10 tips to pay less for your plane tickets

Plane tickets are often a significant part of the vacation budget. So it’s only natural that you’d want to find a way to pay less for your tickets!

Good news! There are indeed a number of tips to find good deals and pay less for your flights.

Here are Captain Ulysses’ 10 tips to save on your plane tickets!

#1 Book in advance

To save money on your flights, Captain Ulysses highly recommends booking your tickets in advance. Airlines tend to increase fares as the departure date approaches.

By booking your tickets months in advance, you can benefit from the lowest fares and save money on your trip.

You will also have a wider choice of dates and flight times, which will give you a better chance of finding an interesting offer.

#2 Avoid holidays and weekends

To pay less for your plane tickets, definitely avoid traveling during school holidays and weekends. Rates are usually much higher at these strategic times.

It’s not surprising: holidays and weekends are very popular periods, and airlines increase their fares to take advantage of the high demand.

By avoiding these peak periods and choosing weekday dates instead, you’ll have a better chance of finding good deals and paying less for your tickets.

#3 Search for low cost flights

As their name suggests, low cost airlines often offer lower fares than traditional airlines.

Don’t hesitate to compare the rates of different companies to find the best deals.

Among these companies, the most important in Europe are without any doubt Easyjet, Ryanair, Vueling, Wizz Air or Transavia.

#4 Be flexible on travel dates

If you can be flexible with your travel dates, you will maximize your chances of finding cheaper airfare. For example, you may be able to save money by traveling a day earlier or later than you had planned.

Flight prices vary considerably depending on the date and time. By being flexible and choosing flights at less popular times or days, you can find good deals!

Captain Ulysses’ secret tip? Skyscanner’s “Flexible Dates” tool! This advanced search tool allows you to find the best airfare deals for a given period. Simply select the “full month” option when searching for flights rather than entering specific dates. Skyscanner will show you the airfare for each day of the month. This way you can easily compare flight prices for different dates and choose the best plan!

More info: Skyscanner

#5 Use flight comparators

These sites give you the possibility to compare the fares of different airlines for the same trip, allowing you to find the best deal available. You can also use flight comparison websites to find flights with stopovers, which are often cheaper than direct flights, and to compare the offers of low-cost and traditional airlines.

Which comparators to use? Captain Ulysses warmly recommends Kayak, Omio and Skyscanner.

#6 Book flights with stopovers

If you don’t mind wasting a little (a lot) of time in transport, consider choosing flights with stopovers, which are very often much cheaper than direct flights.

#7 Avoid booking flights at peak times

Avoid booking flights during peak hours, such as in the morning or evening, as fares are usually higher at these times.

It is indeed the principle of supply and demand: flights at the times most popular with travelers are obviously more expensive.

#8 Subscribe to airline newsletters

Subscribe to the airline newsletters to receive

sneak previews of the latest offers and current promotions so you’re able to benefit from the most advantageous rates. You will also be kept informed of last minute sales and special offers.

#9 Travel light and avoid checked luggage

A number of airlines – especially low-cost airlines – charge a fee for checking in luggage. These fees may vary depending on the airline, weight and number of bags, but they can quickly add to the total cost of your trip.

However, be careful, it is important to check the airline’s rules regarding hand luggage before leaving (instructions vary), so as not to have any surprises at the airport.

You can’t travel light? Why not share a checked bag if you are traveling with friends/family.

#10 Joining an airline loyalty program

If you travel regularly, try to fly the same airline as often as possible and join their frequent flyer program.

Airline loyalty programs offer exclusive benefits and discounts to their members.

By enrolling in a frequent flyer program, you will earn points for each trip, which can be used to receive discounted fares or additional free services, such as free checked baggage or cabin upgrades. Not bad, right?

And that’s it! You now have all the keys to find cheap airline tickets 😉

Photo by Ross Parmly on Unsplash