5 Ways to Cut Travel Costs by $50 to $400 and More

5 Ways to Cut Travel Costs by $50 to $400 and More

BagsCheap DaysCompare FaresCheap AirportsAdd a StopOne More Thing

Think there’s nothing you can do to save on the cost of travel? Wrong. Please look at these 5 ways to cut travel costs by $50 to $400 or more. Maybe they won’t all work for you, but we’re betting you’ll save something.

NOTE: Some airfares may have changed by the time you read this, but the concept remains the same, these are tips that can save you money. The amount will vary depending on where you live, where you go, your route and your ability to be flexible.

1. Save $50 on bags

Some airlines charge from $50 to $60 roundtrip to check a big bag while a carry-on is free. This video shows you how to pack a carry-on so it holds everything you need.

• No free bags: Airlines like Frontier and Spirit charge for all bags including carry-ons while European discounters EasyJet and Ryanair have no carry-on fee. Note: These rules change without notice so check them before you fly.
• Free bags: Southwest Airlines offers two free checked-bags on domestic and international flights.

2. Save $75+ by flying cheap days

On U.S. flights, the cheapest days to fly are usually Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday; cheaper international flights are usually on midweek dates. For U.S. domestic flights, the most expensive travel days are usually Friday and Sunday.

Example: Round-trip fares for Los Angeles-New York in October, on Alaska Airlines (found on FareCompare). Fly cheaper days and save $107.

• Fly Tuesday to Tuesday, $263
• Fly Friday to Sunday, $370

3. Save $130+ if you compare fares

Always use an airfare comparison search site when shopping for tickets. If you only visit your favorite airline site (because you “know” it’s always cheapest) you could pay too much. The reason: No airline always has the best deal. Here’s an example for flights from Cleveland to Dallas in the fall; in this case, shopping FareCompare will save $135.

• Found on a discount airline’s site: $325
• Found on FareCompare: $190

4. Save $200+ by flying from cheap airports

Here’s an example of cheapest available airfares from two airports serving greater Los Angeles: Massive LAX and smaller Burbank. These are round-trip fares for flights in September show you how to save more than $250 per passenger.

• Burbank to Cancun, $577
• Los Angeles to Cancun, $323

Tip: In many cases, the bigger the airport, the cheaper the airfare.

5. Save $400 (or more) – just add a stop to the flight

Adding a stop to a long flight doesn’t always save on airfare, but it often does and it can be a lot. Here are comparisons of flights from Vancouver to Sydney in September. Fly the connecting route and save more than $600.

• Non-stop, $1327
• One stop, $703

One More Thing

You may not save $50 or $400 (or more!) but you might. Again, it all depends on several factors including where you fly from, where you’re heading, when you buy tickets, what route you take, and more. Bottom line: Follow these tips and you’ll probably pass less. And as we always say, why pay a penny more than you have to?

Understanding Airline Ticket Prices: Why a Seatmate’s Airfare Costs More (or Less) than Yours Price factorsOther fare variablesFinding airfare deals Airline passengers Think you have the cheapest airline ticket? Maybe you do, but maybe the guy sitting next to you paid less. Welcome to the crazy world of airfare pricing, where airlines set prices by gauging demand. Many businesses do; for example, an online retailer may sell a sweater at Christmas for $100, then slash the price to $30 after the holiday. Once you gain a full understanding of airline ticket prices, it’s a lot easier to find the best deals. Price factors for airline tickets A typical domestic flight has about 10 different ticket price points per plane. First or business class tickets are the most expensive price points with economy seats at the low end. Here are six factors that affect the price you pay: 1. When you buy matters: The most expensive fares in business and economy class are typically purchased at the last minute by business travelers, and last-minute fares are almost always very pricy. Leisure or vacation fares are generally cheaper because they’re usually purchased well in advance. 2. Competition: Fares to smaller cities with little airline competition are typically more expensive than fares to big cities with hub airports catering to many different carriers. 3. Distance: Usually, the farther you fly, the more you’ll pay. 4. Demand: Airlines know when people want to fly such as the summer months and major holidays, so they raise prices during these peak travel periods, knowing people will pay. 5. Seat supply: Airlines don’t want empty seats; empty seats don’t make any money. So, airlines have become extremely efficient in calculating when and where we want to fly year-round, so all seats are filled. 6. Fuel: Oil prices have been down in recent years which is good news for passengers; high jet fuel prices can mean expensive surcharges added to ticket prices. Other fare variables There are other fare variables that affect your ticket price. Advance purchase: The cheapest airfare typically requires an advance purchase of at least 14 days before departure; purchase any later than that and you’ll usually see a significant price-hike. Minimum stay: Some airlines require a minimum stay or a Saturday night stay-over to get the best deal; this is less common than it used to be but it is still in force on international routes. Cheap days to fly, expensive days to fly: Often, the cheapest airline tickets are good for travel on the least popular days to fly, usually Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday in the U.S. and Monday to Thursday for international routes. Cheaper times to fly: Sometimes, the best deals require you to fly during unpopular times-of-day such as at dawn, during meal times or overnight “red-eye” flights. Connecting flights vs. non-stops: A connecting flight can be a lot cheaper than a nonstop; not always, but often enough so it’s worth your while to price tickets for non-stops and flights with a stop or two. The price difference could more than make up for the inconvenience. Watch sale expiration dates: Many airfare sales expire after three days; others may last only a day or so. If you see a deal you like, hurry. Blackouts dates: Airline sales typically black-out the most popular days of the year to fly, which includes sought-after dates around Christmas, New Year’s, Thanksgiving and peak-summer dates. Finding airfare deals Ready to shop? Try these simple yet effective tools. Always compare airfares: Go to FareCompare and compare the prices to see which airline has the best deal. Check prices at the Southwest Airlines’ site, too; it’s the only U.S. carrier that doesn’t share airfare data with other sites. Be flexible: The Getaway Map shows shoppers the cheapest available flights within a particular month or season. Set airfare alerts: If you know where you want to go, set a real-time airfare alert and let the deals come to you. If you like what you see, grab that fare quickly; you’re not the only one setting airfare alerts. Now find a deal and have a wonderful trip.

