As the summer travel season heats up, many are dreaming of a vacation getaway.
Finding a good deal can seem like a difficult task. But with a few smart strategies, you can save big on your next flight.
“We are seeing that airfares have normalized,” said Katy Nastro, travel expert at Going.com. “The average airfare price year over year is down about 6%, and it’s down about 15% from where we saw absolute, very hot, sky-high prices this summer of 2022.”
Nastro tells us there are a few things travelers should keep in mind when planning their next summer vacation.
“We always say let the deal decide the fate. You can fly again to places like Cancun for $261 round-trip from Boston,” Nastro said.
On Going.com, travelers can explore possibilities. By clicking the “let us choose” button – users will be able to get flight deals, show when they are available and provide a flight price history. Be flexible with travel dates. Airfares are cheapest mid-week, and consider flying to or from nearby airports.
The airline caters to owners who want to avoid putting their four-legged best friends in a crate or carrier while traveling. Gordon Tokumatsu reports for NBC4 News on May 23, 2024.
“Being flexible on the airports or cities you’re flying to can give you some affordability when it comes to the overall price of the flight,” Nastro said.
Consider using fare comparison sites like Google Flights or Skyscanner, which allow users to compare prices from multiple airlines and set up price alerts to monitor fare changes. On Skyscanner, users can choose “explore everywhere” as their destination and flexible dates to find the best deals.
“Often you can fly to a destination and then take a budget flight to get to your intended destination,” Nastro explained. “We call this the Greek Island Trick and it’s especially beneficial for analyzing expensive flights to Europe.”
Nastro also recommends mixing and matching airlines: “Don’t just focus on searching for round-trip travel. Also, do your research two ways, and often flying on one carrier and then leaving on another can help you save.
And don’t forget about airline loyalty programs.
“If you have a stash of points and miles, this is a great time to consider [using] even for a segment of your flight or a part of your itinerary. When cash prices are really high, you often get the best bang for your buck in terms of using your points and miles,” said Nastro.
Here’s a lesser-known travel trick: Clear your browser’s cookies when searching for flights. Sometimes airlines can track searches and increase prices based on browsing history.
This is the airline’s first nonstop flight from Logan Airport to Dublin, Ireland.
