travelers to identify the cheapest options available.

Among the best sites for comparing flight prices, we find Skyscanner, Momondo, and Google Flights. These portals are appreciated for their intuitive interface and the ability to aggregate and compare rates from multiple sources, ensuring that the user can access the most advantageous offers.

To use flight comparators effectively, you should enter travel dates flexibly, explore different combinations of departure and arrival airports, and use filters to specify preferences such as flight duration and number of stopovers. This strategy increases your chances of discovering surprisingly low rates.

Modern flight search engines offer advanced features such as Google’s "Cheapest Time to Book" option, which analyzes historical price data to recommend the best time to purchase airline tickets. Other features include price alert and display of price calendars, which help identify the cheapest days to travel.

4. Take advantage of last-minute offers

For those who may decide to travel at short notice, last minute deals are an excellent opportunity to save on flights. If your flight is less than three weeks away, start tracking these offers through portals like Google Flights, Skyscanner, and Kayak. These sites allow you to find the best rates both in advance and at the last minute and offer notification services that update users on price changes.

Last minute flights can offer significant savings, often with discounts of up to 50% off the original cost. However, they can also have some disadvantages, such as the limited choice of seats and the need to be extremely flexible with departure dates.

This approach is ideal for those seeking spontaneous adventures or those who can quickly adapt their plans.

To maximize your chances of finding the best last-minute offers, it is useful to subscribe to the alert services offered by the main flight search engines. Setting alerts for specific itineraries allows you to receive immediate notifications when prices drop, allowing you to book immediately at advantageous rates. Additionally, regularly visiting airline and tour operator sites may reveal offers not advertised elsewhere.

5. Sign up for airline newsletters

Signing up for airline newsletters offers significant benefits for those looking for flight deals. Portals like Skyscanner, eDreams, and Kayak allow users to receive updates on price changes and personalized suggestions directly via email. These services also offer mobile apps to manage bookings and track flights in real-time, increasing convenience for users.

But how to manage newsletters without clogging up the inbox? To avoid overloading your email address, it is advisable to use dedicated filters and folders. Signing up only for newsletters that interest you and making use of easy unsubscribe options can help keep your inbox organized.

6. Use loyalty programs

Airline and hotel loyalty programs are valuable tools for frequent travelers, offering the ability to earn miles and redeemable points in a variety of ways. Airlines such as Alitalia MilleMiglia, British Airways Executive Club, and Delta SkyMiles are just some examples of programs that allow you to earn miles not only by flying but also through hotel stays and other activities with partner companies.

Signing up for a loyalty program is free and allows you to accumulate points through flights, purchases with commercial partners, and special promotions. Points can be managed and controlled through a private online area, where it is also possible to see expiring promotions. Furthermore, recently, many programs have introduced the Charity option, which allows you to donate points to non-profit organizations.

In addition to free flights and upgrades, loyalty program members can enjoy access to preferential rates, insurance services, and special conditions such as priority check-in and access to airport lounges. Some programs also offer corporate incentives, transforming the points collected into economic benefits for companies.

7. Take advantage of stopovers to save

Stopover flights can significantly reduce travel costs. Often, combining several routes with different airlines is more convenient than flying directly. This approach also offers more flexible schedules and the ability to reach destinations not served directly from the departure airport.

To organize efficient stopovers, it is crucial to select flights with adequate waiting time between one and the next, ideally no less than 45 minutes for domestic flights and 3-4 hours for international ones.

When you organize stopovers yourself, however, the flights are considered separately, which means that you do not enjoy the same protections in case of delays or cancellations. For this reason, it is necessary to allow ample time between flights to manage any unforeseen events, such as collecting and re-boarding baggage or going through security checks again. In the event of a delay, passengers should be aware that the airline of the first flight is not responsible for the missed connection.

8. Consider alternative airports

Evaluating the use of alternative airports can result in considerable savings on flight costs. Opting for secondary airports, which are often less crowded, can offer cheaper fares than the main airports. These airports may also have lower parking and accommodation rates, further contributing to reduced travel expenses.

All of this often results in a more relaxed travel experience. Additionally, airlines can offer discounted prices to stimulate demand at these less busy airports.

Before choosing an alternative airport, it is important to consider the additional costs and transportation time that may be needed to reach your final destination. Carefully consider whether the flight cost savings offset these additional costs.

9. Use incognito mode

Incognito browsing is essential when searching for flights online. This mode prevents the accumulation of cookies, which are traces left while browsing. Airlines and booking sites can use cookies to offer dynamic pricing, increasing costs when they detect repeat interest in a specific route. By using incognito mode, you avoid this customization, increasing the likelihood of seeing lower rates.

How to activate incognito mode on various browsers?

• On Chrome, you can open an incognito window by pressing Ctrl + Shift + n on Windows or ⌘ + Shift + n on Mac.
• Other browsers such as Firefox, Safari, and Edge offer similar options, generally accessible via the main menu or with similar keyboard shortcuts.

Despite the benefits, incognito browsing does not guarantee complete anonymity. Elements such as IP address and geographic location remain visible to websites, still allowing some form of tracking. Additionally, this mode does not affect other factors that can influence flight prices, such as overall demand and seasonal variations.

10. Use a VPN

In addition to the incognito browsing seen previously, there is an even more effective trick, which is worth more than anything else: use a VPN network designed to protect user data while browsing. The VPN provides data protection and eliminates the possibility of someone being able to track them, diverting the connection outside the national servers, and allowing users to access from your country or abroad. By using this network, your IP address will be withheld from the airline where you are booking, and this way you will be able to see lower prices.

Flight booking portals monitor users and change the ticket price based on numerous variables: from the number of searches from the device used to the place where they connect to the keywords used. All these aspects modify the final price, making it rise.

Using a VPN is the best strategy: the network erases the search history from the memory of airline sites and booking sites, showing a lower price than what you would find by browsing normally.

Not only. The VPN allows users to connect from another country with a weaker currency and, therefore, with more advantageous prices for those who pay in dollars.

Original article published on Money.it Italy 2024-07-09 12:04:39. Original title: Come risparmiare sui voli con 10 trucchi infallibili