Five Money Saving Air Travel Tips

With fuel prices heading for the stratosphere, airlines have been forced to raise fares just to cover expenses. These increased costs get passed along to the consumer in terms of higher ticket prices. When planning a vacation, flying may be your only option. Here are some ways to shave some dollars off the cost of airline travel.

Book Early

If you know your travel dates and destination well in advance, it often pays to book flights early. Purchasing your tickets at least one month prior to your flight can slash your costs considerably. Book earlier and you save even more. True enough, some airlines offer special deals very close to the travel dates due to last minute cancellations or unsold seats. If this should happen to you, check with the airline and see if you can get a rebate on the price difference. Some airlines will honor your request just to maintain good customer relations.

Be Flexible

Certain times of the day or week are in higher demand due to heavy business travel. This will affect the price of your airline ticket. Booking a flight in the middle of the week on Tuesday, Wednesday , Thursday and sometimes Saturdays will usually result in lower fares. However, if you are heading for a popular vacation destination, weekends will be more expensive than traveling during the week. Compare prices first and then try to fit your travel plans into the most cost effective days.

Choose Connecting Flights

If time is not an issue, you can save considerably by booking a connecting flight to your destination. Popular online travel sites make it easy to choose this option. Just enter your starting and ending points and choose the number of stops you are willing to make. The internet will search for possible flights and give you several choices. Compare these prices to direct flights and usually you will see considerable savings by choosing connecting flights.

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Spend Money and Fly Free

Many bank debit and credit cards offer free miles for every dollar you spend. Just about anything you buy with the card will allow you to earn free miles-- groceries, gas, clothing or entertainment for example. There may be a small fee for redeeming your miles but the savings can be considerable. beach image It is probably a good idea to keep track of your miles and note any expiration dates. Some miles may expire if not redeemed within a certain time period.

Don’t forget frequent flier programs offered by airlines. Every flight you take earns you free miles with the airline. Airlines also offer credit cards that give you free miles every time you make a purchase or sometimes when you use the card to pay a bill.

Pack Light and Save

If you are taking a family vacation and carry lots of luggage, you could add hundreds of dollars to your trip. Consider shipping some of your clothes and equipment ahead. This saves money and hassle at the airport. If you’re traveling to a less expensive locale, pack less and buy clothes when you get there. You’ll save money and probably find some styles you won’t see back home. You can also buy basic toiletries when you reach your destination. Buy only enough for your stay so you won’t have to bring anything back with you.

Save on food by carrying your own snacks. This will save money by not buying expensive airport food or pricey airline snacks. Bring along a variety of dry drink mixes that can be mixed with a bottle of water which you can easily get when you arrive at your destination.