Some people delay booking flights until the last minute and hope for low prices. This often occurs when you are busy checking attractions and forget to book the flights at the right time. It mostly happens when they are excited about the vacation. Booking flight tickets late results in significantly higher prices and limited seat availability. If you cannot make a flight, it is always better to contact the airline to cancel or rebook before the flight closes to avoid being marked as a “no-show”. In this post, we will look at countless flight booking hacks one could use.
Don’t Book Too Early Nor Too Late
One of the biggest mistakes is booking as early as possible. Travellers assume that booking as early always guarantees the lowest price. In reality, flight prices follow a dynamic pattern. If you wait too long, you may end up paying a premium because prices usually spike as seats fill up. On the other hand, booking too early could mean missing out on deals. Therefore, booking way too early isn’t worth it. If you have to plan the trip early, try booking 1-2 months in advance.
Key Highlights:
- Airlines generally adjust ticket prices based on demand.
- Avoid booking during weekends as prices fluctuate frequently.
- Try to monitor changing prices and patterns.
Compare Different Platforms
There are two ways to book a flight. Either visit the airline website directly or use OTAs(Online Travel Agencies). I would first prioritise checking out airline websites for any exclusive offers. It is a great trick to get some additional discounts. Online platforms may sometimes display base fares that look cheaper upfront but increase during checkout with added fees. Hence, transparency is another key advantage of booking directly. Take Air India as an example, they offer per-passenger discounts, senior citizen, and student offers. So make sure to use these coupons for additional savings.
Key Highlights:
- May offer lower convenience fees and better add-on deals.
- Benefit from cashback offers.
- Offers flexible rescheduling. The fees for this depend on the time of change and the route.
Book on Mid-Week Days
Even if there is no “best” day to book flights, mid-week can still offer an advantage in certain situations. Airlines may usually update prices at the start of the week as people begin searching. It is because fares change based on demand and booking patterns. Although it is not guaranteed, mid-week days may offer slightly lower prices.
Key Highlights:
- Don’t forget to check prices every day, especially mid-week.
- Study the price fluctuation before making a decision.
- See if you can get flight+hotel offers.
Try Domestic Airlines
International airlines are not the only options in India. Domestic airlines like IndiGo continue to expand their international routes. Prices for domestic flights are decided by keeping the Indian user base in mind. You can find the same international flights at discounted prices from this airline. The final price depends on whether it’s a one-way or a round-trip ticket.
Example: An IndiGo flight from Mumbai to New York City costs WAY lower than a Lufthansa flight. This makes a night-and-day difference for budget travelling.
Key Highlights:
- Check whether the tickets cover extras like baggage or seat selection.
- Easy to choose flexible plans, as countless flights operate daily.
- IndiGo leans more towards domestic flights than international.
- Other domestic airlines in India include Air India, SpiceJet, and Vistara.
Discount Platforms
Discount aggregator platforms like CouponzGuru list all available discounts in one place. This includes coupons, cashback offers, deals, and festive offers during Diwali. Finding available discounts manually can be exhausting, which is why these platforms exist. Oftentimes, brands partner with the platform to provide exclusive coupons. This is where you can save on bookings.
Key Highlights:
- Check offers during travel seasons like Christmas, Diwali, and Summer break.
- Try joining the communities created by coupon websites like WhatsApp and Telegram groups.
- Look for special offers like new user, student, and senior-citizen discounts.
Set Up Fare Alerts
Flight prices keep changing multiple times a day. Therefore, monitoring all flight prices manually is impossible. This is where fare alerts come in. Platforms like Skyscanner and Kayak are best for setting price alerts. These flight search engines offer this feature for free. All you have to do is select the routes and dates. By doing this, you also start noticing price fluctuation patterns.
Key Highlights:
- Helps you find minimal prices without much effort.
- Find out when prices drop, increase, and stay stable.
- These tools are useful when you are planning your trip months in advance.
Flight Layovers
Airlines offer discounted prices on connecting flights due to lower demand. The reason for this is that fewer travellers prefer longer travel times. Layovers can even make long-distance travel more manageable in some cases. If you have time, it is also better to freshen up in airport hotels/transit hotels.
Key Highlights:
- Look out for hidden costs before booking.
- Best for flexibility and budget-friendly travellers.
- Reaching your destination takes longer.
- Airlines usually handle baggage transfer and delays.
Conclusion
Sometimes we tend to rush while booking flight tickets. Which is why I listed my top 7 flight booking hacks for all travellers. Whether you are travelling internationally or domestically, these help you travel smarter. Whatever airline you choose, make sure you check if there are available coupon codes for it. Visiting CouponzGuru is the best way to check the latest flight discounts.