Cheapflights always looks for the best ways for you to save money on flights and travel. But with the country officially in a recession, advice on ways to tighten your travel purse strings has never been more essential. The good news is that you don't have to stop travelling altogether. There are many ways to spend small but still travel big. Follow these tips to make sure you can still enjoy a great holiday in 2009...
1. Compare, compare, compare
Comparison is the raison d'etre of the Cheapflights site. It has never been more crucial to ensure you are getting the very best deal on every aspect of your holiday. The best way to do this is to compare prices from a huge range of providers. No single carrier always has the best offers, so make sure you check all prices before committing the cash.
Search and compare flight prices to make sure you have the best deal.
2. Timing is everything
To make sure you're getting the cheapest flights, you will have to be flexible about when you travel. If you have no set date or destination in mind then you're in the best position to take advantage of the cheapest deals on offer from the airlines or travel agents. If you're lucky enough to be in this situation, utilise special offers or inspiration pages of websites. Cheapflights, for example, has a Handpicked Deals page which showcases the best deals on offer across the site, for flights and holidays.
However, most of us can't simply take time off work to coincide with the best holiday prices. Even if you're not able to be completely flexible on dates, there are still ways to make sure the timing of your holiday saves you money. Travel during school holidays is a big no-no. Airlines that have frequent sales, such as Ryanair, almost always make the school holidays a blackout period – a time when the cheapest sale prices do not apply. And even for traditional carriers, prices always rise during the holidays. This is especially true of shorter breaks, such as the February half-term for skiing, or Easter for long-haul.
Travel that includes a Saturday night is often cheaper, and flights that depart on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday offer the lowest prices. For the low cost airlines, flights departing at unpleasant hours – 6am is typical – are where the biggest bargains are to be found. For more information on how to save money with the no-frillers, see our guide to Low Cost Airlines.
Finally, become an expert on the Shoulder Season. This is the time of year when a destination is just about to enter, or is just leaving, the peak season. Conditions are still good, but prices have yet to rocket. A bit of research on your destination before you go should yield serious savings.
3. Where to go?
A year ago, stories abounded of Brits flocking to America with empty suitcases, ready to fill them with gadgets, gifts and electronics. In December 2007 the savings were greater than the prices in the UK – even when the cost of the flights was included. Christmas shopping was done not in the local high street, but in New York, Milan or the winter markets of Germany. No longer. The pound has plummeted against both the dollar and the euro and holidays in most of Europe and North America now cost considerably more for those travelling from the UK than they did a year ago. It pays, now, to consider your destination carefully.
One obvious choice is Iceland, whose economic troubles are even more marked than our own. The krona has fallen considerably against the pound and the country – once an expensive destination – is now one of the cheapest close to home. In Mexico, too, the peso has fallen, making this a good long-haul destination, where sterling still converts well. To find the best destinations, check the local currency with a reputable online currency converter and see what you'll get for your pound.
4. Leave it to the last minute
Last minute deals can be risky when the economy is booming and flights are full. How do you know that everything appealing won't have been sold months before? In times like these, however, lots of great holidays are left on the shelves and airlines are struggling to fill their seats. This leads to bargain rates on even the very top holiday packages and if you're brave enough to leave it till the last minute, you can pick up deals of more than 50 per cent off original prices. Read our guide to Last Minute Flights to find the best ways to get a good deal.
5. Sale now on
Big discounts aren't just for the high street. Many airlines have regular sales, some seem to have nothing but. If you can book your tickets as part of a seat sale – the bigger, the better – you're bound to save money on a regular fare. Each airline is different though. BA has a large January sale, whereas Ryanair seems to have a permanent sale. To find details of the ways to find the best deals with each individual airline, check our Airline Guides, which give tailored advice on when the cheapest deals are available.
Finally, when you find a good deal: book it! Especially in the sales, it doesn't do to delay.
Sabrina Wolfe
© Cheapflights Ltd
Updated April 2009
