5 hacks to make flight tickets cheaper

Summer  has fully arrived in India. Like every year, the season has people wishing for vacations and outings once more. But with energy prices remaining elevated, it’s no surprise that air flight tickets also remain quite expensive. So, Walpencil came with 5 hacks to make your flight tickets cheaper.

If you frequently book flight tickets online, you may have seen how quickly rates rise when you search for a specific location around specified dates. You are not alone, and there is a reason behind this. However, there is a way to avoid this. Remember that if you don’t book your flights far in advance, they can eat into your budget, especially if you’re going abroad.

If you don’t want to cut back on your spending or cancel your shopping plans, here are a 5 hacks to make your flight tickets cheaper.

Tip-1 : Keep it a secret

Did you know that most browsers allow cookies to track your online searches and actions? When you keep searching for the same route, the website scares you into booking the tickets right away by raising the fares.

But there is a way out of this. Every major browser, including Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, and Safari, has an incognito tab that allows you to search privately. This private browsing window prevents websites from collecting information about your browsing habits. So, if the flight aggregator you’re considering isn’t able to collect data on the route you’re interested in, it won’t be able to inflate prices.

In Google Chrome, press (ctrl+shift+N) to open an incognito tab, and in Safari, click on the “file” option in the menu bar and then select the “new private window” option from the drop down menu.

Aggregators, on the other hand, have a distinct perspective. According to Balu Ramachandran, senior vice president of Cleartrip, an online travel provider, pricing is based on ticket classes, with each class allotted a set number of seats. “Assume there is only one seat available at the current fare class, and multiple users are attempting to book the ticket at the same time.

So, with the exception of one user who paid first, all others who are still filling out their traveller details are bound to see their fare change as the next fare class at a higher fare becomes available,” Ramachandran explained. While this is true for fare changes that occur during the payment stage, searching in private mode will limit fare escalation during the browsing stage.

Tip-2 : Compare the cost

Some aggregators are popular due to their advertising campaigns, but don’t rely on them blindly. Even if you’re in a rush, checking costs from two or more websites is always a good idea. It’s worth noting that services like Ixigo.com and Travelibo.com can assist you compare prices from other travel sites. Furthermore, some portals, such as Easemytrip.com, waive the convenience fee.

Another strategy to save money is to book flight tickets through the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website. The portal charges a convenience fee of just 59 (including GST), which is far less than what most other travel portals charge. Portals levy a 200-400 convenience fee. 

To make sure you can look through all the listed flights, try searching for flights using multiple browsers.

Tip-3 : Round trip may not work

_{You may think booking a return ticket will lower your fares but this may not always be true. It’s a good idea to check fares for round trip as well as one-way flights before you finalize.}

_{Budget.airlines are usually cheaper when you look for a one-way flight. It may take more time and patience, but it will be worth the effort if you look through the prices offered by various airlines. Also,}

_{Booking a flight with one or more stops could reduce your total cost. “International flights may involve one or more stops, and such flights usually come at lower fares,” said Ramachandran.}

Tip-4 : Pick the right dates

_{Being flexible with your travel dates can enable you to save a lot of money, unless there is an emergency. When you book tickets online, the majority of websites display the calendar with the lowest prices. Please take note that ticket prices are higher on weekends and during festival times.}

_{For long distance travel, it is advisable to purchase tickets well in advance. In the final three weeks before travel, the cost of airline tickets typically increases, according to Sharat Dhall, chief operating officer (B2C), Yatra.com. But if you have some flexibility, take some time to research which dates have the cheapest flights.}

_{The time of departure may also affect the costs. In general, flights between 11am and 8pm cost more than those for other times. “The cost of tickets for flights at off-peak and peak times differs significantly. Low passenger traffic during off-peak times results in lower airfare, according to Dhall.}

Tip-5 : Use your reward points

_{Last but not least, You’ll also be able to fly for free if you’ve racked up enough reward points. Obtaining a travel credit card can help frequent travellers earn reward points and receive exclusive discounts that can be applied to ticket purchases. Additionally, if you have a favourite airline, you should consider enrolling in their rewards programme.}

_{According to Dhall, travellers can also look into low-cost carriers and peruse airline deals. At the checkout page, many aggregators provide discount coupons. It’s advisable to quickly scan the page for any available discount coupons because most websites don’t showcase this section very well.}

_{Be sure to use any discount coupons you may have acquired from utilising other service-based apps. When you next book a flight, make the most of your money by using 5 hacks to make your flight tickets cheaper.}

Find Your Cheap Flights Today

Skyscanner is where I begin every search because they look at all major AND low-cost airlines, websites in both English and other languages, and everything in between. It’s a good idea to start looking for flights right away, even if you aren’t sure of your intentions. The people that wait to make their reservations wind up spending the most money.

_Conclusion 

_{Being adaptable and inventive are key to finding a cheap flight. The offers are out there if you’re prepared to look, but it can require some work. Don’t waste hours looking for a cheap flight; instead, start by using the advice above. You are wasting too much time if you book a flight for more than an hour.}

_{If you find a flight offer you like, book it straight away because prices are always changing. Keep in mind that you have a 24-hour window to cancel if necessary.}

_{To get things started, use the aforementioned advice on how to get a cheap airfare. You’ll always receive a terrific deal if you do that. Happy Travels!}

Also Read : Top 10 Summer Holiday Destinations for Family