Traveling is a fun and exciting experience for anyone. However, many choose to limit or even postpone their trips because of the increasing amounts of airfare tickets. Traveling by air can significantly put a dent in your wallet, especially if you’re going on a trip with a shoestring budget.
But just because airfare is expensive doesn’t mean that you can’t travel by plane. There are several hacks to travel by air, even if you’re on a budget. Follow all of the tips mentioned below, so you can finally enjoy a bird’s eye view of another country without breaking the bank!
1. Be Flexible with Your Travel Schedule
The price of airline tickets regularly changes. Many factors influence these changes, but the most common are the time of the year, day of the week, and upcoming holidays. For example, airline tickets during winter are more expensive because everyone wants to travel somewhere warm. In short, expect to spend more if you decide to travel when everyone else is traveling.
Remain flexible with your travel schedule if you want to fly without spending too much. Ideally, you should plan your trip during the off-season. For instance, if you plan on visiting Paris, consider going there during spring or fall as visitors are fewer and airfares are more affordable.
Instead of flying during a weekend, book a ticket scheduled in the middle of the week. A lot of people fly on the weekend, and airlines will make the most out of the situation by increasing their airfare tickets. You can also save more money on your airfare if you choose to fly after a major event or catch the earliest or latest flights during the day.
2. Learn How to Claim Compensation for Flight Delays
There’s nothing more frustrating than finding out that your flight has been delayed. Aside from causing you a lot of stress, being in this situation can require more money from your pocket, especially if you’re in a rush to get to your destination.
If you want to travel by air on a budget, learn more about flight delay compensation. Being equipped with this information can save you tons of money as you don’t have to spend more just to get to another flight or avail of accommodations as you’re waiting for your next flight.
In general, you’re entitled to a flight delay compensation if:
- Your flight arrives more than three hours at the final destination
- The delay was the airline’s fault
- Your flight set off from the EU or was operated by an EU airline
- You checked in on time (at least 45 minutes before the departure)
3. Look for Budget Carriers
Gone were the days when air travel was dominated by one or two airlines. Today, you have several budget carriers to choose from regardless of where you’re traveling to and from.
Once you’ve decided to travel, research budget carriers available in your area. You’ll be surprised how inexpensive airfare is when traveling to certain locations, such as Asia, Africa, and Australia. Some airlines even offer discounted rates whenever they start to fly to a new destination.
The carriers listed below are considered budget-friendly, as they offer cheaper rates than their competitors:
- Ryanair
- EasyJet
- Norwegian Air Shuttle
- Vueling
- Pegasus
- Wizz Air
By doing a little bit of research, you can fly anywhere on budget carriers. Pay attention to fees, as some airlines often charge you for carry-ons and checked bags, using your credit card when paying, or even when printing your boarding pass.
And although these are budget carriers, it’s good to know that you can also claim compensation from them for any flight delays or cancellations, such as a Wizz Air Compensation, which can be done with the help of AirAdvisor.
4. Skip Direct Flights
If you’re eyeing visiting another country, you’ll likely need to ride two airlines from your departure city. While flying direct ensures convenience, it can significantly put a dent in your travel budget. This can affect your entire trip, especially when you’re going on one with a shoestring budget.
To travel by air even when you’re on a budget, don’t fly direct. For instance, if you’re going to Paris, you can fly to Dublin and then book a budget airline going to Paris. This option is usually cheaper than flying direct to Paris. Yes, this option will require time, but the money you’ll save will surely be worth it.
For this method to work, assess how much you will pay if you fly directly to your destination. After, open Google Flights, type in the continent of your destination and check the prices of nearby airports. When booking connecting flights, have at least a three-hour interval. In this way, you can still have time if your first flight is delayed.
5. Sign Up for Special Deals
Many airlines offer deals and discounts to attract new flyers, retain old ones, and advertise new destinations. And while these promotions don’t always fit your itinerary, it never hurts to sign up for airlines’ newsletters to ensure that you don’t miss any opportunity!
Check different airlines’ websites and sign up for newsletters. It’s also best to enroll or register for loyalty programs offered by airlines. Don’t forget to regularly visit websites that regularly offer different promos for different airlines, as well.
It’s Easy When You Know How
Traveling by air on a budget isn’t that challenging — as long as you’re creative and flexible, you can score cheap airfares in no time. Sure, the process will require time and effort but with the money you’re going to save (and the convenience you’re going to enjoy when traveling), going through all of these will be worth it!
