Travel Tip 85

Are you getting a good flight deal?

Buying plane tickets always gives me a thrill.

It’s a combination of retail therapy and having a Christmas present under the tree. A trip in the future will always hold some element of surprise, even if I have a planned itinerary. I might know the size, shape and weight of the present, but there’s always the excitement of anticipation for the day I get to open it.

When I know I got a good deal on the flight, I also feel like I got away with something. It’s so satisfying to know that I could buy the exact same thing, but for more money, if I’d bought on a different day or in a different way.

How do you know if the flight is a deal?

There’s a couple things you need to do before you buy.

First, make plans as far in advance as possible. I usually buy international flights about six months in advance, and I buy national flights eight to ten weeks before the trip. The general recommendation for domestic travel is 1-3 months prior, and for international buy 2-8 months prior. For holidays and common vacation time like spring break and summer, buy 3-10 months prior, no matter where you’re going.

Second, set price alerts with multiple services. Read my tips on using Hopper, Going, and Google Flights.

If you can sleep on planes, check prices for overnight flights.

Is it a good deal?

So, you’re buying well in advance of the trip and the alerts you set are telling you now is the time to buy. Here’s three more steps before you click buy.

Check nearby airports.

You should be able to set alerts for all nearby airports, but double check before you buy. Major cities like New York, D.C., London, and Paris have multiple airports and you should always check flight prices to each airport in the area. I’ve gotten great deals at London’s City Airport and Orly in Paris. Even if flight prices were exactly the same between Heathrow and City Airport, it’s easier, cheaper, and faster to get where you’re going in London if you land at City Airport. Cities that are relatively close may have trains or other public transportation that make flights to either city convenient, like San Francisco and Oakland.

Compare prices again.

Flight alerts can be fleeting, and if you don’t get around to buying until the day after the alert, the deal might be gone. In the worst cases, the deal can be gone within hours. Don’t take the alert at face value. Always double check and compare flights again with Google flights and Skyscanner.

If you want extra legroom in the exit row, check if you can pay the difference with points.

Check for points options.

Check your credit card and airline points to see if you can use them. I’m not a points expert and am not here to tell you which credit card to use. Do your own research on how to get points on the airline or airlines you use most, and then make sure you use the points before they expire. I’m just reminding you to use whatever points you have when you’re buying flights.

One caveat: I always recommend buying directly from the airline.

Use Hopper, Orbitz, Kayak, Skyscanner and all the others to track prices so you know when to buy, but don’t buy from them. If the ticket price difference is $10 or $20, it’s worth that difference to buy from the airline because you’ll get much better service in case you need to change or refund the flight. You’ll also get better service if the flight is delayed or cancelled.  

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