We know from experience how expensive travel can be! The costs of transportation, hotels, food, and activities really add up fast. Getting to your destination is usually the most expensive part so we always try to save money on flights.
There is a lot of confusing information about how to save on flights online. We want to compile some of the best advice as well as give you some of our tips that we have learned along the way. Together we’ve taken hundreds of flights from short 30-minute hops to over 15 hour long haul journeys.
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Direct Flight vs. Layover
Choose Wisely to Save
You can start saving money on flight tickets by sacrificing a little of your time. Our post on layovers vs. direct breaks down the pros and cons of both options but let’s focus on savings. You can save some good money if you don’t mind making some stops along the way.
It’s no secret that a direct flight will get you to your destination faster. However, did you know that you can save at least 5% on your ticket by choosing a connecting flight? You can start saving money right away if you don’t mind adding a short layover or two.
If you’re looking to save money on flights we highly recommend looking for layover flights!
Choose Off-Season Travel
Save Money on Flights by Picking the right Date
Want to see the cherry blossoms in Japan? How about Yacht Week in Croatia? Or even New Years’ Eve in Edinburgh? These are all great times to visit but are right in the middle of high season.
Travelling during high season comes with the massive crowds and high prices to match. Everything from flights to hotels to activities are at their most expensive because demand is high. You will easily spend 20-30% more on everything plus everything will be so busy.
We always try and travel in the off-season to save money and avoid crowds. You can get great deals on airfare because airlines are trying to fill seats fast. The top tourist attractions will also be quieter so you will have a lot more time to experience them!
Focused Loyalty Points
Use One or Two Programs
It seems like just about every company has a loyalty program these days. It can be tempting to sign up for all of them hoping to earn rewards eventually. While we never turn down a good points program, we recommend sticking with one or two.
Use One Credit Card
One way to do this is picking a single rewards-based credit card. We make most of our purchases on the RBC Avion Visa that gives bonus points for travel-related costs. We can then convert these points into free flights or discounts to help stretch our travel budget. The RBC Avion Visa makes the most sense for us but research cards at your local bank for the best rewards.
And when we save you can save money we mean some serious money. We were able to us our RBC Avion Points to take direct, return flights from Toronto to Hong Kong for $900. That’s not the price per ticket – that’s how much we paid in total! Get a good rewards card and you’ll be saving money on flights in no time.
Stick With One Airline
All airlines have some sort of rewards program for loyal customers. Instead of spreading those miles across different airlines, choose one and get rewarded faster. You’ll be flying free in no time!
We save money on flights by focusing our miles in the Star Alliance Group. This program includes airlines like Air Canada, Lufthansa, United, Air India, and many more. Flying with any of their member airlines will earn points you can use with any of them. Airline Networks are the best way to earn miles because you’re not restricted to a single company.
Book in Advance to Save
Plan Early to Save on Flights
A great trip needs a lot of planning so book early. You will also save money on airfare by booking at least 4-5 months in advance. The flights there and back are needed before arranging hotels so might as well get them out of the way.
Our trip to Japan over December and January started all the way back in June. We booked our main flights that far in advance which saved us hundreds of dollars each! After flights, we were free to book hotels, tours, and our JR Pass.
Timing Is Everything
Did you know flight prices can change depending on the day? You can actually save money on airfare by booking on a Tuesday instead of a Friday! Actually, statistics show that the absolute best time to book a flight is early morning on a Tuesday.
You can also save money on flights by leaving on an “off” day like Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday. Planes are historically not as full those days so airlines will lower prices to fill more seats. There are even more savings if you choose a flight that leaves at a weird time.
Use Incognito Mode
Be a Price-Checking Ninja
Every website uses cookies these days. This helps get you the best information while letting the site owners understand more about their readers. One of the things websites, especially flight ticket sites, track is how many times someone returns.
Airline ticket sellers use this to their advantage to change prices depending on how often someone visits. If they notice you keep coming back to look at the same flight then you must be very interested in it. The site could then start increasing the price every time you visit. This makes you think it will only get more expensive so you book faster.
You can avoid getting caught up in this by using incognito mode on your browser. Your computer won’t accept any permanent cookies so prices should stay low. Once it’s time to buy, switch back to your normal browser and book your flight.
Using incognito mode is the best way to shop for cheap flights. It is even better when combined with the other tips in this article!
Track Prices to Save Money on Flights
Know the Best Time to Book Flights
The best part about the online world is the amount of information at our fingertips. Use this to your advantage by tracking flight prices to find the perfect deal. This is one of our top “How to Save Money on Flights” tips becasue we’re constantly on tracking websites hunting for better prices.
Our go-to price tracking site is SkyScanner. It combines prices from dozens of airlines so you know you’re getting a good deal. Our favourite feature is searching for flights to “anywhere”. If you know WHEN you want to go but not sure WHERE, use SkyScanner’s Anywhere option to find the cheapest destinations.
Use a VPN
Different Location, Different Price
Another one of our big “How to Save Money on Flights” secrets is our NordVPN subscription. Many people already know NordVPN boosts your online privacy and security. On top of that, it also lets you watch streaming services from other countries. This is the part that helps you save money on flights.
Like we mentioned above, all websites are using cookies to track your location. This helps them deliver the best information but that might also count against you. For example, the exact same flight could be cheaper if it is booked in Croatia instead of Canada.
Depending on the flight you book, your NordVPN will pay for itself with the savings. Head over to NordVPN to start your subscription now!
Best Ways To Save Money on Flights
One Tip is Good, More Are Better
We use all of the tips above to help us save money on airfare when we travel. Any one of these tips can save you hundreds of dollars on flights but they work better together. You can use incognito mode on a Tuesday while on a VPN to save serious bucks!
Let us know if any of our tips helped you save money on flights. You can also give us your biggest money-saving tips – we love new ideas!
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