Booking Flights
- Talia Avakian
- Apr 10, 2017
- 2 min read
Set up price alerts.
If you know where you want to go, and you are at least a few months out, now may not be the best time to buy. Download the Hopper app and do a search on Google Flights, and if the price isn't yet right, set an alert. This is also a reminder to Always Be Planning.)
Sign up for airline emails.
Sign up from airlines newsletters: JetBlue, for examle, frequently sends out flash sale emails. Similarly, following airlines on social media can help you stay in the loop with quick sales and promotions. Also, websites like Airfarewatchdog are great for finding top-notch flight prices, thanks to flight-tracker alerts that notify you when prices drop.
Take advantage of free stopovers.
Free stopovers give you the chance to get two trips out of one vacation: without paying twice as much for flights. A number of airlines offer stopover programs, though one of the best known is Icelandair. You can extend your layover in Iceland for up to seven days (at no additional cost) and the airline will even pair you up with a complimentary Stopover Buddy to take you to the best local spots in town.
With Finnair, you can spend up to five nights doing everything from chasing the Northern Lights to exploring the city's food scene, while stopovers in Singapore from Singapore Airlines include a night's hotel stay and airport transfer for just $60.
Get the perfect seat.
Where you sit on a flight can make all the difference. SeatGuru helps savvy travelers examine every detail of an airplane seat before it's too late to make a change. Find out whether you'll be close to a bathroom, if you can count on power outlets, what the seat pitch is, or if that seat will recline. There are user reviews so you can get a sense of what the experience was like for other travelers.
Use the 24-hour rule.
Take advantage of the 24-hour rule, which allows travelers to cancel tickets on most airlines without a fee within 24 hours of booking. In 2017, check one last time for a better price, or jump on a flash airfare sale—even if you still need to ask your boss for time off.
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