Never in the history of humankind has it been so easy to travel from one side of the world to the other. With the click of a button, you can book a flight from Los Angeles to Sydney, and arrive at your Australian destination a mere 24 hours after leaving your front door. But despite the convenience and ease of travel, it can be extremely expensive.

Booking a plane ticket costs a lot of money, and for many travelers on a budget, it can be off-putting. As well as the cost of the actual ticket, you also have to fork out for transport to the airport, in-flight meals, baggage fees, and insurance. It can sometimes seem easier just to stay at home.

But for the money-conscious traveler, there are several ways to reduce the cost and save money on your flights. As long as you are smart about your booking and flexible about your journey, you can save a significant sum of money to enjoy on your holiday. Here are a few helpful tips to get you started.

Save money on flights by booking early

Many airlines ramp up their ticket prices closer to the departure date, as people become more desperate to buy their flights. Avoid losing money unnecessarily by being proactive. You should book at least six weeks in advance to benefit from the cost savings.

Travel out of peak season

Flights are understandably more expensive at certain times of the year. In the school holidays and the summer months, everyone is traveling abroad, so airlines can afford to increase their ticket prices without losing any customers. If you don’t mind when you travel, it could be a good idea to book your holiday away from the peak season. The exact date will of course depend on where you are traveling to. For example, if you’re visiting an area that’s popular with skiers and snowboarders, you’ll find winter flights to be just as expensive.

Use flight comparison sites

It’s rarely a good idea to always book straight from the airline’s website as you’ll be missing out on much better deals. Your best bet is to use a flight comparison site such as Skyscanner or Google Flights. These allow you to browse and compare multiple flights from different airlines, as well as identifying the cheapest dates and times to fly. 

Consider different routes

Sometimes the most direct route is not the cheapest, and you may be able to save a great deal of money on flights by taking a slightly different journey. If you have multiple airports within traveling distance of your home, it would be worth checking to see which one offers the cheapest journey. There may be options for a cheaper trip that makes a layover in a different country en route. Although this may take a lot longer, your ticket will cost a lot less.

Find empty legs

Some travelers with a lot of disposable income might opt to charter a private plane for an international trip. Such a journey obviously comes at an enormous expense, but it can result in the pilot flying in between stops without any passengers. These empty legs cost the charter companies a lot of money, and they would always prefer to fill seats if they can. For this reason, some firms offer empty leg options at a severely discounted rate. Not only will you save yourself some money, but you might even have a plane to yourself.

Be flexible

Do you have a fixed destination in mind or can you afford to be a bit flexible? When the time comes to book your flights, a quick search of a flight comparison site will show you the cheapest holiday destinations around your chosen departure date. A holiday is a holiday after all, and you’ll have just as wonderful a time whether you go to Madrid or Pamplona. And you’ll have more disposable travel money to spend on meals out, adventurous activities, and cocktails by the pool.

Pack light

It’s not just the plane ticket that costs money. Many airlines charge their passengers additional fees depending on how much luggage they have. Depending on the airline, you might have to pay up to $50 for a piece of checked baggage. If this applies to your journey, you can avoid this charge by packing light. Try to get everything you need into a carry-on bag you can take with you on the plane. It might require a few sacrifices and some clever packing skills, but it will make a huge difference to your holiday budget.

Now get flying

So as you can see, with a little research and preparation, booking a plane ticket doesn’t have to cost you a lot of money. But what tools do you use to help you save money on flights? Do you have other must-use search tools or websites that you swear by? Please, share them in the comments below so we can help others save money on their bucket list travels too!

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