The Savvy Traveler: 4 Ways You Can Reduce Your Air Travel Costs
Is the rising cost of airfare causing you to postpone your travels? There are 4 ways you can save on air travel costs. If you're already on a budget, these tips can help you to still fly, especially if your reason for flying is to visit family or go on that much-needed vacation.
Many Americans have cut back on air travel primarily due to the rising costs of airfare. This is reflected in the continual decrease in ticket sales as reported by airlines across the country. If you are looking for ways on how to reduce your travel costs, below are five ways you can save on airfare.
1. Choose the right day to book your flight.
Very few people realize that the day you book a flight can actually have a huge impact on how much you have to pay for your ticket. The secret is to book your flight either on a Wednesday or a Saturday morning. On these days, airlines usually offer discounts in order to fill up remaining empty seats on their upcoming flights.
2. Schedule an off-season trip.
The more potential passengers there are, the higher the airfare will be. This is why plane tickets are considerably more expensive during peak vacation seasons. For instance, most people living in the northeastern part of the country want to get away from the freezing snow so for the months of December to February, you can expect New York to Florida flights to be priced higher than usual. In order to avoid these steep prices, you can try scheduling an off-season trip. If you are a New Yorker and want to visit Orlando, you will save a huge amount by postponing your vacation until the summer.
3. Travel on a Wednesday.
Most people like to fly on Fridays and weekends because these are the days they don't have to go to work or school. Airlines know this, which is why they raise airfare costs during these days. Mondays are also expensive because this is the day most business travelers depart. The best days for traveling are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Wednesday in particular tend to have the cheapest airfare costs, during which you can save $100 or even more.
4. Don't travel during the holidays.
Even with the decreased frequency of air travel in the United States, there are three times out the year when all flights are sure to be fully booked. These are the days right before Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. During these holidays, airlines don't have any problem at all filling up their seats. In fact, the demand for tickets is so high that the airlines actually increase the prices on these days. It might not sound fair but that's business.
If you don't want to pay the extra cost, all you have to do is not fly anywhere during the holidays. Of course, this may not always be an option. For some people, these holidays are their only opportunity to be with family. In this case, you will just have to book your flight as far from the actual holiday as you can. Avoid the two days right before the holiday, as these are the times when airfare rates are at their peak. It's good if you can get an early leave from work and fly at least three days before a holiday. This way you won't have to pay the ridiculously high travel costs and you will be able to spend more time with your family.
Follow these simple tips and you can experience the enjoyment of traveling without going over your budget.
Copyright © 2009, Ian White petsitterneeded.com
Author Ian White is founder of PetSitterNeeded.com Pet Sitting Directory
Don't let the dilema of what to do with your pets hold you back from a holiday. Find a local pet sitter so your pets can stay at home and you home is security checked. Pet friendly alternative to pet boarding.
Many Americans have cut back on air travel primarily due to the rising costs of airfare. This is reflected in the continual decrease in ticket sales as reported by airlines across the country. If you are looking for ways on how to reduce your travel costs, below are five ways you can save on airfare.
1. Choose the right day to book your flight.
Very few people realize that the day you book a flight can actually have a huge impact on how much you have to pay for your ticket. The secret is to book your flight either on a Wednesday or a Saturday morning. On these days, airlines usually offer discounts in order to fill up remaining empty seats on their upcoming flights.
2. Schedule an off-season trip.
The more potential passengers there are, the higher the airfare will be. This is why plane tickets are considerably more expensive during peak vacation seasons. For instance, most people living in the northeastern part of the country want to get away from the freezing snow so for the months of December to February, you can expect New York to Florida flights to be priced higher than usual. In order to avoid these steep prices, you can try scheduling an off-season trip. If you are a New Yorker and want to visit Orlando, you will save a huge amount by postponing your vacation until the summer.
3. Travel on a Wednesday.
Most people like to fly on Fridays and weekends because these are the days they don't have to go to work or school. Airlines know this, which is why they raise airfare costs during these days. Mondays are also expensive because this is the day most business travelers depart. The best days for traveling are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Wednesday in particular tend to have the cheapest airfare costs, during which you can save $100 or even more.
4. Don't travel during the holidays.
Even with the decreased frequency of air travel in the United States, there are three times out the year when all flights are sure to be fully booked. These are the days right before Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. During these holidays, airlines don't have any problem at all filling up their seats. In fact, the demand for tickets is so high that the airlines actually increase the prices on these days. It might not sound fair but that's business.
If you don't want to pay the extra cost, all you have to do is not fly anywhere during the holidays. Of course, this may not always be an option. For some people, these holidays are their only opportunity to be with family. In this case, you will just have to book your flight as far from the actual holiday as you can. Avoid the two days right before the holiday, as these are the times when airfare rates are at their peak. It's good if you can get an early leave from work and fly at least three days before a holiday. This way you won't have to pay the ridiculously high travel costs and you will be able to spend more time with your family.
Follow these simple tips and you can experience the enjoyment of traveling without going over your budget.
Copyright © 2009, Ian White petsitterneeded.com
Author Ian White is founder of PetSitterNeeded.com Pet Sitting Directory
Don't let the dilema of what to do with your pets hold you back from a holiday. Find a local pet sitter so your pets can stay at home and you home is security checked. Pet friendly alternative to pet boarding.
Labels: budget travel, cave on air travel, cheap flights, cut air travel costs