Understanding Airline Ticket Prices: Why a Seatmate’s Airfare Costs More (or Less) than Yours

Price factorsOther fare variablesFinding airfare deals

Think you have the cheapest airline ticket? Maybe you do, but maybe the guy sitting next to you paid less. Welcome to the crazy world of airfare pricing, where airlines set prices by gauging demand. Many businesses do; for example, an online retailer may sell a sweater at Christmas for $100, then slash the price to $30 after the holiday. Once you gain a full understanding of airline ticket prices, it’s a lot easier to find the best deals.

Price factors for airline tickets

A typical domestic flight has about 10 different ticket price points per plane. First or business class tickets are the most expensive price points with economy seats at the low end. Here are six factors that affect the price you pay:

1. When you buy matters: The most expensive fares in business and economy class are typically purchased at the last minute by business travelers, and last-minute fares are almost always very pricy. Leisure or vacation fares are generally cheaper because they’re usually purchased well in advance.

2. Competition: Fares to smaller cities with little airline competition are typically more expensive than fares to big cities with hub airports catering to many different carriers.

3. Distance: Usually, the farther you fly, the more you’ll pay.

4. Demand: Airlines know when people want to fly such as the summer months and major holidays, so they raise prices during these peak travel periods, knowing people will pay.

5. Seat supply: Airlines don’t want empty seats; empty seats don’t make any money. So, airlines have become extremely efficient in calculating when and where we want to fly year-round, so all seats are filled.

6. Fuel: Oil prices have been down in recent years which is good news for passengers; high jet fuel prices can mean expensive surcharges added to ticket prices.

Other fare variables

There are other fare variables that affect your ticket price.

Advance purchase: The cheapest airfare typically requires an advance purchase of at least 14 days before departure; purchase any later than that and you’ll usually see a significant price-hike.

Minimum stay: Some airlines require a minimum stay or a Saturday night stay-over to get the best deal; this is less common than it used to be but it is still in force on international routes.

Cheap days to fly, expensive days to fly: Often, the cheapest airline tickets are good for travel on the least popular days to fly, usually Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday in the U.S. and Monday to Thursday for international routes.

Cheaper times to fly: Sometimes, the best deals require you to fly during unpopular times-of-day such as at dawn, during meal times or overnight “red-eye” flights.

Connecting flights vs. non-stops: A connecting flight can be a lot cheaper than a nonstop; not always, but often enough so it’s worth your while to price tickets for non-stops and flights with a stop or two. The price difference could more than make up for the inconvenience.

Watch sale expiration dates: Many airfare sales expire after three days; others may last only a day or so. If you see a deal you like, hurry.

Blackouts dates: Airline sales typically black-out the most popular days of the year to fly, which includes sought-after dates around Christmas, New Year’s, Thanksgiving and peak-summer dates.

Finding airfare deals

Ready to shop? Try these simple yet effective tools.

Always compare airfares: Go to FareCompare and compare the prices to see which airline has the best deal. Check prices at the Southwest Airlines’ site, too; it’s the only U.S. carrier that doesn’t share airfare data with other sites.

Be flexible: The Getaway Map shows shoppers the cheapest available flights within a particular month or season.

Set airfare alerts: If you know where you want to go, set a real-time airfare alert and let the deals come to you. If you like what you see, grab that fare quickly; you’re not the only one setting airfare alerts.

Now find a deal and have a wonderful trip.

Connecting Flights or Nonstops: Which are Cheaper

Connecting Flights or Nonstops: Which are Cheaper

There's a little-known extra you pay for certain flights. Airfare expert and FareCompare CEO Rick Seaney calls it the "convenience tax." In other words, if you want a hassle-free, convenient flight – like a nonstop – you will usually pay more than a connecting flight to the same destination. Not always, but usually, so always compare fares for both connecting and nonstop flights.

