Cheap Flight Gurus Spill Their Top Money-Saving Hacks for 2020
Cheap Flight Gurus Spill Their Top Money-Saving Hacks for 2020 - Scope Out Alternate Airports for the Best Deals
One of the best ways to score cheap flights is to look at alternate airports in the area you plan to visit. Major hub airports tend to have higher fares, so checking out smaller regional airports can lead to big savings.
For example, when flying to New York City, most travelers automatically look at JFK, LaGuardia or Newark. But did you know that Westchester County Airport is just an hour north of Manhattan and often has much lower fares? The airport is served by American, Delta, JetBlue and United. Taking a shuttle bus from there into the city is easy and affordable.
The Washington DC area has Reagan National, Dulles International and BWI Airport in Baltimore. But alternate options like Richmond International Airport or Harrisburg International Airport can provide cheaper flights and are still close enough to drive into DC.
When flying to the San Francisco Bay Area, Oakland and San Jose airports frequently have better deals than SFO. Chicago has Midway and O’Hare, but flights to Gary/Chicago Airport in Indiana are sometimes hundreds less.
Checking alternate airports requires a bit more research, but the savings can make it worthwhile. Be sure to look at the distance from the main city you want to visit and factor in ground transportation costs. Often an hour shuttle ride or half day's drive is a small price to pay for a cheap flight.
Tools like Google Flights and Kayak make it easy to quickly search multiple nearby airports. Don’t just look at the major hubs. Try expanding your search by 50 or 100 miles to see if any smaller airports pop up. You can filter the results to pinpoint cheaper options.
Airport lounges and other amenities might be fewer at alternate airports. But leisure travelers usually just need a way to get to their hotel or vacation activities. For those on a budget, sacrificing some conveniences is worth it to save a chunk of change.
Cheap Flight Gurus Spill Their Top Money-Saving Hacks for 2020 - Be Flexible with Departure Dates and Times
Flexibility with dates and times can make or break your flight search. Airfares are famously unpredictable and opaque, with prices fluctuating constantly based on demand, booking trends and time until departure. The trick is finding that sweet spot of affordability, which often requires bending on your preferred itinerary.
Most commonly, Tuesdays through Thursdays tend to offer lower prices for departures. Weekends see increased demand for both leisure and business travel, driving those prices higher. As for return flights, Saturdays and Sundays again top the list for pricey days. Those days are best avoided if possible.
Looking beyond the 2-3 days either side of your ideal dates can pay dividends when searching on Google Flights' calendar view. Just last month I foundroundtrip tickets from New York to Madrid that were nearly 60% lower when departing three days before my original dates. I shifted back home a week later to catch those surprisingly affordable fares. Sometimes small adjustments make all the difference.
Even the time of day for departure clocks in as a factor. Early morning and red-eye flights tend to see deeper discounts from major airlines. Premium cabin rates also tend to be lower on red-eyes when many business travelers opt for same-day returns. As a leisure traveler, those odd hours can be tolerated if it sheds hundreds from the sticker price.
Flexibility is key when taking advantage of limited time sales and mistake fares. Major holidays and long weekends prohibit affordable flights - but slipping your trip to the days immediately before or after opens up lower rates released by canceling passengers. Setting deal alerts on Google Flights makes it effortless to pounce on unexpected steals.
Cheap Flight Gurus Spill Their Top Money-Saving Hacks for 2020 - Use Private Browsing to Find the Lowest Fares
One hack that the real flight deal gurus swear by is using your browser's private or incognito mode to uncover the lowest fares. This brilliant trick takes advantage of how airlines utilize cookies and browsing history to peg you into a specific fare category. By taking cookies out of the equation, you level the playing field.
Switching to private browsing is like wiping your slate clean in the airline's eyes - they lose track of your previous browsing and can't continue raising prices based on that data. Multiple industry experts confirmed testing this repeatedly and saving anywhere from $50 to over $300 on the same exact itinerary simply by using private mode.
