I've been to 50 countries & 50 US states.
10 tips & hacks to book cheap flights you didn't know (until now) you needed:
10 tips & hacks to book cheap flights you didn't know (until now) you needed:
1/ Be flexible with dates & destinations 📆
If you have the luxury of being flexible, you can save a TON of money on travel.
I've found ~$300 flights from the US to Colombia & Iceland during April/October "shoulder seasons"
Use the calendar view in Google Flights & Skyscanner.
If you have the luxury of being flexible, you can save a TON of money on travel.
I've found ~$300 flights from the US to Colombia & Iceland during April/October "shoulder seasons"
Use the calendar view in Google Flights & Skyscanner.
2/ Understand how airline pricing works 🏷
• Prime booking window: 3 weeks to 4 months out
• Average lowest fare: 77 days in advance
• Round trips are cheapest
Personally, I've found airlines try to fill up their seats & offer great deals about 3-4 weeks before takeoff.
• Prime booking window: 3 weeks to 4 months out
• Average lowest fare: 77 days in advance
• Round trips are cheapest
Personally, I've found airlines try to fill up their seats & offer great deals about 3-4 weeks before takeoff.
3/ Use a private browser or incognito mode in Chrome to reset cookies 🤫
Flight prices are usually targeted, as airlines often use your past search information.
Clean the slate so they can't play any pricing & marketing tricks on you.
Flight prices are usually targeted, as airlines often use your past search information.
Clean the slate so they can't play any pricing & marketing tricks on you.
4/ Sign up for price & newsletter alerts for travel deals 📨
• I have used some great email newsletter services like @scottsflights & @thriftytraveler
• Deal alerts service- faredrop.com & hopper.com
• @thepointsguy to find point redemption deals
• I have used some great email newsletter services like @scottsflights & @thriftytraveler
• Deal alerts service- faredrop.com & hopper.com
• @thepointsguy to find point redemption deals
Deal alert services like Hopper & Kayak use price prediction tools to let you know when to buy for the best fare & some even allow you to price freeze for up to two weeks. 🚨
5/ Find flights with layovers⏱
24+ hour layovers tend to be much cheaper yet they can give you a quick visit to an exciting new place.
Iceland Air even offers this as a feature- day or two stopovers in Iceland on the way to Europe.
Or you can hang out at the airport lounges.
24+ hour layovers tend to be much cheaper yet they can give you a quick visit to an exciting new place.
Iceland Air even offers this as a feature- day or two stopovers in Iceland on the way to Europe.
Or you can hang out at the airport lounges.
6/ Use search engines AND direct searches 🔍
Best search engines-
• Google Flights
• Skyscanner
• Kayak
But search directly on budget airline sites too. Here are some larger, cheap, & safe budget airlines that I've flown abroad:
• EasyJet
• RyanAir
• Air Asia
• Jetstar
Best search engines-
• Google Flights
• Skyscanner
• Kayak
But search directly on budget airline sites too. Here are some larger, cheap, & safe budget airlines that I've flown abroad:
• EasyJet
• RyanAir
• Air Asia
• Jetstar
7/ Utilize travel credit cards 💳
I have 13 credit cards currently, only two with annual fees & 8 with a single bank for ease of organization.
All came with lucrative sign-up bonuses that got me at least one roundtrip international flight, many 2 or more.
I have 13 credit cards currently, only two with annual fees & 8 with a single bank for ease of organization.
All came with lucrative sign-up bonuses that got me at least one roundtrip international flight, many 2 or more.
My two favorite travel cards? 💳
Amex Platinum & Chase Sapphire Reserve
Both give you 2-4x points for travel, have extensive lounge access & benefits, zero foreign exchange fees, & even cover Clear/TSA pre ✅.
100K+ mile bonus for the Platinum below 👇🏻
americanexpress.com
Amex Platinum & Chase Sapphire Reserve
Both give you 2-4x points for travel, have extensive lounge access & benefits, zero foreign exchange fees, & even cover Clear/TSA pre ✅.
