The cost of flight tickets can put a strain on any travel budget. Fortunately, using some savvy travel tips can help you save significantly. Booking flights online, making smart use of deals, and carefully choosing your travel dates can make air travel much more affordable. Here are some crucial tips. By following these methods, you can save a considerable amount on both domestic and international flights.
1. **Plan Ahead for the Best Deals:** Book your flights in advance. Booking 30 to 45 days before your trip will generally get you the lowest fares. Airlines offer discounts for early bookings, and prices usually increase as the flight date nears.
2. **Consider Flexible Travel Dates and Times:** Be open to traveling on weekdays. Flight tickets are generally more expensive on weekends and holidays. Traveling on weekdays, especially Tuesdays or Wednesdays, can lead to savings of 20-30%. Also, late-night or early-morning flights often have lower prices.
3. **Use Flight Comparison Websites and Apps:** Utilize platforms such as Skyscanner, Google Flights, MakeMyTrip, and Cleartrip, as they allow you to compare prices from various airlines at once. This will help you find the most affordable options. These platforms also often have a price alert feature to notify you when prices drop. Always use these apps in incognito (private) mode.
4. **Take Advantage of Bank Offers and Cashback:** Check if your credit or debit card offers instant discounts, typically between 10-15%, when booking flights. Banks like HDFC, SBI, ICICI, and Axis frequently collaborate with airlines and travel websites to provide exclusive offers. You can also get cashback through digital wallets such as Paytm and Amazon Pay.
5. **Use Incognito Mode for Transparent Pricing:** Sometimes websites may increase prices based on your past searches. Using incognito mode ensures that you see the real and potentially lower prices.