In recent years, the explosion of cheap airfares has meant that more people than ever are able to jet off somewhere a little different and enjoy a well-deserved holiday. However, it’s not always easy to find these deals and it will often require a little bit of research to locate the cheapest flights possible.
- Flights Offers matt.hintsa / Foter / CC BY-NC-ND
Here we take a look at a few ways in which the entire process is made easier and provide a number of tricks and tips that should help you find great flight deals.
Look Online
Whereas most holidaymakers would have booked their flights through a travel agent or found their holiday package in a newspaper advert in the past, now the internet reigns supreme. There are always a whole range of fantastic offers online to take advantage of, so take a look at a variety of sites and you’re sure to find something at a reasonable rate.
Stay Flexible
You’ll often be able to get a much better deal on flight fares if you are able to be flexible with dates and not be too concerned with what day you fly. The cheapest flights are usually those ones that aren’t scheduled at the most convenient times so try not to limit yourself to precise times or dates.
Look Outside Traditional Holiday Periods
Airlines know that more people want to get away during the traditional holiday periods and will raise prices accordingly. If you’re able to, try looking for flights outside of these periods. Prices will usually drop considerably as flights are less full and airlines need to attract more customers.
Choose the Fare, Not the Destination
Unless you have a dream holiday already planned and all you’re looking for are the flights, it is good practice to select a destination based on the price of the flight rather than selecting the destination first. If you’re willing to be flexible and go where’s cheapest, you should be able to find some absolute bargains.
Book In Advance
When it comes to cheap flights, there’s two ways to approach booking. You can either wait until the last minute and hope there’s a great deal or book in advance. Waiting until the last minute is pretty risky unless you have absolutely no commitments and can afford to postpone the holiday if necessary. Most people aren’t in this position, so booking early to secure a good deal is the preferred course.
