Cheapest Flights Guide

For some people flying is a hassle, but finding the cheapest flights doesn’t have to be. Finding cheapest flights can be difficult but certainly not impossible if you know what you are searching for.

Many low cost airlines offer relatively cheap tickets to an ample amount of destinations. However, when choosing the carrier it is critical to keep in mind the hidden costs and fees that are easily covered and obscured behind amusing advertisements. This makes choosing which airline to fly with much more of a game and forces you to think twice about your decision. Fighting with their competition for every passenger, most low-cost airlines deceive their customers by displaying their fares separate from additional taxes and fees you have to pay. Sometimes it proves to be cheaper to fly with larger airlines because of their various promotions and their honest prices which include baggage fees.

Most of the time the cheapest flights are those offered by low-cost airlines. Today budget carriers are flying to long-distance destinations so you can count to find intercontinental cheapest flights as well.

Traveling with cheapest flights often mean that some services that are usually complementary will not be offered free. When flying with a low-cost carrier, one should not expect a free drink, newspaper or a toy for a child. These services are available on the flights however, but to get them you will need to pay a fee. One way to counter these charges is to bring your own food or drink on board the flight. However, in many cases you won’t be allowed to bring in water or any liquid from outside the airplane. Selling food and drink as well as other services and stuff regular with big companies, low-cost carriers are making profit and this is the one of the ways to cover the cost of the cheapest flights.

Another thing to keep in mind when searching for the cheapest flights is that low-cost airlines tend to operate from secondary airports either early in the morning or late at night. These airports are usually less congested than major ones. When you’re planning your trip try some alternative routes and secondary airports if your desired destination has one. But does it pay off to fly to these smaller airports? Consider your destination and how far it is from the airport, sometimes paying for transportation from the airport along with the ticket is more expensive than having flown with a more expensive ticket from a larger company.

Sometimes the cheapest flights are the ones from larger companies due to that fact that these companies often offer promotions and rewards, thus reducing the price of the ticket. This is one of the main ways that major airlines are fighting for their share of the market for the cheapest flights. The cheapest flights are sometimes well hidden somewhere between fixed date and specific destination that can be a good alternative with significant savings. Due to different business approach, big airlines are more flexible with ticket prices. For this reason, never fixate yourself to flying only low cost airlines. Once again we remind you that the low cost carriers do not always offer the cheapest flights. It is common for major companies to establish their own low-cost subsidiaries, or to participate in the ownership of some low-cost carriers.

Here are some of the most important things to know when searching for the cheapest flights. These few tricks will help you to find the cheapest flights as well as the most practical way of flying to your destination that will cause you the least stress possible.

Plan your trip in advance. The cheapest tickets are sold first. Airlines gradually increase prices as tickets are sold. If it’s possible, the best way is to buy your ticket two or three months in advance. At that point you will probably get the best deal. If you’re flexible with your travel dates try to make some adjustments few days before and after your desirable date. Believe it or not, with this in some cases you can earn more than $100 for your ticket. When searching for the ticket try multiple search engines, this way you can get a variety of answers on the internet that matches your search. Some websites selling airline tickets don’t include low-cost carriers, so you can easily miss your cheapest flights. Low-cost carriers don’t want to pay booking commissions so as to avoid selling their tickets on their own websites or on websites that have no affiliation with any airline. Check the websites of the major companies for tickets. As previously mentioned, many major airlines have promotions and sales that significantly reduce the price of tickets and make them cheaper than flying with a low-cost airline. Another trick when searching the internet for the cheapest flights is to check the local version of the company’s website. It’s common to find cheaper tickets on i.e. Canadian version of a website for some European company. Also, keep in mind that all these websites are charging you in local currency; your cheapest flights might be also able to save some more money based on the conversion rate.

If you are looking to escape for the holidays, be aware that the ticket prices will be higher and fewer tickets will be available as people look to get away on vacation. If you’re looking for cheapest flights, try to avoid flying on holidays or weekends if possible, this is one of the best ways to save money. More people fly during the weekend so airlines rise prices for these days but drop them down for mid week flights. As fewer people fly in mid week there lies your opportunity to find the cheapest flights. Taking direct flights will be more expensive as well. While searching for affordable price you should make some route adjustments: for example combining regular and low-cost carriers. Try to find a ticket that has layovers. Even spending one night somewhere on the road at an airport will save you significant amounts of money, so if you are in no hurry…we suggest taking your time and flying around.

Many airlines have frequent flier programs that award customers the more they fly with the company.  By becoming a member in one of these programs, you will build points and miles that can go towards discounts and possibly free airfare to a destination. This is another way to provide yourself the cheapest flights. When you sign up for these programs, you become a member of the one major company, though this may be more expensive in the short run, it is an investment and pays for itself in the long run. A mailing list is usually included in the programs and thanks to this list you get emails with promotions and deals on tickets before the general public finds out about it. By being a member of a frequent flier program, you can get bonuses and extra points or free upgrades.

Cheapest flights usually include an extra fee for checking-in bags. Most, if not all, low cost carriers will charge every bag except for a small carry on such as a purse of backpack. Weight restriction is critical, it is important to stay under the limit otherwise another fee will be added. Carry-on luggage must fit the specific dimensions and weight.

When flying, plan on arriving to the airport at least two hours prior to departure. Check-in counters open two hours before the flight and close 40 minutes before departure. Make an effort to arrive on time, many low-cost companies will not wait for late passengers. Be careful not to miss (lose) your cheapest flights.

After getting through security and check-in, it is time to board the airplane. Many budget airlines have a free-seating policy. This means that seating is “first come, first served”. The sooner you board the airplane, the more options you have to choose your seat. Usually the exit aisles will be the first ones to be taken because of their extra leg space. It is yet another compromise if you want to save money by choosing the cheapest flights.

We hope that this information will help you find the cheapest flights for your vacation or destination.

Enjoy your cheapest flights!