As you may have noticed, during the last couple of months there has been a substantial increase in prices related to airline services. This rise has affected everyone travelling during the last few months, or who is planning to travel in a close future, especially now that we are getting closer to the northern hemisphere summer months. So, it is important to know how to keep your costs low in 2022.
In first place, it is important to note that the increase of airline prices is related to the covid-19 pandemic, because as things slowly get back to normal, people are looking forward to travelling again. And it is also related with the price of jet fuel, which has risen mainly as a consequence of the Russia-Ukraine crisis.
The good news is that there are ways you can reduce your travel costs just by following some easy steps, in your process of booking your next flight!
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Booking your bags in advance
Most of the airlines give you the opportunity to pay for your bags in advance when you book your flight, when you do your check-in, or even at the airport if you really need to. The thing is, the longer you delay the booking of your luggage the more expensive it will get. With some airlines, the cost of booking your bags at the moment of your online check-in can cost you more than the double of its original price. Same goes with paying for them at the airport, were the prices rise even more.
Depending on your needs, there is also something else you should avoid: airline companies, tend to give you the option to choose a pack, which can include different things such as luggage, seats, priority boarding and so on. However, this tends to be more expensive, and most of the times, the passenger is only looking for one or two things among all the ones they offer. So, the trick here on how to keep your costs down when travelling with airlines, especially if you only need a single bag, is to refuse all the packages the companies advertise while booking your flight. Then adding only one suitcase, or two according to your needs.
Aiming for carry-on
Another way you can significantly reduce your travel costs while flying is by trying to ‘fly light’- by other words, carrying only a single carry-on bag. In some airline companies, the carry-on bags, which usually measures around 22 x 35 x 56 cm, are the cheapest bag option you can buy. In others the carry-on bags can even be free of charge. This is a great advice to keep in mind especially if you’re only travelling for a few days, and you don’t need to take a lot of things with you, as it will save you a substantial amount of money. Also, in almost every airline company you are also allowed to take a small backpack or handbag with you completely free of charge, which is perfect to keep your personal items as your laptop is another great way to keep your travel costs low.
Using cheap fare alerts
One of the most important things to keep your travel costs down is to know the right moment to book them. The prices for the same flight can change significantly in a just couple of days. Fortunately, there are some tricks you can put into practice if you want to get the best deal for your next dream destination while keeping your travel costs low.
The best thing you can do to make sure you don’t miss a good flight offer is to set up cheap fare alerts. So, you may ask, how do I do that? The first step to set up cheap fare alerts is to create an account with the company offering these deals. Some good and free examples of airline companies offering this service are Skyscanner, Kayak, Google Flights, Hopper and Airfarewatchdog.
Once you’ve created an account, you just need to set your cheap fare alerts. Most of the sites work in the same way, which basically consists in two different options. You can choose to first search for the flight you are looking for, and add that flight to your “alerts”, so you’ll be notified when there is a good deal. Or you can track prices for a specific period of days, and then the site will notify you with the best deals found during your selected dates.
Of course, depending on the site, there can also be other options which are useful, as “create alerts for airports nearby”. That being said, using sites which offer cheap fare alerts are a great way of reducing your travel costs in a simple but efficient way.
Using low-fare companies
This may be one of the most successful ways to keep your costs down while flying. Low-fare companies have always been known for offering flights at great prices. While not a first-class service, most of the times, these companies offer a good service, and on-time flights.
Companies as Ryanair and EasyJet offer a great way of keeping your travel costs down while discovering Europe. The same applies to companies as Allegiant Air and Avelo Airlines which operate in America and Indigo and Jetstar Asia which operate in Asia. FlySafair in Africa and Qantas Airways in Australia are also good examples of low-fare airlines.
By choosing to book a flight with a low-fare company you can significantly reduce your travel costs in comparison to what you would pay by flying with another company, and the reality is, you’ll get to the same place. Basically, save some money that you can spend on something else when you arrive at your destination!
As you can see, booking your dream flight or your summer vacations for yourself or for your whole family shouldn’t be associated with spending a fortune on flights. There are many useful tips that you can use to reduce your travel costs while not giving up on your predilect destination. Even with the increase of airline prices we are currently facing, by following these simple tips, you can be saving a significantly amount of money, without compromising on anything. So, what are you waiting for to book your next flight?
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