Top 10 ways to fly cheap
Above the clouds and far from the hustle and bustle of the road, traveling by plane is not as expensive as some would think.
With airlines having become more affordable, almost anyone can enjoy the comfort of flying to their favourite destination.
But while travelling by plane is not restricted to the upper echelons of society, there are simple ways to ensure you do not pay more than what you should.
1. When booking domestic flights, book your outbound and return flight separately, looking for the best price on each individually. However, when booking an international flight, book your outbound and return tickets together with the same airline as it is more cost effective.
2. Airlines often sell their cheapest tickets first, which means you are more likely to find reasonably priced tickets by booking in advance.
3. After you book your ticket, follow the 24 hour rule and check the next morning to see if the price of your airfare has dropped. If it has, cancel your flight and rebook. Be wary, as you might face penalties.
4. Follow airlines on social media. Airlines want to encourage clients to continue flying with them and occasionally advertise special offers on social media sites.
5. If an airline has a frequent flyer programme, make use of it. By using the frequent flyer miles, you will be able to get discounts on flights.
6. As odd as it might sound, superstition has an effect on the flight tickets as well. According to South Africa Travel Online, it has been noted that purchasing tickets on Friday the 13th can sometimes be cheaper than on any other day.
7. Be flexible about the departure dates. For domestic flights Saturday afternoon travel is generally cheaper. For international flights leaving South Africa on Sundays to Thursdays and returning Tuesday to Thursday is generally cheaper.
8. When checking airline prices online, clear your browser cache and cookies. This might sound ridiculous, but this will allow you in getting the newest and potentially cheaper ticket prices.
9. Pack as light as possible. By taking only the necessities along on your trip, baggage fees can be kept at a minimum.
10. If you have extra items and do not want to fork out on the baggage fees, look at buying a cheap bag and checking it in as a second bag, as this should work out to be more cost efficient than the overweight fees.
Information sourced from South Africa Travel Online and www.thrillist.com.
