I’m a big advocate for buying flights directly from an airline.
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First, an airline’s customer support is a lot more action-ready than a third-party booking site. Any mishaps are easier to handle. Second, you can make changes to your reservation more easily—and it’s also easier to see what is and isn’t included with your ticket tier upon purchase. Third, you can join an airline loyalty program that will, eventually, give you a few perks.
That being said… I still buy flights from third-party sites when I’m looking for a short, affordable route. And I’ll even go for a Ryanair ticket now and then. (I live in Spain, so I do a lot of domestic travel around Europe.)
In these cases, it pays to be careful about when and how to buy discounted flight tickets. Factors like shifting economy tiers, changing bag allowance, and more can turn a quick, easy journey into an expensive headache.
Here’s what you need to know about how to buy discounted flights like a pro, including the most important things to consider before making your purchase.
How to buy discounted flights the smart way—here’s what to look for
Bag allowance and baggage fees should be your first concern
Budget airlines seek to earn more money with upcharges, from wi-fi to snacks to baggage. Baggage is the most expensive element at play. Before you hit purchase on discounted flights, double-check what is and isn’t included—starting with a personal item.
Some budget airlines have cut down their allowances to just handbags and purses. That means you could pay a pretty penny for bringing a small carry-on suitcase that bumps up your total fare price to a non-discounted rate. Calculate baggage fees based on what you want to bring, then re-evaluate whether your ticket is actually discounted.
Avoid getting bumped by checking in early
Budget airlines overbook their flights more often than traditional carriers to avoid empty seats. If you don’t know, bumping happens because airlines use algorithms that estimate how many passengers are likely to no-show a flight. They sell extra tickets to compensate for those expected no-shows.
If you’re the last to show up at the gate and the last to check in, you’re likely getting the boot. This happened to a friend of mine last week when traveling between Paris and Barcelona. She was rebooked on a flight almost nine hours later. Because Europe has stricter laws on overbooking and delays, she was compensated—but that’s not the case in the United States.
Give yourself leeway on arrival time to make your other bookings
Budget carriers are subject to more delays than traditional carriers because, at many airports, they have smaller fleets. Fewer planes means delays are felt by more flights. Additionally, budget airlines don’t operate as often at hubs, and regional airports are more prone to delays.
Here’s how to book discounted flights like a pro: Give yourself added leeway for your bookings. That could be a car rental, a cruise, or another time-sensitive appointment. You’d rather show up early and have an hour to kill than realize you just missed your cruise trying to save $100 at the airport.
Give yourself plenty of leeway when you have a connecting flight—especially abroad
This is exactly like the point above, but it’s even more important. If you miss a connecting flight, you’ll miss those bookings mentioned above. And if you’re connecting at an international airport, you need even more time to make your next flight. That’s because you need to account for customs lines. In most countries around the world, they’re breezy—but they’re always subject to delays.
If you’re booking bundles, know that changes aren’t (usually) possible
Bundles are a great way to easily book flights, hotels, and car rentals. In just a few clicks, you’ve got an entire vacation set up and ready to go. There’s just one catch: You usually can’t make adjustments to flights when you book a bundle. If you’re purchasing a bundle, make sure everything is exactly in order—and pray nothing comes up before your flight takes off.
Before you book, check if separate trips are cheaper… from different airlines
Here’s a little trick. If you can’t find affordable flights for an upcoming trip, compare one-way routes from different airlines. You might find that booking direct one-way flights with separate airlines is cheaper than purchasing discounted flights from a third-party site.
There are a few catches here. First, only do this if you’re booking direct flights. You don’t want to juggle last-minute changes or emergencies with multiple airlines if you miss a connecting flight. Second, pay attention to those baggage fees and allowances—they’re a little different at each airline, and you don’t want to get overcharged for a second checked bag.
Airlines sometimes offer bereavement discounts
If you’re looking for discounted flights because you need to return home for a funeral or to visit a loved one who is sick, look for an airline’s discounted rates number. Almost all major US airlines offer bereavement discounts when available. In some cases, you could save up to 5%. In other cases, you won’t get a discounted fare, but airlines will let you make changes to your reservation as needed.
If you’re in it for pure savings, let the website tell you where to vacation
If you’re after discounted flights because you want to travel for cheap, and you don’t have any bucket list destinations in mind, one way to really save is to let a booking site tell you where to go. Head to the flash sale section or last-minute deals section. You’ll see heavily discounted offers there.
Just select the plan that works best for you when it comes to budget and location. It’s not glamorous, but it’s one of the most consistent ways to nail a cheap vacation. Just make sure you look out for seasonal concerns, like hurricanes, sargassum, or extreme heat.
