How to Find the Best Deals on Flights
Post Date: November 14, 2011
Booking flights is a very different prospect to booking a holiday. Unlike holidays, where left over deals mean the carrier is losing out, flights are not like this. Last minute flights cost top dollar as airlines know that business people and those that are desperate will pay top dollar at the very last minute.
Unfortunately this means that airlines can feasibly hike prices, so it is always best book as far in advance as possible. Finding the best deals and booking cheap flights can be down to a number of factors. One of the main things to remember with airlines is that they very strongly adhere to the policies of supply and demand. The more in demand a flight is, the higher price.
Supply and Demand
Flights around Christmas time, on weekday mornings, Friday evenings or Sunday evenings will cost a lot more than a mid day flight on a Tuesday. This is because those times are strongly in demand, whether it be for people going home at the weekend, people flying to work, or people going home at a busy time of the year such as Christmas. By managing to book off peak that means you can get cheaper prices on flights.
Luggage
Of course another high cost for people wishing to fly is the addition of hefty luggage charges. Travelling with just hand luggage is a great way around the problem; however you must be careful if doing this as if you go over the weight allowance you will have to pay to place your baggage in the hold - which can be very high in price if left to the last minute. Taking the time to make sure your items adhere to weight and dimension standards can make a huge difference to your costs.
Of course travel insurance is also something that many airlines provide en-route. Purchasing a travel insurance plan for the year if you fly regularly can also save you a large amount of money. Many people are happy to pay these fees, however they do add up over time, especially for common flyers.
Choose your Cards Carefully
Credit card charges can also raise the price of flights. Take note that many airlines don't charge people on pre paid credit cards and this can be a great way to escape these charges. There are even substantial differences between cards, with some debit cards being a lot less expensive than other credit cards. Make a note of this when booking on the site as it may save you money.
It is often likely you will get low cost flights, however these may be from an airport well and truly on the verges of the city. In some cases two hours away! This means you will have to pay a bus or taxi fare to get to your final destination which can add significant cost onto the price of your flight. When booking flights consider how you will get from the airport to your destination, and take into account these additional costs as it may often be less expensive to purchase a more expensive flight if the price of transport from a central airport is less costly.
All of these things will save you time and money and make sure you get the cheapest flights with few or no unwanted surprises.
About the Author: Cormac Reynolds is a freelance writer who currently works for Discounts.ca, giving consumers an easy to use platform on which to search through a wide range of coupons and discount codes. Current offers include major stores and brands such as Expedia, Amazon and Dell coupons.
Categories : Blog, Travel Tips
