*This post is not sponsored. Everything in this post is simply my opinion and experience.
Welcome back! First of all, let me just say that in the near week Caleb and I have been in Australia, we have been welcomed and provided for in the warmest ways you could imagine. I am so thankful for the global Church and the love we’ve seen here every day.
But without further ado, I’d love to explain some tips I’ve learned about flying and buying tickets.
Plane Game
If you have ever booked a flight using the internet then you know it can be quite intimidating. There are tons of online search engines and everybody out there is trying to snatch up the best deal. When I began searching for tickets, I probably tried just about all of them. Here’s what I discovered:
Domestic flights- If you’re looking for cheap deals, try going for a bargain airline like JetBlue or Southwest. Oftentimes, these airlines will host huge deals on tickets that go unmatched by the larger airlines. While destinations are sometimes limited, it’s always good to check.
International flights- I recommend using Kayak .com or Skyscanner.com. These search engines utilize several international and domestic airlines and find cheap rates. In my experience here, I have found that the rates are usually cheaper than with other search engines like Travelocity or even Cheapair.
More general tips- If you’re routed to an airline’s website when using a search engine (and if your flight is international), make sure you are viewing prices in the correct currency. Airline prices are not always automatically set to USD, so make sure that’s set before you proceed.
If you’re going on a trip (or moving) and you know you will need to bring several bags, PLEASE check airlines’ regulations on baggage pricing and allowances. I have found that generally, baggage allowances are the same across the board, even for international flights. HOWEVER, pricing varies hugely. For example, you don’t want to be stuck with $800 worth of extra baggage fees like Caleb and I ALMOST did…until we spent precious time rearranging our bags at check-in at the airport (thanks fam for all the help with that). Even though I thought I had all that sorted out, I was so wrong. So, read, re-read, triple read the details and even call the airline if the website is unclear at all.
Be willing to spend a little time plugging in lots of different departure dates and times (if your personal itinerary can allow for that). A ticket for Tuesday at 5pm may cost a good $150 less than a ticket for Wednesday at 8am– SAME AIRLINE EVEN! So if you’re into saving cash, try out different date/time combos, my friends! The big trick to searching like this is to either search “incognito” or to clear your browser cache and history before each new search. Otherwise, the website may recognize your search patterns and I’ve heard that can actually affect your rates.
Stay tuned for more tips in future posts, and be sure to leave a comment to share your own!
<3 Laura
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