5 TIPS for Getting Good Flight Deals
- Sharmeen Suleman
- Mar 20, 2018
- 3 min read
Everyone thinks they have cracked this one, but actually it really is a mystery. Often you go to book a flight and suddenly it is twice the price, only an hour later. You go direct to the airlines page & to a travel agent, the price difference can be hundreds of pounds. And then there is the 52 or 54 day rule that people seem to be talking about. If you book 54 days ahead, you will get the best price, they say. But personally, I always book as soon as flights become available.
I have found certain tricks that have worked for us, as a family. I have managed to pick return flights to Fez for £40 return. Last October half term, our flights came in at £85 return. I don't make any promises they will work for you, but I hope by sharing at least someone might benefit.
1. Book as early as you can: There might be the odd occasion that you can bag a last minute bargain in the School Holidays. These bargains tend to be for package holidays that have not all been sold. But if you are a larger family than it is unlikely you will bag that bargain. Better to book your flights well ahead. So that October flight went up to £220 per person a week before we travelled. Our Easter Mombasa flights went up from £452 return to £1200 return. Budget Airline or one of the major airlines, it really seems the best bet is to book your flights early.
2. Seek some October Sunshine: October half terms are a great time to get away. They are generally cheaper than Summer holidays & it still warm in Morocco at that time of year. Half terms tend to be staggered across the country. So if you don't mind doing a little bit of travelling ahead of your flight, an airport further away may offer a better flight deal. Please check your school holiday dates before booking.
Just remember to factor in the time to get to the airport & the costs. A 6 am flight might mean leaving home at 1 am in the morning, with sleepy & grumpy kids. The time I went to Fez, the flights for me & my little one cost only £60 return, but it cost me £120 to get to and from the airport. There were no return trains or coaches after midnight, when we landed. So I had to book a taxi back.
3. Consider a Shorter Break: It can be cheaper to book 5 nights rather than the standard 7 nights, depending on the budget airline. I have literally saved £900 by not booking those extra two nights. It is worth considering. Is a shorter break, better than no break at all?
4. Try a Twin Destination Break: There are 3 reasons to consider this. Firstly, it can be cheaper. Secondly, it is more exciting. Thirdly, it can help you avoid crazy 6am departures with kids in tow. One time, we flew with Easyjet into Essaouira & back with RyanAir from Marrakech. Twin destinations with twin airlines, with our twins in tow! Sometimes, a travel agent might book you to land in Essaouira for example, then transfer by car to Agadir. Ask for a couple of days in Essaouira, so your family can get the experience of two destinations.
5. Delete your Cookies: Each time you go online, there are tiny virtual breadcrumbs you leave. It is thought (although not proved) that companies may use these to increase the cost of flights, when you return to their website. It takes seconds to delete your cookies, so it is worth a shot. Using these few tricks, you could bring the cost of your flights down. When you have a family of 6, a £100 price difference per person equates to a £600 saving.
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p.s. The picture was taken as we were descending for Essaouira Airport, taking in the view of the gorgeous Atlantic ocean coastline.
Disclaimer: I am not a travel agent. I am just a well travelled mother, who wants to share what I have found works with others. The content of this post is not professional travel advice. If you decide to use the content of this post, it is entirely at your own risk.
