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Saving Money on Flights

by - July 05, 2018

Regular travelers are acutely aware of the costs involved. The average cost for a vacation for a family of four comes to over $4,500, with around 44% of the travel budget being spent getting to, from, and around the destination. So with transportation making up a large proportion of overall travel costs, how can you reduce what you spend on your flight to make sure you make the most of your travel funds?
Frequent Flyer and Co-Branded Credit Cards
Both frequent flyer and co-branded credit cards enable you to earn airline miles. It is worth consolidating your frequent flyer accounts as much as possible to maximize the benefits and savings as well as using airline alliances to your advantage. Co-branded credit cards offer free checked baggage and other perks as well as often seducing you with a large bonus for signing up and gaining benefits every time you use the card, not just on flight purchases. If you're regularly spending on credit cards, then be sure to keep an eye on your credit score, and only take one out if you can comfortably afford the repayments.
Timing Is Everything
When you travel and the day you book your travel can have a huge impact on the price of your flight. Airlines keep the details of their pricing a closely guarded secret but according to Skyscanner, travelers who bought their tickets on a Saturday paid on average 5% more than those who bought their tickets on a Monday. The day that you fly also affects the price of your flight; according to FareCompare, the cheapest days to fly in the U.S. are Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. And usually booking 45 to 90 days before departure will get you the cheapest flight.
Being flexible
Do you have other airports close to home? Or is there more than one airport at your destination? It pays to shop around as flights costs at airports within 100 miles of each other can vary and the savings may end up being more than the increased travel cost to the alternate airport. It is also often cheaper to fly on an indirect flight, stopping off and changing at an airport en route.
Regular travel can be a costly activity but with some planning, flexibility and using frequent flyer and co-branded credit cards savings can be made and put towards your next trip.
 






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