Have you recently returned from an airline trip and felt like it was highway robbery? Well, there is a way to fight back.
Airlines have been nickel and diming its passengers for several years now. Once upon a time, airline transportation was a chic and upscale way to travel. When you purchased your ticket, you were assured to receive all-inclusive top class service — baggage check-in and handling, free beverages, even a full course meal on longer flights. But nowadays, airlines have adopted the “a la carte” method, which means passengers must pay for everything. So, that seemingly cheap $150. R/T airfare could actually balloon up to $300. with baggage fees, overweight luggage, carry on overage, seat preference, meals and more. And this doesn’t even include that $4 bottle of water and $3 cup of coffee you’re forced to buy inside an airport, since you can no longer bring it with you.
So what’s a budget conscious traveler to do? Here are tips on how you can beat the airlines at their own game:
BUY TICKETS ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON –
According to farecompare.com, the best time to buy a ticket is at 3 p.m. Tuesday. Most airlines frequently publish sale fares on Tuesday afternoon and tend to pull them by Thursday. Using your laptop to buy a ticket on Saturday afternoons is a no no, and will usually get you the highest fare available.
HAPPY HUMP DAY… FLY ON WEDNESDAY –
Surprisingly, the least expensive day to fly domestically is Wednesday. According to farecompare.com, Tuesday and Saturday are the other cheapest days to fly, while Friday and Sunday are the most expensive.
THE EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM –
Never take the last flight out. As weather and traffic delays build up, many flights end up canceled toward the end of the day. So it’s always best to fly out as early as you can, to avoid getting bumped from a flight. Tip: the first flights out often tend to be the cheapest.
STAY FLEXIBLE –
If you seriously want the least expensive fare there is, remaining flexible with the departure or arrival airport, the day you travel, or your ability to shift your trip by even a week, can save you hundreds of dollars. Flexibility in travel almost always assures finding affordable airfares.
KEEP IT LIGHT –
Airlines have realized that charging a fee per checked bag and charging enormously high penalty fees for overweight bags, is their new cash cow. So beat them at their own game. If possible, skip baggage check-in, take only enough clothes for your trip, and just arrive at the airport with one carry on bag.
DO THE MATH: by the time you pay the huge overage fees, you might be better off just buying a necessity once you arrive. And it will save you time having to stand in long check-in lines to depart, or waiting at the carousel for your luggage once you arrive. Remember, almost every hotel will provide you with any toiletry you need, so you can skip bringing most of those. And if you can mix and match outfits over a few days, that’s all the better.
If you’re going on a longer trip or simply can’t travel lightly enough to not bring your entire wardrobe, consider UPS or FedEx shipping in advance. You might spend $20. bucks to send everything in advance, versus $25. per bag PLUS an additional $50. if it’s overweight.