Connecting vs. Nonstop Fares

If you can endure the inconvenience of a longer travel day, you might save a lot of money. These are examples of September fares found in August on FareCompare.

Detroit to Los Angeles

• Nonstop $216, one-stop $194. You save $22. Enough to take the connecting flight? Maybe not.

Washington D.C. to Seattle

• Nonstop $337, one-stop $274. You save $53. This might be worth the inconvenience, especially for families.

Atlanta to Cancun

• Nonstop $492, one-stop $339. You save $153. Totally worth taking a connecting flight.

San Francisco to Madrid

• Nonstop $1022, one-stop $673. You save $349. Amazing.

How to find the cheaper flight

Shop an airfare comparison site – such as FareCompare – that shows prices for a variety of routes including nonstops, connecting flights with one-stop or connecting flights with two or more stops (look for the box on the left that indicates stops or nonstop). Only you can say if the savings are worth the inconvenience of a longer travel day.

More benefits of longer routes

Sometimes, a connecting flight can actually be a plus.

• Break time for kids. Face it, a long flight can be more stressful for kids than two shorter hops. During a layover, they can run off some energy in one of the many airport play areas (here's a list).
•  Break time for adults. Today's airports are filled with fun things to do for grown-ups, too, like manicures, massages, and an increasing number of food and drink offerings. Check your airport's website.
• Side trips. Layovers can be as long as 24 hours on certain international flights which may allow for a quick tour of a city you might otherwise miss.

The 3 Sites I Use to Find Cheap Flights

The 3 Sites I Use to Find Cheap Flights

I’m known in my circle of friends as the “travel guy”.  While I’d much rather be known as the “fitness guy” or “guy who has a bunch of money so he doesn’t have to work and can just go around helping people”, for now I’m the travel guy I guess.  One of the questions I get most often is “how do I find cheap flights?”  The answer is pretty simple.  Let me show you the three sites I use to find cheap flights.

1. The Flight Deal

Most of my travel involves an effort to fly as far as I can for as little money as possible in order to achieve Executive Platinum status with American Airlines (since I’m based in Dallas it makes more sense to have status with American than any other airline).  The Flight Deal has played a huge role in not only my international travel but also pointing out domestic destinations that are available for very cheap.  The front page of the site features all deals they find but they also have city-specific feeds so you can narrow it down to where you’re from (if they cover your city).  They cover some of the biggest airline markets in the USA and their sister site Fare Deal Alert covers many of the rest.  You may not be able to use every deal they write about but go ahead and subscribe to their free newsletter, follow them on Facebook, or add them to your RSS feed to make sure you don’t miss one of their awesome deals!

2. Google Flights

Google Flights is by far the easiest to use flight search tool around.  A few years back Google purchased ITA Matrix, another incredibly useful flight search tool, although it has a bit of a learning curve.  Google incorporated that technology into Google Flights.  Flight prices update quickly and you can even type your originating airport and leave the destination airport blank and look at a map of all potential destinations!  One of my favorite aspects of Google Flights is the ability to filter your search not only by airline or price but also by airline alliance, so if I’m searching for a roundtrip to Hong Kong, for example, and I want to make sure my flights are only on Oneworld flights (because I have Oneworld Emerald status and receive some nice benefits), I can do that on Google Flights much easier than with ITA Matrix.  There’s an ever so slight learning curve with Google Flights but I’ve found it to be a slick, user-friendly interface.  If you know your destination, it’s easy to pull up a calendar and see when nearby dates might be cheaper too.  The best part is, once you find your flight, Google provides you a link either directly to the airline or to Orbitzlocitypedia/whatever other site they found the cheapest fare at.

3. Mileage Run Deals Forum at Flyertalk

Flyertalk is a great site if you have the time to learn some of the vocabulary.  The Mileage Run Deals forum is where many people share fares they find, including the occasional mistake fare.  You don’t need to be a member to peruse the forum, so it’s worth taking a peek every couple of days or so.  Just a friendly reminder, many of these people are looking to do mileage runs, so they’ll use terms like “cpm” to denote how many elite-qualifying miles a given fare will earn.  If you’re just looking for cheap fares, ignore the cpm part and look past all the people (like me) doing an absurdly long flight in one weekend.

Some guidelines to find cheap flights

Here’s the thing about cheap flights: you don’t know when they’ll pop up and you don’t know for how long they will last.  Here are some guidelines about cheap flights:

1. Nowadays there is not a better day of the week to buy flights.
2. If your dates are inflexible and locked in there’s not really much you can do but wait and hope the flights drop in price.
3. Buying a flight as soon as the schedule is released for is usually not the cheapest way to book a flight, airlines know people schedule things like cruises and family vacations a long time in advance and if someone absolutely has to be on a flight enough that they will book it 11 months in advance, they’ll usually pay more for that flight.
4. All US airlines now have 24-hour refund policies (in most cases, check with the airlines during the booking process for their actual policies).  When you find an awesome deal, book it and spend the rest of the day seeing if you can arrange time off work or ensure your partner can go.  This way your price is locked in and you don’t miss the deal.