How You Can Save Money On EVERY Flight You Take!

Flights can be really expensive, I’m going to tell you how to save money on them. The most I’ve paid for a flight is £320 which was a one-way flight from Bangkok to London, and it kinda hurt. I’ve taken a lot of flights over the years. I get that sometimes you need to be somewhere at a certain time and date, but with a little bit of flexibility and research, you can save yourself a small fortune on flights!

Here’s How to Save Money on Flights!

Flight Comparison Sites.

Skyscanner is my comparison site of choice. It has a really handy tool that lets you see a calendar of what dates are the best value using a red amber green system. For example, if you’re going to quit your job and go travelling at some point in the next few months, type in for destination check the dates that are green and pick a suitable flight at a lower rate. The issue with looking on Emirates website, for example, is that your only going to get one airline’s price. These comparison sites also show 3rd parties that are selling the same flights often cheaper than the flight operators themselves. I also use Kayak on occasion just to cross-reference prices.

Even if you have a date you wish to fly you can enter these details and choose the airline you want to fly with. The best available price and also the cheapest retailer selling the flight. It’s really a great tool to use and you can literally save hundreds on your next flight.

Consider a Flight With a Layover.

Flights with layovers are almost always cheaper than flying direct. I usually book flights with a layover to save money. I can’t justify spending an extra £150 for a journey that is 3 hours shorter. This is completely personal and you need to think about this yourself. But if you’re planning a trip to a developing country, the money you save can go a long way! On the contrary, I have booked flights with really long layovers 7+ hours and I would avoid them like the plague now.

Once I took a flight from London to Bangkok with a 6-hour layover in Cologne Bonn. My flight was then delayed for a further four hours, I mention how I slept in the airport in my post linked in the next topic. In short, it was horrible. But under European law, I did receive compensation. Read about your rights if you are delayed here from the British citizen’s advice bureau.

But tickets can be half the price if you decide to take a flight with a layover, and you get two meals if you book a flight with a meal included, happy days! On a side note consider flights with really long layovers preferably 12hrs+ so you could go and explore the city you waiting in and then come back and fly.

Take Carry On Luggage Only.

Now, this probably sounds like a big ask for a 6-month backpacking trip! But I never take checked luggage with me. You can easily fit all your gear into a carry-on size backpack, you can read my post about it here. Budget airlines seem cheap from the outside but the price soon gets bumped up when you fall for their tricks. I used to fly regularly with Ryan-air from London to Kyiv and used to pay on average £14.99 for a one-way flight (using all the methods above).

I just did a quick check and I assume due to the pandemic the prices are up. The same flight I used to take is currently around £70 and to add a checked bag it is an extra £33.99. I cannot remember but I am 90% sure it was around this price when I used to fly. Hence why I carry a backpack that counts as hand luggage.

Also depending on where you are going to be travelling, you may want to take many domestic and short flights with budget airlines. Again they will charge you for a checked bag. Sometimes double the price of your ticket so if you can manage take a bag that complies with carry-on regulations. if you decide to get around by bus in Europe read my Flixbus review.

Fly During the Off-Season.

When I say the off-season I am talking about the time of year that tourists don’t usually visit. Mostly all countries that rely heavily on tourism will have a high and low season. This usually is governed by the weather. Wherever it is you are planning on going consider the off-season. Accommodation will be cheaper flights will be discounted, and don’t worry there will still be like-minded travellers wherever you go. Read this useful guide to what the peak seasons are.

Also, avoid flying during school and public holidays! These dates can be double what you would normally pay for flights and you’re also going to reduce your chances of being stuck on a plane with some annoying kid kicking the back of your seat.

Hopefully, these tips can help you save money on flights and help you fly smarter. On the road, every penny counts so it’s better to keep them for yourself! Just follow these steps and you can feel smug that you have played the airlines at their own game. And have more money to spend on beers when you arrive at your destination! Read my guide to saving money before your trip here!

Thanks for reading and have a safe flight!