Tips and tricks to book your next flight!
The first major step to every trip is to book your flight. However, when you have to keep your budget in mind, searching for the cheapest option is something you will inevitably do. How can you find it, without wasting hours of your time? We are here to answer that question and help you through the process. This way you can book your flight easily and go on that long-awaited trip! But first, let’s go through some myths to get out of your head, before even beginning to look for a flight!
Ignore these myths!
The first thing you HAVE to accept is that there is no magic way to find the cheapest flight. There are a lot of myths online, which might offer you different ways of finding the best deals. You have surely come across some of them already, but you will just waste your time trying them out.
- Tuesdays are NOT the best days to book your flight
Honestly, there is no best day of the week to find a cheap flight. You can get a great deal any day of the week. The thing is – prices are constantly changing, even for the same flight.
- Searching incognito does NOT lead to cheaper deals
There is no evidence that changing your search engine to incognito mode will get you any bargains. Airlines are not tracking your searches! Clearing your cookies won’t help!
- It’s NOT always better to book your flight as far in advance as possible
Most airlines put their flights up for sale around 8 months in advance, but that doesn’t mean you will get the best deal at those times. If you do so, it is believed you will pay a mid-range price, which is more compared to what you would pay if you waited some time (around 3 months before departure).
Are flight booking websites the best way to buy your ticket?
OTAs (online travel agencies) might show you the prices of flights with different airlines on a specific date, but are they the best option when it comes to buying your ticket? Keep in mind that low-cost airlines offer great deals on their own websites. The advantage of using the official airlines’ websites is that once you’ve set the wished departure and return dates, you are able to see the prices of the flights the days before and after. This way you can find a cheap option, without having to look at other websites.
Furthermore, buying from other websites might cost you more money. Some airlines, such as Lufthansa, impose charges when booking through an OTA, in attempt to have more flyers book directly from their site.
When to book through an online travel agency
In some cases, booking flights from OTAs can be beneficial. For example, if you have to change flights to get to your destination, it might be better to book through such a website. The reason is that just one airline may not offer the route combination that you need. It will be easier to book your hotel as well. OTAs will also show you the prices of tickets with different airlines, so you can compare them and choose the best option for your trip.
Best websites to book your plane ticket
Now that we’ve covered everything you should know, let’s take a look at some OTA websites that are worth checking out!
Skyscanner is a travel search engine that does not sell flights directly. However, they show you a list of flights and links to the airlines’ websites, so you can compare them, without having to pay more for the service. In the search box, you can select any place and choose from the cheapest flights on your chosen dates.
Pros:
- Flexible searches
- Price alerts
- Easy to change language and currency
Cons:
- You can’t book a flight directly from their website
Kayak is a search engine that compares flights from many different airlines all in one place, so you can see which option fits you best. This way, they save you the time of going through every single website yourself.
Kayak hacker fares are a great way to save money. Instead of making you book one round-trip ticket from a single airline, Kayak finds two one-way tickets from different airlines, that together make a round-trip flight. This can save you a lot of money and is something that doesn’t always appear on other sites.
Pros:
- Kayak hacker fares
- Price tracker to check for updates on the prices
Expedia is another OTA that people have been using for a very long time. Traveling through Expedia is said to save you a lot of money, as they offer you bundles of services for your trip. Expedia claims you can get an estimated 43% savings when you add a hotel booking to an existing flight reservation.
Pros:
- Bundles can make your whole trip cheaper
- Payment plans
- Great last-minute deals
Cons:
- Cancellation policies
- Lacking customer service
Omio is an aggregator for European transport, including trains, buses, planes, and ferries. It is a reliable platform that ensures you find a great deal when booking transport in Europe. It displays the cheapest times and routes at the top and has helpful filters.
Pros:
- Great customer experience
- Aggregation of results
- Customer service
Cons:
- Not all European countries are covered
The four options we have offered you will definitely help you with planning your trip, so they are worth checking out! 😊 To find an even better deal for your money, we have also prepared a short list of a few things you can do:
- Start early – up to 2-3 months before your journey
- Sign up for cheap flight notifications
- Look for cheaper travel destinations
- Try budget airlines and online travel agencies
- Be flexible with the departure and arrival dates
- Keep your plans flexible and book your flight first
- Try finding the right bundle
Organizing trips is not an easy task by any chance! But if you use these tips and tricks, you will surely save a lot of money. Finding a cheap flight is all about being flexible and making great research. The online travel agencies’ websites will make the process of organizing a lot less complicated by showing you flights with different airlines, hotels, and more all in one place. You should check our suggestions out and it will undoubtedly pay off! Now, go find yourself a great deal and enjoy your trip!
