Whether you travel regularly for work or once a year for vacation, who doesn't think of ways to find cheap flights? We all do this, right? However, if you discover a good airline deal, the savings don't have to end there. In this week's edition of the It's Time series, we will talk about it and provide our readers with tips on how to save money on airfare, from using discount schemes to choosing the best time to fly.?Here are the best methods for reducing out-of-pocket expenses when booking flights:?
Well, there are so many options online that you can just compare the tickets available from different airlines at different prices. "Before planning your vacation or taking any type of package, one of the greatest ways to save money on flights is to simply compare airfares on one or two websites or with a travel agent," said Naveen Sharma, who is a travel expert with 20 years of experience in the travel industry.?
There are different things you need to keep in mind while booking for your next trip if you seriously need to save money and make your trip pocket-friendly. Things you need to remember include the fact that when you book your ticket, it might influence the pricing. While a person frequently plans trips, he or she needs to plan in advance and should avoid booking flights right away.Naveen suggested, "One should buy tickets at least 15 or 20 days prior to their flight date."?
You must know about popular airline comparison websites like MakeMyTrip and Booking.com, which are two of the more familiar ones in India and advertise aggressively on television too. Sites like these are decent and produce identical results. One can also prefer other sites that can also help you save money.?
Booking round-trip flights has always been more economical.?Naveen Sharma says, "If you book the same airline for a round trip, the airline gives you the best discount, so always book the same airline."?
Giving an additional piece of advice in his above tips on saving on air fares, Naveen said, "If you're booking a flight, you should definitely get travel insurance; it's best for travel risks."
What Is Travel Insurance? If you want to secure the money you've set aside for your vacation, buying travel insurance makes sense. But no one can blame you for being cautious about adding another expenditure to your trip budget after you've already paid for airline tickets, accommodations, meals, and activities. Still, if you can't afford to lose that money in the event of an emergency, travel insurance might be a wise purchase.? ?
Well, apart from the expert's advice, we too have browsed a few tricks that may help you save. Here they are:
Airlines charge various prices for different categories of tickets. When the lower-tiered price expires, you will be forced to pay a little more. When travelling in a group, though, you will almost certainly end up paying the greater fee, even if lower-cost tickets are available.Consider purchasing one ticket at a time. This might be inconvenient if you're booking for a family of four. It's also a risky game to play if you're booking for minor children who will need to sit next to you on the plane. However, if this is the case, you may always schedule one parent with the tiny kid first, followed by the second parent.?
Frequent flyer cards are useful for more than just accumulating miles. Many provide freebies that might wind up saving you money. Almost all of these cards provide complimentary checked luggage, and even priority boarding, which makes your travel a bit more pleasurable, especially when it comes with guaranteed overhead bin space.?
And last but not least, remember that several of these recommendations entail packing light, which is something you should consider if you intend to do souvenir shopping during your vacation. At the very least, this will force you to economise on bag costs and prevent you from overspending on items you don't actually need. That's good news for your wallet. Hope these tips will save you some money on your next trip.?
Until then, keep saving and keep investing.