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How to BOOK CHEAP FLIGHTS (Tricks that ACTUALLY work)
Project Untethered
Overview
This video provides practical, "outside-the-box" strategies for booking cheaper flights, going beyond typical advice. It covers techniques like using positioning flights to save money by adding an intermediate stop, debunking the myth of incognito mode for flight searches, and leveraging airline rules such as the 24-hour cancellation policy and benefits from flight cancellations. The video also introduces the "Goldilocks window" for booking, advises using travel credit cards for insurance benefits, and explains an advanced strategy of booking roundtrip flights that originate outside the US for potential cost savings. These tips aim to help both novice and experienced travelers reduce their flight expenses.
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Chapters
- A positioning flight involves adding an extra flight to your itinerary to reduce overall travel costs.
- This strategy works by flying to a cheaper, closer destination and then taking a separate budget flight to your final destination, potentially saving hundreds of dollars.
- It can also be used in reverse: fly cheaply to a major hub from your home airport to catch a more expensive main flight.
- For award travel, positioning flights can sometimes decrease the distance of your main flight, potentially qualifying for lower award price tiers.
This technique allows you to bypass high flight prices to your desired destination by strategically breaking up the journey, potentially saving significant money and allowing you to visit an extra city.
Flying from Detroit to Vienna for $677, then taking a separate $20-$30 flight from Vienna to Malta, saving $300 compared to a direct $1021 flight to Malta.
- The common belief that using incognito mode prevents airlines from tracking searches and raising prices is a myth.
- Data from frequent flight searchers indicates that incognito mode is not necessary for finding cheap flights.
- Airlines' pricing algorithms are complex and not solely based on individual search history via cookies.
Understanding that incognito mode doesn't impact flight prices saves you the hassle of using it and allows you to focus on more effective booking strategies.
The video references the platform 'Going' (formerly Scott's Cheap Flights), which searches thousands of flights daily and does not use incognito mode, suggesting its ineffectiveness.
- The 24-hour rule allows free cancellation or price holds for flights booked at least 7 days in advance and to/from the US.
- This rule provides a buffer to book a great deal or mistake fare immediately, then confirm details later.
- If an airline cancels or significantly changes your flight, you are entitled to a refund or rebooking on a flight of your choice, which can be used to improve your itinerary (e.g., change flight times).
- Even for non-refundable tickets, waiting for an airline-initiated cancellation or change can result in a cash refund.
Knowing and utilizing these airline regulations can protect your purchase, allow you to secure deals without immediate commitment, and even turn inconvenient cancellations into opportunities for better travel arrangements.
Booking a flight immediately upon seeing a mistake fare, then using the 24-hour window to confirm logistics before the price potentially increases or the fare disappears.
- There isn't one single 'best' day to buy flights, but there is an optimal booking window.
- For domestic flights, this window is typically 1-3 months before departure.
- For international flights, the window is generally 2-8 months before departure.
- Booking during peak seasons requires extending these windows by a couple of months.
- Prices tend to increase significantly around 21, 14, and 7 days before the flight.
Timing your flight purchase within this recommended window increases your chances of finding better deals and helps you avoid the common pitfall of overpaying by booking too late.
Booking an international trip in June for travel in December, falling within the 2-8 month 'Goldilocks window' for international flights.
- Paying for flights with a credit card that offers travel insurance can save money if issues arise during your trip.
- This insurance can cover expenses related to trip cancellations, delays, and lost luggage.
- Benefits may include reimbursement for unexpected accommodation costs due to delays.
- Choosing the right credit card can provide significant financial protection and added travel perks.
While not directly lowering ticket prices, travel insurance through your credit card acts as a safety net, potentially saving you substantial amounts of money and stress when unexpected travel disruptions occur.
A flight delay caused an overnight stay; the credit card's delay insurance covered the unexpected accommodation costs that the airline did not.
- Roundtrip tickets originating outside the US, particularly to Europe, can often be cheaper than those originating within the US for the same destinations.
- This strategy requires an initial one-way flight to the foreign origin point.
- Subsequent travel involves booking roundtrip tickets that depart from the foreign location and return there.
- This method requires flexibility in return dates or the ability to adjust them.
This advanced technique can lead to significant savings for frequent travelers between the US and Europe, effectively leveraging different pricing structures based on the ticket's origin.
A roundtrip flight from Detroit to London costs $884, while the same route originating in London costs $678, a saving of over $200.
Key takeaways
- Strategic use of positioning flights can significantly reduce airfare by adding intermediate stops.
- The belief that incognito mode lowers flight prices is a myth; focus on other booking strategies.
- Understand and utilize airline rules like the 24-hour cancellation policy and benefits from flight changes/cancellations to your advantage.
- Book flights within the 'Goldilocks window' (1-3 months domestic, 2-8 months international) for the best chance at lower prices.
- Using a credit card with travel insurance can provide crucial financial protection against delays, cancellations, and lost luggage.
- For frequent US-Europe travelers, booking roundtrip tickets that originate in Europe can be cheaper than originating in the US.
Key terms
Positioning flightIncognito mode24-hour ruleMistake fareGoldilocks windowTravel insuranceAward flightsNon-refundable ticket
Test your understanding
- How can a positioning flight save you money on airfare, and what are the potential downsides?
- Why is the claim that incognito mode lowers flight prices considered a myth?
- What are the key conditions required to utilize the 24-hour rule for flight bookings?
- What is the recommended 'Goldilocks window' for booking domestic and international flights, and why is it important?
- How can paying for flights with a credit card offer financial protection beyond the ticket price?