Credit: Diam
Recently I flew to Cancun, Mexico ($27.00), California, Puerto Rico, and Panama City with Southwest Airlines all for $11.20 each ROUNDTRIP? Yes, you read that correctly. I flew roundtrip ($5.60 each way) to each of the places listed above.
There seems to be this false perception that traveling is expensive. Which is probably why my most frequently asked question is “Diam, how do you travel every month?”, well today I am going to answer that question for you all.
How to get really cheap flights
Tip Number 1: Buy tickets at airport (in advance, of course)
Getting tickets at the airport and getting cheap flights go hand in hand. If you have the luxury of living in the same city as a major airport you’re in luck. Many airlines, Spirit Airlines specifically, allow you to buy tickets at the airport to avoid the “passenger usage fee” which is $17.99 each way or $35.98 roundtrip. For example, I booked a flight from Orlando to Cleveland in august, on the Spirit Airlines website the flight was listed as $58.09.
Now, I know many of you are thinking “$58 for a flight is cheap already!” It is, but why pay more when you can pay less?! If you notice, after choosing your flights online the website breaks down the price total, and there’s the $17.99 passenger usage fee I mentioned earlier, which is ONLY charged when you book online. I wanted to test this out, so since I live near the Orlando International Airport I stopped by the Spirit Airlines Customer Service Counter and told the attendant that I wanted to book a trip to Cleveland. Lo and behold, I walked out of the airport with a flight costing only $40.10 total instead of $58 total. & if you wanna get technical, my flight was only $22.19 before taxes and mandatory fees. What a deal!!! ?
As I mentioned earlier, many airlines offer this helpful feature. Southwest Airlines has what they call a Low Fare Calendar, JetBlue calls their monthly view the Best Fare Finder. You can find others by conducting a quick Google search.
Tip Number 3: Check Nearby Airports
Most cities have other major airports nearby. Before booking a flight from your local airport always check nearby airports to see if they fly to the same destination for a cheaper price. For example, if you live in Sacramento check flights leaving from San Francisco as well. For my north east Ohio friends, check flights leaving from Cleveland, Akron, and even Pittsburgh.
Tip Number 4: Participate in Airline Loyalty Programs and Credit Card Rewards that Offer Free Flights
Remember earlier when I mentioned that I flew internationally for $27? Every airline I can think of (Southwest, Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and many more) offers a loyalty program that rewards you for flying with them. They typically give free flights and we just have to pay taxes (the $5.60 I mentioned I paid earlier to Puerto Rico, California and a few other places).
These airlines also offer Credit Cards and for every dollar spent you earn points, which lead to free flights! Helpful hint: For things you would normally pay for with cash, use your rewards credit card and then pay off the balance right away, therefore earning points and keeping your credit great!
Tip Number 5: Ask for Help!
Want deals but don’t have the time to look? Ask for help! Travel planning is a skill. Contact The Professional Traveler. She specializes in booking the best trips at the best prices and she will create a custom trip that meets all of your travel needs. She is guaranteed to find you the BEST price! Contact her today to book your next vacation!
Happy Travels!
Follow @fromdiamwithlove on IG: Hi! I’m Diam, a 24 year old Ohio native who lives in Florida and is obsessed with all things travel! I’ve explored 30 states, 10 countries and many many islands all while knocking big adventures off of my bucket list! I hope to inspire you to travel far enough to meet yourself! & remember, you don’t have to be rich to travel!
Show Comments (0)