Worldwide Travel on a Budget
The perks of traveling are often negated by the costs associated with flying and booking accommodation. Airfares can quickly eat away at a travel budget and leave people pondering if they can afford the trip they’ve spent months dreaming about. While there are several money-saving myths to avoid, there is a way to travel cheaply (like using Delta Airlines to find the cheapest flight for you) and explore every corner of the world without spending all your hard-earned savings. Read on to learn about how to find cheap flights to anywhere.
Look Out For Error Fares
Due to programming errors or anomalies in the pricing system, flights will often be listed at incredibly low prices. Some flights will end up costing a third of their standard rate. These mistakes occur randomly, so you must check travel sites regularly to spot these bargains before they’re gone.
If you spot a deal that seems too good to be true, don’t hesitate to add the tickets to your basket. The longer you leave it, the more likely it is that the airline will spot and correct their mistake. While the company reserves the right to cancel and refund the error fare, they will often honor the original price, and you’ll have scored yourself a bargain.
Be Flexible with Your Dates
The difference between finding cheap flights and being forced to increase your travel budget can be as simple as adjusting your vacation dates by a week. Numerous factors influence the price of flights, including the day of the week, the season, upcoming holidays and local events. Traveling on a weekend will always be more expensive than flying on a weekday, and prices will jump if airlines know that popular events are taking place in a particular destination.
Before confirming the dates of your vacation, be sure to check if any local events or holidays are scheduled and see if you can depart midweek instead of waiting for the weekend.
Last Minute Deals
Much like error fares, last-minute deals are incredibly unpredictable. More often than not, if you are booking a flight two or three days in advance, the price will be exceptionally high. These prices are typically targeted at business travelers who have their airfares paid for by their company and, as a result, do not need to hunt for a good deal.
However, if the seats aren’t selling, the airlines will cut the prices and put the seats on clearance. This is ideal for solo travelers who do not need to worry about booking multiple adjacent seats. While this is not recommended if you have a specific trip in mind, using travel sites such as lastminute.com, TUI and CheapOair is a great way to find last-minute deals for a spontaneous trip abroad.
Use Budget Airlines
In recent years, budget airlines have expanded their routes and now offer more long-haul travel options than ever before. While flying budget leaves you without certain perks, such as in-flight meals and checked bags, it can get you to your desired location at a fraction of the price of major airlines. JetBlue, Allegiant Air and Spirit Airlines are some of the best budget carriers for US-based travelers.
Most budget carriers still offer seat selection, carry-on, checked bags and printed boarding passes, but you must pay extra for each perk. As such, when comparing major and budget airlines, include the price of whichever add-ons you’ll need for your trip. These airlines also tend to fly to smaller, more remote airports, so you also need to factor in the price of bus or train transfers to your actual destination.
Don’t Fly Direct
If you want to know how to find cheap flights to anywhere, avoid direct flights; they cost more. It’s as simple as that. Due to the ease of flying directly, airlines know that they can hike up the prices and customers will pay them to avoid multiple transfers, baggage issues and prolonged time in the air. However, a key to budget travel is breaking your journey into multiple, shorter sections. For example, flying from New York to Amsterdam is significantly cheaper if you fly from New York to Dublin, and then Dublin to Amsterdam.
Avoiding direct flights can save you upwards of $200, giving you extra money to spend on your actual holiday instead of the journey. Just be sure to leave at least three hours between each of your flights so you have a buffer in case of any delays.
Final Thoughts
There is no exact science to budget-friendly travel, but these simple tips can save you significant money in the long term. Nothing is better than knowing you’ve secured the best deal, so be vigilant and explore your options before booking your next adventure abroad!
If you're traveling with a family, here are some tips you'll want to take note of.