3 Ways to Make Air Travel More Affordable in 2023

Air travel connects people and places around the world. It gives people the opportunity to explore different cultures, experience new environments, and connect with others from different backgrounds. Flying is the fastest mode of transportation for long distances. It usually saves travelers significant amounts of time compared to other forms of transportation like driving, taking the train, or a bus. It is one of the safes modes of transportation and also allows travelers to reach destinations that may be difficult or impossible to reach by those other modes of transportation. Another benefit of flying is that airplanes are designed to offer comfort and convenience to passengers. You can just sit back and enjoy amenities such as reclining seats, in-flight entertainment, and refreshments.

Although flying can be very convenient, there are several financial challenges associated with air travel. You have probably noticed that flight prices are pretty high right now. This can be a significant barrier for those with limited budgets. When booking a flight you also have to consider any additional fees associated with your flight. Some airlines charge for things like checked baggage and seat selection which can really add up. Don’t be discouraged because there are ways to make air travel more affordable. Read on for my 3 tips that will have you ready to book your next flight without breaking the bank.

Stay Up to Date on Sale Fares and Airline Errors

Sometimes finding a good deal on a flight isn’t easy, and signing up for email notifications from all airlines just isn’t realistic. Besides who wants all that clutter in their inbox? I have found one of the best ways to stay on top of the best flight deals is through sites like Going (more commonly known by it’s former name Scott’s Cheap Flights).

Going has a team that is dedicated to searching the world wide web for the best flight deals. These can be sales promoted by airlines themselves or airline error fares. These fares can be a glitch or human error, but can really save you so much money if you catch it in time! Following them on social media isn’t enough to catch these deals in time. Go to their website and sign up for an account. Choose your departure airport(s) and you will then begin receiving the savings in your email inbox. The free account is limited though. You’ll find out about only international flights and will be notified 1-2 days after they discover the deal. You can upgrade to Premium ($49/year) or Elite ($199/year) depending on how often you fly and the types of deals you are looking for. I have a Premium account and think it is totally worth the price. They send me deals on domestic and international flights as soon as they find them. This membership even includes the mistake fares which you don’t get with the limited account.

You can also check out sites like Secret Flying and Airfare Watchdog. Finding these reduced fares can saves you hundreds on dollars on your airline tickets.

Find the Cheapest Place and Time to Fly

Sometimes I let the internet tell me the best time to book my flight. This works great if I have a destination in mind but am not tied to specific dates I want to travel. On the flip side, I let the internet influence where I should travel if I have specific dates but no set destination. Flexibility will often bring on the opportunity for savings.

Sites like Skyscanner and Google Flights have search filters that allow for flexible flight options. There are quite a few options to finding the best deals. If you don’t have a destination in mind, you can set your departing airport and leave the arrival black or set to “everywhere”. You can then search specific dates, options for a whole month, or even a weekend, a week or 2 weeks for a specific month or 6 month time frame. Finding the best rates when you have a destination in mind is quite a similar process. This works for both domestic and international flights.

Take Advantage of Payment Plans

Who would have though that they day would come when we would have layaway for flights? Ok, it isn’t really layaway because you can still take the flight as you pay off the ticket, but it can offer some relief from those ticket prices that fall into the higher range. If you have a credit card with an airline or one with travel rewards, you can book the flight and deal with paying later with the added benefit of loyalty rewards or cashing in points for future travel. However, not everyone has these types or cards or wants to open a new line of credit. There are still payment solutions available for those travelers.

Some airlines and airline merchant sites have jumped on the “buy now, pay later” wagon. Travelers with a tighter budget or who want to afford an upgrade can find comfort in this option. I have done this before with ease and no regret. Sometimes I just prefer paying for high priced tickets over time rather than all at once. There may be interest tacked onto the total ticket price so keep that in mind when considering this option but most don’t affect your credit score at all. Sites like American Airlines, Expedia, and Priceline are using Affirm to offer payment plans to passengers. Southwest and United use a similar service called Uplift. Even Delta offers payment plans but only when booking through Delta vacations.

The BBV Tips

1. Sign up for Going to receive flight deals and airline error directly in your inbox.
2. Check out sites like Airfare Watchdog and Skyscanner.
3. Be flexible with either your destination or travel dates. Use sites like Google Flights and Skyscanner to help find the best deals.
4. Use an airline credit card or one with travel rewards. Pay over time will earning points to cash in for future travel.
5. Look into payment plans with airlines and airline merchants. Great option for higher priced tickets.

There are still ways you can fly affordably this year despite the average cost of airline tickets. You will have to be proactive with keeping up with deals or spend a little more time conducting searches, but the payoff will be in the savings. Everyone should be able to enjoy the luxury of air travel. Hopefully you use these tips to get out there and live your best travel life.