Tips to Save on Airfare

Posted by Bill Barrett in Planning, Tips, Trends

The price of airfare is always changing with the price of fuel continuously on the rise. Flight prices can quickly eat up the budget for your upcoming trade show or event. Consumer-Savings Expert, Andrea Woroch, has compiled a list of tips to help you find the best price available when searching for flights in her article, “Airfare Savings” for Exhibitor Online.

1. Avoid Midday Flights. For most people, the ideal time to fly is midday. Flights during the day typically cost more than early morning or red-eye flights. Andrea uses the example, “American Airlines flight from Dallas to Las Vegas at 7:30 a.m. costs $212, while the flight that leaves at 1:40 p.m. is $333 — a difference of $121.”
2. Tuesdays. Airfares are determined by route competition, seat demand, route distance, seat supply, and fuel prices. Prices fluctuate as often as these five variables do. Studies have shown that the lowest prices available are typically at 3:00 pm on Tuesdays. Add a reminder in your calendar to purchase your flight on a Tuesday to ensure you can receive the lowest price available.
3. Layovers. You can save money, if you have the time. Airfares with layovers are significantly cheaper than direct flights. Consider if the extended travel time is worth the savings.
4. Travel Midweek. Business and leisure travelers tend to fly home on the weekends. Demand for weekend flights is typically high and so are the prices. Having a flexible schedule to fly midweek can help you save on airfare.
5. Price Tracking. Track prices even after you have purchased your flight. Some airlines will refund the price difference before you use your ticket. Andrea explains, “according to Yapta.com, Alaska Airlines and JetBlue Airways will offer you a full refund for any price drop; whereas, Airtran Airways and Virgin America will refund price drops of more than $75. Even larger airlines will often offer a refund if the price drops $200 or more.” Sign up for price tracking services offered by your airline to help you monitor prices easily.
6. Compare Airports. Smaller airports with limited flights don’t always cost more. Often times, the limited flight availability deters passengers from departing from these airports. You may find a cheaper flight, so check all of your airport possibilities before you book your flight.
7. One Way Flights. Most people limit their searches to round trip flights when traveling to and from the same city. Try searching one way flight on multiple airlines to find the price you’re looking for. Kayak, Expedia, and Orbitz are all great resources for comparing airfare prices.
8. Book Directly. With and abundance of online booking agents available, sometimes people forget that you can purchase flights directly from airlines. However, not all booking agents have flights from all popular airlines. For example, Southwest Airlines doesn’t show flights on third-party websites.

Read the article to learn more about how you can save on airfare.