There are lots of ways to save money when traveling: shop around for the best hotel deals, make your own meals, choose free tours and attractions, pack your own snacks for the airplane ride, etc. But did you know that you can also save money on the airplane ride itself? When it comes to booking flights, most people choose the location, then the date before checking available flights. However, by being flexible with your travel plans, you can save more money. Below, you will find a few things that you should know about picking the best times for your travel plans:
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Time of the Day
Most people want to fly at a time that is convenient for them, and many people don't think about how prices can fluctuate during the day. This usually means that travelers want to fly in the later morning, afternoon, or early evening. However, it's not as convenient to fly early in the morning of late at night. Due to this, companies tend to offer cheaper prices to fill the places at these times. If you don't mind waking up a little earlier or going to bed a little later, you can find some big savings.
Another way to save on flights is to opt for connecting flights. Many travelers just want to deal with a single flight and want to avoid long layovers at random airports. However, being flexible with your travel plans may mean choosing to have a connecting flight or two to help you save on the overall price of your trip.
Days of the Week
Days that tend to be the cheapest to travel include Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday. The reason behind this is similar to why you should consider flying early in the morning - companies have a harder time filling seats on these particular days of the week. Most people who travel for the weekend usually choose to leave on Friday night and return on Sunday night or Monday morning. With most people planning trips in this way, you can save money by flying in the middle of the week or on Saturday instead.
Time of the Year
It's not always easy to be flexible with the time of year that you travel, but this is definitely where you can save the most money on your travels. Travel websites can tell you the cheapest prices within a certain time frame. Some sites can tell you the cheapest time to travel within a couple days of your expected departure and arrival dates. Other sites can tell you the cheapest time to travel within 30 days of your trip. In addition, there are sites like CheapOAir which is known for giving travelers a 330-day calendar of prices to choose from. If you can be a little flexible with your timing, you can choose the best time of the year to travel that will help you save the most money.
As you start planning your next vacation, try to add some flexibility to your plans. Be sure to check the travel calendars to figure out the cheapest time of the day, day of the week, and time of the year to help you