Imagine you’re planning that dream trip: paradise beaches, historic cities, or even a culinary itinerary. You open the airline’s website and… get shocked by the ticket price. 😱
That’s exactly what happened to Ana, a friend of mine. She wanted to travel to Switzerland, but the flight prices were out of her budget. After some research, date adjustments, and a few simple strategies, Ana managed to save almost 40% of the original cost.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- How to find the best time to buy tickets
- Tips on alternative dates, times, and airports
- How to use miles and loyalty programs
- Simple strategies to save money without sacrificing comfort
Today, we’ll show you how you can do it too!
1️⃣ Search at the Right Time
The key is knowing when to buy. Buying well in advance doesn’t always guarantee savings.
📊 Interesting statistic: Domestic flights are cheapest 3 to 6 weeks before travel, while international flights usually drop in price 2 to 5 months in advance.
Quick tip: Turn on price alerts on Skyscanner, Google Flights, or Kayak. This way, you'll be notified when prices drop.
2️⃣ Be Flexible with Dates and Times
Changing a few days or times can generate significant savings.
📌 Quick Checklist:
- Best Day to Travel: Tuesday or Wednesday
- Worst Day: Friday and Sunday
- Cheapest Time: Late Night or Early Morning
Tip: Sometimes leaving 24 hours earlier or later can save you hundreds of dollars!
3️⃣ Consider Alternative Airports
If your destination has more than one airport, it’s worth checking out all the options. A short trip can be well worth it!
Real-life example: Ana saved R$200 by traveling to a secondary airport and taking a 30-minute transfer to the city center.
4️⃣ Use Miles and Loyalty Programs
Many people think that frequent flyer miles are only for frequent travelers, but that’s not true. Even people who fly a few times a year can accumulate points—whether on credit cards, everyday purchases, or occasional flights.
These points can be converted into discounts on airline tickets, cabin upgrades, lounge access, or even merchandise. It’s a smart way to save on travel without realizing it.
📊 Statistics: According to industry research, 60% of people who use loyalty programs receive discounts of up to 25% on domestic flights.
Main Loyalty Programs
✈️ AAdvantage (American Airlines)
One of the largest frequent flyer programs in the world. It allows you to accumulate points on flights, partner cards, and even purchases on partner websites. It’s great for those traveling on American Airlines or Oneworld airlines.
✈️ SkyMiles (Delta Air Lines)
Very popular among frequent flyers. The difference is that miles don’t expire, and it also offers good deals on Delta and SkyTeam partner flights.
✈️ MileagePlus (United Airlines)
Excellent for international flights, as United is part of the Star Alliance. It offers many redemption options, including upgrades.
✈️ Southwest Rapid Rewards
Aimed at those who travel frequently within the US. Southwest Airlines is known for its affordable prices and free baggage policy, which makes this program very advantageous.
✈️ JetBlue TrueBlue
Ideal for those flying shorter routes within the US. The program is simple and straightforward: you earn points based on the amount you spend and can redeem them for tickets with no hidden fees.
👉 Extra tip: Even if you don't travel much, signing up for at least one loyalty program is a way to start accumulating benefits for the future.
5️⃣ Mix Airlines and Flights
When we think about buying airline tickets, we usually look for direct flights for convenience. After all, nobody likes wasting time on connections, right? But here’s a secret: combining flights with different airlines can generate significant savings, especially on international or less popular routes.
💡 Why does this happen?
Each airline has different price agreements on certain routes. When you combine airlines, you can take advantage of the best value for each leg of your trip. Search platforms like Skyscanner, Kayak, and Google Flights already offer the “mixed flights” option, showing fares that wouldn’t appear if you searched for just one airline.
📊 Important statistic:
According to the Hopper website, travelers who accept connecting flights save an average of 20% on the total cost of their ticket, while those who combine airlines can get up to 30% off on international flights.
💡 Practical tip:
- Consider connecting in strategic cities.
- Evaluate whether the savings are worth the extra time. Sometimes, a difference of just a few hours can mean hundreds of dollars less on your ticket.
- Always check the connection time to avoid the risk of missing your next flight, as different airlines are not responsible for each other.
6️⃣ Search in Incognito Tabs
Have you ever noticed that, after searching for a flight several times, the price seems to suddenly increase? This happens because many airline websites and online agencies use cookies to track your searches. When they realize you’re interested in a specific flight, they may increase the price to pressure you into buying it immediately.
This is where the incognito tab trick comes in. When you search in incognito mode (or in a private window), your browser doesn’t save cookies or browsing history. This lets websites know you’re searching for the first time and displays real prices, without “artificial inflation.”
📌 Step-by-step guide to activating incognito mode:
- Open your browser.
- Click the three dots in the upper right corner.
- Select “New incognito window” (in Chrome) or “New private window” (in Firefox).
- Search as usual.
Quick tip: In addition to incognito mode, you can also clear your browser's cookies and cache before searching.
7️⃣ Take Advantage of Flash Promotions
Flash sales are special offers launched by airlines or travel websites that last only a few hours—or until tickets run out. They often offer very aggressive discounts, reaching 50% or more, but require speed and attention.
💡 Why do they work?
These promotions are strategies to fill seats on low-occupancy flights or promote new routes. For travelers, it’s a golden opportunity to travel for much less.
📌 How not to miss out:
- Follow airlines and travel sites on social media (especially Twitter and Instagram, where announcements are made quickly).
- Sign up for newsletters to receive alerts firsthand.
- Use flight alert apps.
- Always have a credit card available and the flexibility to purchase on the spot.
⚠️ Attention: Flash sales almost never allow free cancellation, so it's important to be sure of your purchase.
✅ Final Checklist – Saving on Flights
- Research in advance and monitor prices
- Be flexible with dates and times
- Consider alternative airports
- Use miles and loyalty programs
- Mix airlines and flights
- Search in incognito tabs
- Keep an eye out for flash sales
Which of these tips do you already use? Tell us in the comments!
Traveling on a budget is entirely possible when you know the right tricks. A little planning and paying attention to opportunities can make your dream trip a reality without breaking the bank!
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