For business or pleasure, all of us will probably end up flying somewhere using commercial airlines. As you are well aware, the prices for tickets can be quite extravagant. There are ways that you can try to reduce your costs. Some of the areas are flights, food, and car expenses.
The first one is in purchasing your tickets. In the past, people would contact a travel agent or talk to the airline directly to book a flight. However, with the technology of today, we are lucky enough to be able to do everything ourselves, which in turn can reduce our costs. The price per airline can vary a lot so that’s why I do like some conglomerate sites versus using the airline site directly. There are several great websites out there to use.
Good ones to check out are:
This list is not all-inclusive, so please feel free to do additional research for good prices. I really like to use Hotwire when I have to book a flight. It is great if your itinerary can be flexible. For example, if you can leave any time during the day and don’t care if you have to make a stop, you can get some amazing deals. This is perfect if your schedule is not so rigid, which we know is not always possible.
In addition to checking out the websites, get your name on the email lists with the airlines directly (i.e.: www.delta.com). You will receive ongoing emails about any specials that they might have. This gives you an extra jump on deals. On many of the websites, you can put in destinations that you’re interested in going and they’ll email you when the price gets below a certain amount. For example, if you want to take a trip to Key West, Florida, but don’t want to pay more than $149.00, they will notify you when they have a fare with your criterion available. This is great because then you don’t have to check numerous websites every day looking chasing the deals.
It’s also a good idea to get frequent flyer credit cards for those airlines that are available in your area. It is tedious, but it may allow you to get perks. Some of the perks include actual miles for future trips, free baggage checks, seating upgrades, and even drink coupons/deals. Remember, the little things add up. There are several that don’t even have an annual fee. Look for a card that is linked to the airline that is the main airline in your area. I’m located in Myrtle Beach and American Airlines is the major airline here so I currently have two cards with American Airlines. I was able to get a lot of miles by just signing up, so we’ve redeemed several miles for trips. My husband got his own card as well to get the free miles. I have the Citicard AAdvantage Platinum Select (there is an annual fee) as well as the Citicard AAdvantage Mile Up. Both of them offer miles, but the Platinum Select offers some additional perks such as free bags, so it may be worth the annual fee depending on how frequently you travel and the perks you are looking for. It’s important to note that when purchasing cheap tickets, make sure that you’re aware of the rules for carry-on bags. On a trip to Chicago, we ended up having to pay for two checked bags that turned out to be the same cost as the one-way trip home on Spirit. Take special note on Spirit Airlines because they have more stringent regulations as compared to other airlines. What was extra difficult to deal with was that we got to Chicago with no issues and then they called us out on the way home. Since that was the first time we were flying on Spirit, we assumed that they had the same dimensions for carry-on bags as the other airlines. It was an expensive learning experience that we will never make again. You know what they say when you ASSume something.
Even though, purchasing tickets via the Internet is usually the best, cheapest, and fastest option, it is possible that some airlines offer special deals by actually going to the airport and purchasing at the ticketing desk. I know that at the Myrtle Beach airport, purchasing at the ticket desk actually has cheaper prices as compared to the Internet. Check your local airport (and talk to friends) to see if that is the case for you. The savings could be considerable.
When flying, it’s almost inevitable that you’ll need to have a meal sometime during your journey. This is even more likely due to the fact that most airlines have eliminated their meals altogether unless you’re taking a very long flight. The most obvious way that you can save money is by bringing along a “sack” lunch from home. Yes, you can still do that, even after 9/11. What you cannot do is have any liquids though. It must be solid, no liquids or gels. I would recommend bringing a refillable empty container because airports have drinking fountains and even bottle fillers, that will increase your food savings. You can choose items that don’t have to be kept cold like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches if that’s an issue. Fresh fruit is always a great option along with chips/crackers, and the like. Packing a lunch helps you avoid the lines at the airport for restaurants that are highly overpriced and you can eat it anytime. If you do get offered a snack and drink on the plane, make sure that you take it even if you’re not hungry at the time. This is perfect for getting to your final destination so you don’t get hangry or can be saved for another day during your trip. You can also ask the flight attendant for the can (or bottle) of the beverage. If it’s a bottle that re-closes, you can take it with you.
Do you need the Internet while traveling? My simple and direct answer would be NO! Unless you are working and need it for business or for emergencies, you need to be available to family, skip the Internet and unplug from Social Media and other Internet connections. You can still play most games and read even without the Internet. If you are someone who likes to watch movies or shows while traveling from Netflix or other platforms, make sure you download them IN ADVANCE (on wifi-not at the airport) before heading to the airport. I learned the hard way that I needed to do this and couldn’t watch. I tried to do it at the airport, but it’s unreliable wifi and takes way too long to do everything you want. If you’re traveling to a destination where you are not visiting family, you may have to rent a vehicle. If you can avoid this at all, you will save a lot of money. It is preferred to use public transportation or for short distances, a taxi and Ubers (or Lyft) if available. This may not be an option, especially if you’re not staying in one city for the duration of your vacation or have to travel a great distance from the airport. If you must rent a car, choose the lowest end model for the amount of people that you have. No need to try to get a fancy car if you’re looking to save money. Be aware of additional fees before booking. Sometimes they draw you in with the displayed “vehicle cost”, but then tack on a bunch of fees so you realize that it would’ve been cheaper renting another vehicle that appeared to be more expensive in the listed price.
If you need car seats, you can get them from the rental company for a price, but bring yours along and save the money for the trip. It may be a little tedious to carry through the airport, but you can check them. However, I’ve seen ones that actually have wheels for convenience too if you’re a frequent traveler. If you book in advance on the Internet, you will have a better opportunity to get a good deal. Just like airlines, there are preferred customer cards and memberships that you can join that can give you additional perks and discounts. It is free for many of the companies and it will almost guarantee that you will receive a vehicle, even when they’re highly booked. In addition, it’s not uncommon to received upgrades. Woo hoo! More space for you or your family. Take a pass on the extra insurance they offer. Your individual insurance should cover you in case of an accident. Also check with your credit card company. If you put the rental on your charge card, they may offer additional accident insurance. Make sure that you fill up with gas before returning the automobile. They will offer to fill up the tank for you, but it may cost you up to four times as much. Also, fill up the tank a few miles away from the rental car company. Gas tends to be higher immediately surrounding the airport and rental company area since they are aware that most people fill up before returning the vehicle.
Traveling can be stressful and expensive so finding any way possible to cut costs can be helpful for everyone. Don’t get frustrated and abandon the idea of being able to take a trip, just take the necessary steps to spend less money without compromising the integrity of the vacation.
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