Flight Tips: How I Found My $69 Round Trip Ticket To Miami!
There are lots of things I do when searching for cheap flights. It’s not just getting on Expedia, searching, and buying. Well, it can be that simple, but if you want the best deal, it takes a little extra work that always turns out to be worth it! I am going to share a list of tips I have tried and tips I haven't, but others recommend.
LET'S START WITH THE TIPS & TRICKS I SWEAR BY:
Google Flights Search Engine
How to search using google.
I’m learning that a lot of people don’t know they can find fantastic deals through Google’s search engine, and in my opinion, it’s easy to use and offers the best prices! Sometimes I receive emails from Expedia or other companies and still go to google to find the ticket to purchase.
How to search on Google Flights?
Just type in the google search bar the airport codes. (Example: to search for a flight to New York from Charlotte, you would type CLT to NYC) Google will search for the cheapest flights into Charlotte and include all the airports in the area (JFK, LGA, and EWR). Google will also tell you if it's cheaper to leave the day before, after, or at a different time.
My favorite part is the calendar and map feature. I use this to see when is a good time to fly to certain areas, and it also gives ideas about how much it cost to fly around the world.
Enough about Google. None of this matters if you don't include the next tip!
Search Incognito
When, I got home, sat down with my laptop and began to purchase my ticket to Miami, the $69 flight deal was gone. I searched from my phone, and then it appeared. Websites, including Google Flights, often use cookies and track your searches. The more you search for a specific flight, the more likely this site has been remembered, and they will raise the price the next time you return. Hitting Ctrl+Shift+N (it can also be found in the internet setting) places your browser in incognito mode, so there is no way they can jack up the prices due to your search history.
Searching with Sky Scanner, which I recommend, you don’t have to worry about digging in incognito mode. Skyscanner doesn’t use cookies or any type of tracking system on flight searches. They display prices based on what online travel agencies and airlines tell them. This ensures that you are getting the best price.
Fly the Cheapest Days of the Week
Tuesdays, Wednesday and Saturday
This is why I like to use the Google Flight Calendar. It shows you if a particular day is cheaper to fly and even offers different tips like if the price will go up soon and so much more.
Sign Up For Email Notifications
I know this one may seem annoying, but it's worth it! I would have never known that American Airlines had flights to Miami for $69 if I had not received an email from Expedia.com. Almost every week, Expedia sends out dozens of flight deals under $200 from my local airport. There are lots of websites that will send you notifications, like TheFlightDeal.com and TravelNoire.com!
Travel During the off-Season
We lucked up with $69 tickets to Miami because it was off-season, but this had so many advantages! The weather was still lovely; however, some days, it was too cold to swim, and on others, we were on fire. So don’t think that you’re missing out because it is off-season. You’re not, and we still had a ball!
Pack Everything in a Carry-on
Every plane ticket does not allow a carry-on, so you may be paying extra fees for your bags. It is what it is.
However, if you can take a carry-on, it is possible to pack a week's trip in your bag. Plenty of youtube videos teach you how to pack a lot of clothes in smaller bags.
Compare One-Way vs Round-Trip Prices
When I visited Puerto Rico, we flew out of Raleigh and back into Charlotte. This saved us about $200. This was also two years ago; now, flights to Puerto Rico on a Tuesday are about $227 (any other day of the week, the flights are $300 - $500). You can read about it here.
The next set of tips I have never tried, only read or heard about them. So I cannot tell you my experience with it.
Mix and Match airlines
Websites like Skyscanner and Kiwi.com will automatically check multiple airlines for you. They will find the cheapest route to your destination by any means necessary. I have never purchased my ticket through Skyscanner. I advise finding a cheap flight on Skyscanner and purchasing it through Google or the airline website. I would use both Google and Skyscanner to see what options they may provide. I have noticed both search engines offer flights around the same price; sometimes, the price difference is only a few bucks.
Don’t be Scared of the Layover
I have never done this, but I want to. If you stop in a city with a layover for a few hours, go explore. Pack enough clothes or essential items in your carry-on bag to get to a different destination.
Get a Travel Credit Card
Some credit cards offer travel rewards. They allow you to collect points on everyday purchases and can later be used on a free flight! Here is a link that explains how travel cards work, the pros and cons, and the different kinds.
Follow the 24-hour rule
Suppose the price drops within 24 hours of purchasing. You can cancel and re-book your flight for a lower price with no penalties! Check to see if the airline you booked your flight with even has the 24-hour rule policy.
Budget Airlines
I’m a little worried about using airlines like Spirit and Frontier. I have friends that swear by them; however, I have never tried them, so I cannot give you an honest opinion. They have incredibly cheap flights, but baggage fees and other misc charges can begin to add up. Don’t count budget airlines out. A lot of people recommend them, so it’s working for somebody.
I hope these tips helped you as much as they helped me when planning trips! If all else fails and this seems like too much work, I do know a handful of travel agents like one of our contributors Maya Horton. You can email her at mahorton12@gmail.com for travel inquiries.