The worst part is that it's very easy to end up paying more than you need to for airfare. Buying plane tickets online is usually the best way to get deals on flights; however, even online ticket prices can vary wildly. Following these tips will help to ensure that you pay the absolute lowest price possible for airfare.
1. Buy Tickets as Early as Possible.
It's not always possible to buy plane tickets in advance. You may end up having to travel for work with very little notice, or the opportunity to take a holiday may fall into your lap at an unexpected time. Still, when you do have the advantage of advance notice, it is best to buy your tickets as early as possible. Buying at least 4 weeks before your intended departure date can allow you to enjoy significant savings.
2. Purchase at the Right Time.
Timing is everything when you are buying plane tickets online. Normally, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the cheapest days to fly, so try to book your flights and plan your trips accordingly. The reason why is simple--business travelers usually need to be where they are going on Sunday or Monday and want to come home on Thursday or Friday. Tuesday and Wednesday tend to be less appealing travel days overall. While your experience may vary, many people swear that airline tickets are the cheapest late in the evening on Sunday nights.
3. Follow the News.
It's unfortunate to think about, but when tense events happen and tragedies strike, airfare prices often plummet for a short period of time. If you have to travel to a region where something like this has happened, following the news and keeping a close watch on prices can allow you to buy tickets at a lower cost than usual; however, you may need to reevaluate your travel plans to ensure your safety following these types of events.
4. Sign Up for Newsletters.
If your travel plans are flexible, signing up for email newsletters from the airlines can help you save on airfare. When airlines have seats leftover for flights, they will often dramatically reduce the price in order to fill them. The people on their email subscribing list will get an email blast letting them know about the huge discount. While you may get weeks or months of emails that aren't beneficial for your travel plans, it may just turn out that at some point there will be a great deal that matches your itinerary and schedule. Just make sure you act fast when you do get one of those emails. Those dramatically reduced tickets tend to sell out quickly.
5. Know Which Sites Have the Best Deals.
Today, there are hundreds of airlines and just as many third-party websites that let you book flights online. All of them claim to have great prices, but some really are better than others. Here are three websites to check out before you book:
•LastMinute.com. If you're traveling in the near future, LastMinute.com often has deeply discounted flights available. The site also allows you to book hotels, spa treatments and holiday packages. Flight and Hotel combination deals tend to be the best bet when you're looking to save.
•Eithad Airways. Providing service to Abu Dhabi, Sydney, Manila, Bangkok and Mumbai, Eithad Airways is the national airline of the United Arab Emirates. Their website offers a Best Price Guarantee, so if you're flying to one of those destinations, you can be certain that you won't be overcharged when you book directly through their official website. As an added bonus, Eithad Airways truly pampers you throughout your flight.
•Monarch Airways. Flying out of Birmingham, Leeds, Bradford, London, Luton, Manchester and London Gatwick, Monarch Airways provides service to more than 30 destinations and is known for offering very low prices on flights. On any given day, more than 15,000 seats on their flights can be £33 and there are thousands more sold for £59 or less. The site also has more than 10,000 holiday packages that cost less than £300 available for you to book.
6. Snag Last-Minute Offers.
Planning a trip ahead of time can help you save, but so can booking travel plans at the last minute. Empty seats on flights are a missed opportunity for revenue for airlines. Many would prefer to get something for those seats rather than have them be vacant at takeoff and will dramatically reduce the price in the days before departure. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that if you're travelling on a peak travel day or during a busy season, you risk not being able to find a flight if you wait too long.
7. Take Advantage of Promotions.
If you can't find a discounted rate on airfare, it's still possible to get a good deal with voucher codes sites like DealsDaddy. These codes are offered by both airlines and third party websites and are usually sort of like a secret sale. Those who know the code are able to get discounts when they book a flight, but the airline or website might not advertise the discount to the general public.
Each site handles voucher codes differently, but in most cases you need to enter the code before you search for available flights in order to get the discount. In some cases, discount codes provide discounts for any flight, while other times the codes are only good for a specific flight, travel to a certain city or a flight that departs on a certain day. Be sure to read the terms of the discount code carefully to ensure that the deal applies to your specific situation.
Remember--it pays to shop around when you're looking for plane tickets. Check both the airlines' sites and discount travel sites before you book. Combining the shop around strategy with the seven tips above will help you save money whether you're travelling domestically or abroad.
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