How to Save Money When Buying Plane Tickets

Photo Credit: Dan4th

Air travel generally means you end up paying a lot. The luxury of traversing the skies sure does not come cheap. But if you are smart, there are actually lots of offers and deals which can spell savings for you. Here are a few ways you can save money on your plane tickets whenever you travel:

Book your tickets in advance
Most airlines offer discounts on tickets that are booked at least a month before the actual date of travel. Booking tickets just a few days before travel means you pay the full price. So, unless it’s an emergency, book your tickets well in advance. (See the exception I listed below when actually waiting until the last minute can save you money.)

Air Travel Miles
If you fly frequently then getting a credit card with travel miles would be a great idea. It offers you reward points every time you make purchases with it, even the everyday ones like grocery and fuel. These points can be redeemed against the partner airlines for discounts on their tickets or other air travel related items like cab fare and baggage transfer. However, every airline will have different plans that they offer with the travel miles. Make sure you read them before booking your ticket.

Travel smart
Late night and early morning flights are considered low demand because most people find the timing inconvenient. Most airlines offer you cheaper tickets if you fly during the late or wee hours. If you’re looking to save some money and don’t mind the odd hours then these are great.

The Right Days to Travel
Sundays and Mondays are generally the most crowded days for airlines. Book your tickets for mid-week – Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and even Saturdays because the lower demand can make your tickets cheaper. Also, for obvious reasons avoid the holiday season – higher demand means more expensive tickets during this time.

Keep yourself updated
Airlines generally advertise their promotional deals and discounts to a select mailing list. Subscribe to the list of the airlines you travel frequently. This way you don’t miss out if there is a special offer for a certain period and you will have time to take advantage of it.

Put the Internet and your Travel Agent to Good Use
The Internet is full of sites that offer you discounts and deals on your tickets. This means deals not only for the actual travel fare, but other travel related discounts such as hotel rates, baggage transfer, car rental, etc. However, be careful before you book on these sites and be certain to compare the prices from the actual airline website before you decide. Also, to prevent fraud make sure you check out the site’s validity before purchasing – Ask friends and family members for sites they have used to score deals. Even though your travel agent charges a commission on your tickets, sometimes they may also be able to offer you cheaper tickets because they manage to buy them at special prices. It’s best to comparison shop for the best price before you decide.

Waiting Till the Last Minute Helps Too
While booking in advance is advisable, if you don’t know beforehand that you’re going to travel, you can save money on last minute tickets too. Sometimes if the occupancy factor of the airline is low till the last minute, or there are a few seats left, then they will be willing to give them for cheaper instead of leaving them unoccupied. Check with the individual airlines for such last minute deals.

Whether you’re a frequent flier or only travel occasionally, you can find some simple ways to save money. Spend some time exploring your options before you book your ticket because the money you end up saving will definitely be worth it.

Tagged as: airfare, plane tickets, save money, travel