Overseas travel is once again possible, but restrictions remain and things can change quickly, so being flexible is essential when planning a trip. We have a slew of clever tricks to help you book flights at the best times, sit together for free, and much more.
While travel restrictions are uncertain, flexibility is essential, so double-check before booking.
Overseas vacations are once again possible, but things can change quickly, so look for a vacation that allows you to change dates or cancel without penalty for a refund or voucher.
Look for bookings that allow you to easily change your mind, change the date, or cancel.
You have a legal right to a full refund if your flight is cancelled, but many airlines now offer flexibility if you choose to change your flight while it is still running – see airline-by-airline cancellation policies.
Travel insurance is essential; obtain it as soon as you book your trip
Flexible bookings are a type of self-insurance against government-imposed restrictions that prevent you from going on vacation. Travel insurance, with very few exceptions, will not cover cancellation due to government regulations, but it will cover you for a variety of other non-Covid risks such as theft or bereavement.
To save money, use the best comparison sites.
Instead of going directly to an airline, use a price comparison site that searches both online travel agencies (such as Expedia and booking.com and omio travel.
They quickly show you the cheapest flight and the cheapest place to buy from, which is important because prices can vary greatly, even for the same seat on the same flight. For example, we found a London-New York City return ticket priced at £250 when booked through an agent, but £260 when booked directly with Virgin Atlantic.
Best comparison websites
Expedia.com
trip.com
omio.com
When is the best time to book a hotel?
When it comes to finding cheap flight tickets, timing is everything. Flights should generally be booked in advance (business travellers will pay top dollar at the last minute, so prices skyrocket), but recent travel uncertainty has left many unwilling to book to plan too far ahead. Last-minute deals can also be found, especially if you’re flexible about when you travel. If you are looking further ahead, unless you prefer to stick with the same airline and are waiting for a sale you know is coming up, it’s usually best to book as soon as possible. Of course, there’s always the possibility that the price will drop during a sale, but waiting for that is a bit of a gamble because they can’t be predicted. So, if you know a good price for the route you’ve chosen and see it, take advantage of it.
How to Find Super Cheap Deals on Flights
The key to snagging incredible flight deals is to find them first, as they are usually snapped up quickly. You often need to be flexible – ideally on both destination and dates – and able to swoop in and book quickly if you want to take advantage, so this isn’t for everyone. If your travel plans aren’t set in stone and you’re just looking for a great deal, there are a few handy flight-finding services that can help. While they all work in slightly different ways, they will notify you when an airline has dropped prices on a specific route – as well as pricing errors or ‘error fares,’ which can be extremely cheap.
cheap flight alert sites
Coronado airways
Air Asia
Jetstar Airways.
If you are going to a traditional resort, chartering a plane may be less expensive.
Package vacation companies reserve (or “charter”) flights to transport their passengers. As a result, they typically cover traditional vacation destinations, so if that’s where you’re going, you might be able to score a super-cheap flight if they sell off unreserved seats. If you’re flying to Mali, you’re out of luck, but if you’re flying to Malaga.
How to Find the Lowest Cost Charter Flights
Here’s how to look for charter flights:
Use our top-rated comparison websites. Previously, finding the cheapest charter flights required extensive searching; however, most can now be found on comparison sites such as Expedia.com ,omio Travels and more.
If no charter flights are available, book a package but do not stay. This is often much less expensive than booking a scheduled flight. Package holidays to places like Orlando can be dirt cheap.