If you’re planning a trip in the upcoming months, it’s likely that you’re already aware of the potentially expensive cost of flying. Whether you’re taking a trip to Colorado for a procedure from ThriveMD or responsible for planning a family vacation, one of the most stressful parts of traveling is booking flights. Although flying is perhaps the most efficient way to travel especially for those traveling a long distance, doing so can be expensive. If you’re finding yourself stressed by the process of booking a flight or the idea of having to do so in the future, don’t panic – there are some things you can do ahead of time to save a little cash.
No matter where you’re traveling, here are 3 ways to save extra money on flights.
Book Your Flight First
Although most people have a vacation destination in mind or are fully booked when looking into flights, it can be cost-effective to plan your trip based on the cost of flights to various locations. For example, flights to Orlando, Florida are relatively cheap during the fall and winter months – if you find an airline within your budget, this could be a great option. In the summer, colder or rainier destinations like the Pacific Northwest are cheaper to fly into, as this is their slowest season. Booking your trip in reverse and selecting a destination based on flight prices can help make your entire trip cheaper.
Keep Your Eye on Flights After Booking
After booking your flight, keep your eye on the prices – most airlines have a 24-hour cancellation policy that will let you cancel or make changes to your flight up to a day in advance, so if you are able to find a discounted flight after booking yours, you can cancel it and opt for the cheaper one. This rule often only applies to flights booked directly through an airline, however, so if you use a service like Travelocity or Priceline, you might not be able to take advantage of this deal.
Watch for Fees
Some discount airlines like Spirit or Frontier boast some of the lowest fares for flights in the country, but they often come with a catch – the costly price of luggage, carry-ons, and other fees. Although the low base price might be enticing, it is important to read the fine print and watch out for additional fees once you’ve found a flight within your budget to make sure you aren’t paying more than you need to.