If you’re a frequent traveler, the cost of flights can quickly become a major expense. But by employing a few clever strategies, you can substantially reduce your travel costs. Booking online, being aware of available offers, and selecting the right time to travel are key to making air travel more affordable. This article shares some important tips. Using these techniques, you can potentially save thousands of rupees on both domestic and international flights.
1. **Early Booking is Key:** Avoid last-minute bookings. Securing your tickets 30 to 45 days in advance often gets you the best prices. Airlines often have promotional fares for early bookers, and prices typically increase as seats are filled.
2. **Be Flexible with Dates and Times:** Flight ticket prices tend to surge during weekends and holidays. If you can, consider traveling on weekdays like Tuesday or Wednesday, which often offer fares that are 20-30% lower. Additionally, flights that depart late at night or early in the morning often have lower prices.
3. **Utilize Flight Comparison Tools:** Platforms like Skyscanner, Google Flights, MakeMyTrip, and Cleartrip are excellent resources, as they compare prices from different airlines simultaneously. This will help you pinpoint the most budget-friendly choices. Additionally, these platforms often have a price alert feature that lets you know when the price of a ticket drops. Use these apps in incognito (private) mode.
4. **Leverage Bank Offers and Cashback Programs:** Many credit and debit cards provide instant discounts, often between 10-15%, when booking flights. Banks such as HDFC, SBI, ICICI, and Axis often collaborate with airlines and travel websites to provide special offers. You might also find cashback deals with digital wallets like Paytm and Amazon Pay.
5. **Search in Incognito Mode to Avoid Price Inflation:** Websites sometimes raise prices based on your browsing history. Using incognito mode ensures that you see the actual, lower prices.