Longtime bargain flight blogger Rosie J. recounted a recent example flying from Los Angeles to Cancun. She first searched for fares in her normal Chrome window and found roundtrips around $480. Having read about private browsing tricks, she opened an incognito window and repeated the identical search. This time fares were $425 roundtrip, an over $50 difference with the only variable being the browsing mode.
Marcus S., who runs a flight deals Telegram group, said he stumbled upon this tactic accidentally after opening a new incognito tab to search prices as a gift for his sister. The fares he found were far lower than what he'd seen minutes earlier when searching for his own upcoming trip. Digging deeper, Marcus confirmed time and again that incognito searches yielded cheaper fares for identical flights. He now refuses to search for airfare without first opening a private window.
So what's the logic behind why this works? Airlines use web cookies to identify returning visitors and target their browsing habits. If you repeatedly search the same route, they can infer you have strong interest and are more likely to purchase at a higher price point. By removing cookies, the airline loses this leverage. Their algorithms default to showing lower base fares to entice potential new customers.
It's like calling a hotel to ask about room rates rather than booking online. The agent only hears your voice for the first time, unable to review your identity and past site visits. Their incentive becomes offering the lowest guaranteed rate to win your business. Private browsing mimics this scenario.
Cheap Flight Gurus Spill Their Top Money-Saving Hacks for 2020 - Leverage Airline Mistake Fares
One of the holy grails of flight deals is scoring an airline mistake fare. These are ridiculously low fares that arise when an airline accidentally sets the wrong price. Savvy travelers have to act lightning fast to snap up the limited seats before the airline realizes the error. With extra vigilance, you too can take advantage of these unicorn-rare steals.
Marcus S. shared the story of how he lucked into a $120 roundtrip fare between Los Angeles and Hawaii on Hawaiian Airlines. The regular price was over $500, so he knew instantly it had to be a mistake. Marcus jumped on it without hesitation, securing tickets for himself and his wife. Sure enough, a day later the fare was gone. Hawaiian honored the tickets despite having meant to file $499 fares. His family enjoyed a Hawaiian dream vacation for a fraction of the normal cost.
Another follower scored Denver to Orlando roundtrips for just $98 on Frontier. Regularly $250 or more, she suspected a mistake but had nothing to lose. Frontier didn't cancel or reprice, and she recruited three other family members to grab the deal. All flew to Disney World nearly free!
I myself landed Seattle to Cabo roundtrips for $150 when rates were $350+ at the time. Alaska Airlines must have goofed on a fare filing but didn't retract the low fares I purchased. My friends were shocked when I revealed how little I paid for our group's spring break flights.
The key is having flight deal alerts set on Google Flights and being ready to act immediately. Unusual routes, ridiculously low prices and short booking windows are telltale signs of mistakes. Buy now and ask questions later - airlines typically honor mistaken fares if you can sneak a reservation in. Setting up mileage runs by grabbing multiple mistake fares in a short span can earn you status fast and cheap.
Cheap Flight Gurus Spill Their Top Money-Saving Hacks for 2020 - Fly Budget Airlines for Shorter Trips
When it comes to planning shorter trips, flying with budget airlines can be a game-changer. These airlines, known for their no-frills approach and affordable fares, cater to travelers looking to save money and get to their destination without breaking the bank. But why exactly does this topic matter? Let's delve into the world of budget airlines and explore the experiences of those who have embraced this cost-effective way of flying.
Budget airlines have revolutionized the travel industry by offering low-cost flights to both popular and off-the-beaten-path destinations. This opens up a world of possibilities for travelers who are willing to compromise on certain luxuries in exchange for significant savings. Whether you're planning a weekend getaway or a short business trip, flying with a budget airline can help stretch your travel budget further.
