How would you react to someone sitting next to you with a cheaper flight?  You would feel like you are losing your precious money. Air pricing has come a long way. Multiple factors affect the flight’s costs. It could be the flight duration, time of booking, demand, etc. However, you can still book a cheaper flight. It all depends on your knowledge and your smartness. The blog lists some tips that might help you with this.

How to book cheap flights and save money?

You may plan a trip to the most anticipated destination. However, saving money on flight bookings increases the excitement. Moreover, it could prove beneficial for individuals with limited financial flexibility.

 For example- use a Google flight application for airports near you. You can identify one by mentioning your country. You may also enter the departure dates. The Google Flights application presents you with the cheapest places to fly to. It also tells about the most affordable times to book the flight. Here are other ways to save money on flight bookings:

1)    Book flights for specific weekdays

Yes, you can get cheap flight booking options on specific weekdays. Generally, Wednesdays, Tuesdays and Saturdays are the best options. Business travellers often travel on Mondays or Fridays. Alternatively, Leisure travellers prefer Fridays and Sundays. It implies you can book flights without spending much. Again, it is for individuals sharing a flexible flying schedule. 

You can also check the calendar viewing system. It helps you with flight prices for the whole week ahead. Spot the cheapest one to fly on accordingly.

2)    Search for flights in incognito mode

Sometimes, you witness a price drop in flight. It excites you, and you search for the card to book immediately. However, when you try to book, the price increases. It is due to the multiple bookings at the same time.  Moreover, the website tracks the visitor through the cookies you just accepted. It feeds the most popular flights to the company. Thus, the flight price increases.  So, how do you get the same ticket price you were eager to buy? Incognito mode is your person.

Search for the cheap flights in the incognito mode. It does not record cookies or send any data to the company. The airline firm will never know that you are exploring the website. Reset cookies each time you open an incognito window. Thus, spot the exact flight and book it quickly. If your debit card runs out of money at the last moment, don’t panic.

Get a short-term loan from a direct lender nearby. It will help you book the tickets quickly. You get the funds in the respective bank account. You can also bridge the sum by borrowing only the balance needed. It helps you book the tickets quickly. However, always confirm the website’s authenticity before booking tickets.

3)    Book a one-way flight

To-and-fro trips were more economical than booking a one-way flight. However, things have changed now. You can book a one-way international flight for half the cost of two flights. An increase in the number of budget carriers offers more flexibility. Moreover, you get this without compromising on the premium experience.

You may benefit from this structure by booking a long-term flight. For example- visiting a friend abroad for a wedding or business establishment, etc. You can book one cheaper in this case.

4)    Use the 24-hour facility to snag the right deal

Flight prices change quickly. Don’t skip a good deal if you spot one. Instead, book it then only. Follow a 24-hour facility. It allows you the flexibility to explore the best deals.  You lock in a flight booking for 24 hours and explore other flights. Most flight companies allow free cancellations for up to 24 hours of purchase.  It is the best way to snag the cheapest flight before the price rises. You can leverage the time to decide whether to book the flight.

5)    Try to book connecting flights

You can benefit from booking the most affordable flight with connecting flights. Find a flight closer to the destination that you want to land. If visiting Paris, check flights to Amsterdam or London. It is the closest destination to the city.

Calculate the savings by analysing the nearest landings to the destinations. If you find it cheap, book a round trip. It will land you in the nearby city. Later, you can explore the low-cost way to land in the actual destination. You may spot a bus or a train route. It brings down your expenses significantly.

• Use credit cards to book flights

Credit cards are the best way to earn some cash on flight bookings. Most companies offer discounts on flight booking. Explore the current credit card offers. Identify the one related to the airline ticket bookings. You can win up to 70% discount on credit card ticket bookings. Double-check the destination and the offer. Purchase tickets immediately to grab the offer. For example- if you want to go to New York from the UK, you may pay £745. However, with a 70% discount, the price slashes to 521. You pay only this amount to book the tickets. It ensures great savings.

Thus, check credit card offers if you plan a trip soon. However, be wary of some hidden or additional costs while booking. It may increase the overall costs later. Clear the dues by the month’s end.  Decide according to your affordability.  The interest rates on credit cards are usually high. Thus, the bookings may prove costly despite the discount.

If it works for you, then that’s good. Alternatively, compare the best holiday loans and grab one immediately.  You can check the difference between a credit card and a holiday loan. You fetch better rates and flexibility with loans than credit cards. Moreover, you can split the loan costs in instalments for affordability.

However, credit cards don’t offer that option. You must make a lump sum payment by the month’s end.  Moreover, you can discuss and re-schedule the payments due to financial changes. It is hard to find this facility with credit cards. Thus, decide the best by keeping the financial well-being as prime.

7)    Book late-night flights

Booking late-night flights is more affordable than daylight ones. It means you board a flight at 2 or 3 at night and land early morning. It is also known as the Red-eye flight strategy. This is an unusual travelling schedule. Thus, the companies ensure the lowest price for such flights.

 However, this schedule may cost you sleep. It is worth it if you are keen on grabbing the most inexpensive flight offer. You may save at least 40% on this strategy. You can instead use the savings to buy gifts for your loved ones there.

Bottom line

These are some less-known hacks that allow you to book flights cheaply. Identify the best reliable sites like Google Flights to compare costs. It also helps you spot cheap places to visit. Moreover, book late-night tickets or one-way flights. You can also bridge the trip costs with holiday loans respectively. It is also an affordable option to book tickets without paying a lump sum. Decide the best option according to your budget, finances and trip needs.