100K+ mile bonus for the Platinum below 👇🏻
americanexpress.com
8/ Frequent flyer miles 🌎
Make sure to create loyalty accounts w/ EVERY airline you fly with.
The 3 major Airline Alliance Programs are:
● Oneworld
● Star Alliance
● Skyteam
Many frequent flyer miles can be transferred & used between partners.
Make sure to create loyalty accounts w/ EVERY airline you fly with.
The 3 major Airline Alliance Programs are:
● Oneworld
● Star Alliance
● Skyteam
Many frequent flyer miles can be transferred & used between partners.
My top 3 loyalty programs of major US airlines (perks, experience, mileage redemption & flexibility):
1) Delta SkyMiles
2) Southwest RapidRewards
3) American Airlines AAdvantage
International flights often offer better point redemption value on a $ basis than domestic here.
1) Delta SkyMiles
2) Southwest RapidRewards
3) American Airlines AAdvantage
International flights often offer better point redemption value on a $ basis than domestic here.
The best point redemption credit card marketplaces? 🧑🏻💻
1) Amex Membership Rewards
2) Chase Ultimate Rewards
Both allow for the most flexibility and let you transfer points to major airlines or book directly from their sites for additional rewards.
1) Amex Membership Rewards
2) Chase Ultimate Rewards
Both allow for the most flexibility and let you transfer points to major airlines or book directly from their sites for additional rewards.
9/ Look for alternative airports & cities 🛄
Sometimes prices will change a lot when you simply select a different airport w/in the same city you're traveling to.
Larger airline hubs are also way cheaper.
Fly to a nearby city & train/bus to your destination for 1/2 the price.
Sometimes prices will change a lot when you simply select a different airport w/in the same city you're traveling to.
Larger airline hubs are also way cheaper.
Fly to a nearby city & train/bus to your destination for 1/2 the price.
10/ 24-hour refunds
Many booking sites and airlines will allow you to get a full refund within 24 hours of booking.
See a price drop or a cheaper city to fly into? Cancel & rebook.
Here's the policy from the @Delta website, for example:
Many booking sites and airlines will allow you to get a full refund within 24 hours of booking.
See a price drop or a cheaper city to fly into? Cancel & rebook.
Here's the policy from the @Delta website, for example:
Bonus tips!
Here are some travel apps & tools I use:
• Google Flights (for finding the best flight times)
• TripIt & Google Trips (itinerary organization)
• Kayak & SkyScanner (car rental search)
• Turo (Airbnb of rental cars)
• Google Maps & MapsMe (offline navigation)
Here are some travel apps & tools I use:
• Google Flights (for finding the best flight times)
• TripIt & Google Trips (itinerary organization)
• Kayak & SkyScanner (car rental search)
• Turo (Airbnb of rental cars)
• Google Maps & MapsMe (offline navigation)
More travel tools & apps:
• Airbnb, HostelWorld, Booking (accommodation)
• Uber & Grab (Transportation)
• Been (app that tracks which countries you've been to)
• Google Translate (language)
• XE Currency (app for currency exchange rates)
• WhatsApp (communication)
• Airbnb, HostelWorld, Booking (accommodation)
• Uber & Grab (Transportation)
• Been (app that tracks which countries you've been to)
• Google Translate (language)
• XE Currency (app for currency exchange rates)
• WhatsApp (communication)
Final travel hack-
I use Google Fi as my network provider.
When in the US, you can pay for a $40/person domestic plan.
But when you head abroad, you can instantly bump your plan up for $15/mo per person extra for data coverage & hotspot in over 200+ international destinations.
I use Google Fi as my network provider.
When in the US, you can pay for a $40/person domestic plan.
But when you head abroad, you can instantly bump your plan up for $15/mo per person extra for data coverage & hotspot in over 200+ international destinations.
If you enjoyed this thread...
Follow me @BackpackerFI and retweet the first tweet for me! 👇🏻
I tweet multiple threads a week on financial independence, investing & passive income, and personal development.
Follow me @BackpackerFI and retweet the first tweet for me! 👇🏻
I tweet multiple threads a week on financial independence, investing & passive income, and personal development.
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