Summer and vacations just go together, like beaches and piña coladas. Unfortunately, the higher temperatures can also beckon higher airfares, putting a financial damper on your dream Summer escape [1] (especially if you have your sights set on an international excursion [2]). But don't put this season's plans on hold just yet; check out the following seven ways you can score a killer flight deal that won't set you back an entire month's rent.
Plan Ahead
Step one: give yourself plenty of time to find the good deals. Tom Spagnola, a travel expert with CheapOair [4], advises travellers to make their Summer getaway plans as far in advance as possible, as the busy travel season will see many sold-out flights, especially on the weekends.
"Planning ahead is also going to give you the best chance to find the lowest pricing, as there will still be seats available that airlines are competing against for customers, so the cost of the tickets will be more abundant."
Look at Nearby Destinations
Spagnola also recommends looking into nearby airports when booking your ticket, especially in continents like Europe where all the countries are close together and easily accessible by train. Your destination might be an hour away once you land, but the price difference can be dramatic.
Bonus: you might discover an incredible new place that wasn't even on your radar (this has happened to me many times before!).
Be Flexible With Your Dates
"Being flexible opens up several different options of prices for customers still looking to travel this Summer," Spagnola tells travellers. Turn the "flexible" dates option on in your search; you might find substantial differences in fares by simply changing your arrival or departure date by one or two days.
Apply For a Loyalty Credit Card
If you don't already have a travel credit card [5], compare what credit cards are offering in terms of sign-on bonuses this season. Chances are — after spending a predetermined amount over the course of a few months — you can accrue enough miles to get an international ticket at no cost whatsoever.
Avoid Weekend Travel
Spagnola predicts a record-breaking travel season, especially on the weekends. So to avoid shelling out steep funds, avoid the peak travel days and try to fly in and out during the week.
Go Basic Economy
Another option for finding cheap seats is to take advantage of the discounted basic economy fares many major carriers offer on international flights. You might lose certain amenities (like a checked bag, the ability to choose your seat beforehand, etc.), but if you can live without them, basic economy fares tend to be sold at slashed costs.
Finance It
One way to lessen the burden and make international flights feel less expensive is to stretch out the payments over multiple months. Some sites even offer zero percent interest payment plans (like CheapAir's Summer Flight Finance [6] program) so you won't need to pay a cent more than the cost of the ticket.