Those who travel frequently know from experience that finding last-minute plane tickets at reduced prices, contrary to what some might imagine, is not an easy task. It is much more advisable to plan flights in advance, search and compare.
However, sometimes unforeseen events or unexpected travel opportunities arise that lead us to have to carry out the search with little time. Finding cheap tickets in these circumstances is not an easy task, but not impossible. There are some tricks or strategies that can help you with the task. The advice is, above all, to be flexible.
One of the main tips to succeed in the mission is to broaden your vision. Don’t limit yourself to searching from the airport in your city or from the one closest to your home. Open the possibilities to other nearby aerodromes, since you will increase the flight options and also find prices that are more in line with your pocket. Calculate what it means to travel to them. Doing so can cost you.
The same strategy is valid for the destination. If you want to visit a specific city, for example Venice, do not limit yourself to flights that land in Marco Polo, you can extend the radius to airfields such as Treviso, located just 40 kilometers from the capital of Veneto.
Airfares vary substantially depending on the day of the week you travel. Weekend prices tend to be more expensive, so being flexible on your departure and return dates, setting them on weekdays, will increase your chances of finding cheaper flights.
Also consider opening yourself up to different trip lengths. Sometimes extending or shortening a stay by a day or two can result in considerable savings. Before making a decision and formalizing the reservation, play with the possible combinations associated with accommodation and other factors, you may be pleasantly surprised.
Flights during off-peak hours, whether at night, early morning or sometimes even in the afternoon, tend to be in lower demand and can be more affordable. However, keep in mind how you will get to the airport or from the airport to the city. At “ungodly” hours, public transport usually has a lower frequency of passage and may not even be operational, which could force you to opt for more expensive alternatives, such as taxis or VTC.
Instead of round-trip flights, book each flight independently. It will allow you to compare prices, combine airlines and schedules and, above all, save. This recommendation is interesting if you are willing to use different airports. If you do so, it is important that you take into account the luggage policies of the different companies, especially if the trip requires stopovers (these will lengthen the travel time, but will reduce the price) and you make the reservation in sections. Although the search may involve considerable work, the result is worth it.
Yes, you understood it correctly: even if you are two or more passengers, it will always be more advantageous to buy each of the tickets separately. The reason is simple: if you are looking for flights for several people, the system will only show you those that have the same cost, in favor of “consistency”, since it cannot divide the query, even if it has a cheaper one available. If you find a low-priced seat – even if it is unique – buy it and rebook the rest.
Most online flight comparators, such as Skyscanner, Kayak or Google Flights, among others, have tools that allow Internet users to configure alerts that warn of fluctuations in flight prices. If you do so, you will be able to keep track of the rates for the destination – or destinations you prefer – and book when they are most favorable to you.
You can also subscribe to services like Dollar Flight Club, which share cheap air deals with their members, and be on the lookout for error rates – those extremely low as a result of human or technical error – on websites like Exprime Viajes.
And of course, keep an eye on social media and follow airlines, which often post exclusive offers, flash sales and promotional codes on their Twitter, Facebook and Instagram platforms. You will access updates and offers in real time.
And finally, don’t forget about combo offers. To fill the inventory of what could not be sold, it is common for travel providers to make last-minute package deals that combine affordable flights and accommodation. If you are open to proposals, in this formula you can find some surprises, especially trips to less popular destinations or out of season, with substantial savings.
