Cheap Flights: Hacks You Haven’t Heard!

Want to learn how to score some cheap tickets on flights? I have gathered some of the most unique, secret, and helpful travel/flight tips and hacks I have learned and heard. Hopefully, you learn something new and find some great travel deals!

All the travel gurus and personalities that I know agree on one thing that makes their travel successful: FLEXIBILITY!

And I completely agree, in fact, I believe it is the CORE necessity for strategic travel, especially for PTO Nomads, or travelers with a 9 to 5 work schedule! Check out some tips to keep your mind and your passport open:

1. You can’t limit yourself to one destination. Consider places that are similar or nearby.
   
   For example, let’s say you want to visit Paris, France. You may find that flights to Paris are expensive, especially during the peak months of late summer and early fall. Yet, flights from other cities in France (Marseille, Nice, etc….) or even Spain or Italy, may come up to be more economical.
   
   Your main budget buster is often the initial arrival flight, but once you get over there you will find that getting around via plane, train, and the bus is super easy, quick, and inexpensive. Once you arrive, you can take a day trip or even build in a segment of your trip to your desired destination for a fraction of the price.
   
   
2. Don’t get stuck at a certain time of year to travel. Let’s dispel the myth right now that we must save all of our fun for summer travel. Winter travel and the low tourist season can be just as fun and very inexpensive.
   
   
3. Clear your search history trail. Flight rate algorithms can increase costs if it detects numerous search attempts. When searching online, open your window in incognito mode or clear your cache/cookies.
   
   
4. Compare flight costs of sister or partner airlines. I once found a flight on Delta Airlines that was over $200 cheaper on its sister airline KLM, and I still earned my Delta Skymiles!
   
    
5. Don’t get too attached to one airline brand. I know you may like the cookies on that one airline but saving hundreds of dollars will be much sweeter.
   
   Yes, accumulating miles and points are a good strategy for bringing down flight costs, but comparing the flight points value to your savings, the savings may be a better choice. 100 miles accumulated on a trip normally only average around $1 off of a future trip.
   
   
6. Consider neighboring airports for your arrival and departure. Some countries have multiple airports for a city or region, so make sure you check the rates of all the airports in the area. This applies to your departure airport as well. Try searching within a 2 to 3- hour radius of where you normally fly out. The difference in pricing may surprise you.
   
   
7. Search for one-way tickets on separate airlines. This one is hit or miss, but sometimes you can land on gold. Often called a “hacker fare”, instead of booking roundtrip with one airline, you will book your departure and arrival flights separately. This is also a great way to add flexibility and prevent backtracking within your journey by flying back home from a different country than your arrival country.
   
   
8. Try out the value airlines. I know that Spirit and Frontier can have a bad reputation, but I highly recommend them for short and nonstop travel. They are a great no-frills way to travel and tickets are significantly cheaper at the desk. When abroad check out Ryanair or EasyJet. Remember to bring snacks, an open mind, and a neck pillow!
   
   
9. Be open to traveling solo. Let’s say that you find a GREAT flight deal online.  You are so excited you tell everyone you know about it, but everyone is hesitant. BOOK IT and go! If you believe the location is safe enough for solo travel don’t let others hold you back! They can catch you on the next trip.

The PTO Nomad. founded by Sharinda Williams-Simmons, is a collaborative community of likeminded individuals that have a passion for travel, creativity, and culture while holding positions in current-day corporate America. Our vision is to encourage others to explore the world and dispel the notion that one must wait until retirement to see the world. We also aim to provide creative and strategic ways to plan trips and utilize vacation time or PTO (Paid time off).

Do you have any additional tips? Share them below with the tribe!