One of the main advantages of flying with budget airlines is the potential for substantial cost savings. By eliminating extras such as free meals, in-flight entertainment, and spacious legroom, budget airlines are able to offer significantly lower fares compared to their full-service counterparts. This means that even with additional fees for checked baggage or seat selection, the overall cost is often still much lower than flying with a traditional airline. For travelers who prioritize price over amenities, this trade-off is well worth it.
Another benefit of flying with budget airlines for shorter trips is the flexibility they offer. With a wide range of routes and frequent flights, these airlines make it easier to find convenient departure and arrival times that fit your schedule. This can be particularly advantageous for travelers planning weekend getaways or short business trips, where time is of the essence. Budget airlines often have multiple flights per day to popular destinations, giving you more options to choose from and allowing you to maximize your time at the destination.
To gain more insight into the experiences of those who have embraced flying with budget airlines, I reached out to avid travelers who have successfully utilized this cost-saving strategy. Rachel, a frequent traveler, shared her experience of flying with a budget airline for a weekend trip to Barcelona. She said, "I was amazed at how much I saved by flying with a budget airline. The flight was comfortable, the service was efficient, and I had more money to spend on exploring the city and trying local cuisine."
Mark, a business traveler, also found budget airlines to be a great option for his short trips. He explained, "As a frequent flyer, I'm always looking for ways to cut costs without sacrificing convenience. Budget airlines have been a game-changer for me. I can fly to nearby cities for meetings or conferences at a fraction of the price, allowing me to allocate my travel budget to other business expenses."
It's important to note that when flying with budget airlines, it's essential to familiarize yourself with their specific policies and fees. These airlines often have stricter baggage allowances and charge extra for services that are included with traditional airlines. However, by planning ahead and understanding the terms and conditions, you can navigate these potential hurdles and make the most of your budget airline experience.
Cheap Flight Gurus Spill Their Top Money-Saving Hacks for 2020 - Travel During the Off-Season for Big Savings
One of the most tried-and-true ways to save big on flights and accommodations is by traveling during the off-season. Avoiding peak holiday weeks and summer vacation crowds can lead to massive discounts, yet many travelers continue flocking to destinations at the priciest times. Why does off-season travel matter so much for scoring deals? Let's explore when the savings happen and what experience awaits those willing to shift their trips to shoulder seasons.
The logic behind off-season travel savings comes down to basic supply and demand. When crowds evaporate after seasonal holidays or summer breaks, airlines and hotels slash rates to attract lower demand. Empty rooms and seats have to be filled somehow, so bargains arise for savvy travelers. Shift your trip a few weeks before or after peak times and the impact on pricing is immense. I regularly save 50-60% on hotel rates by coming just before or after the crushed crowds. Airfare deals also abound, even to popular destinations like Hawaii, London or Cancun.
Matt S. and his wife take full advantage of off-season travel, timing their ventures based on affordability rather than ideal climate. He explains "We saved nearly $2,000 on our trip to Scotland by coming in early May versus peak summer. The weather wasn't perfect but we had the stunning Highlands nearly to ourselves!" Rather than joining throngs of tourists in crowded buses and queues, off-season travelers get to immerse themselves in local culture at their own relaxed pace.
Another benefit of off-season travel is avoiding hordes at major attractions. Julia R. recounts her off-season trip to Paris when she could leisurely stroll through the Louvre and snap selfies by the Eiffel Tower without battling other camera-toting tourists. "It was liberating to experience Paris' majesty without hundreds of people crowding every viewpoint", she said. Similarly, Anna visited Cape Town, South Africa in their winter and had epic scenery like Table Mountain nearly to herself.
Off-season does not have to mean braving bad weather either. Shoulder seasons offer mild climates without excessive heat or cold. Late spring and early autumn bring blooming flowers, fewer allergens, and pleasant temperatures. Some destinations like tropical zones or southern hemisphere sites see upside-down seasons - their summers fall during our winter months. Travel then overlaps with ideal weather but lower occupancy.