Airfare, specially during this time of the year isn’t budget-friendly for most travelers.
However, this is also the season when many expats here in the UAE book flights to spend the holidays in their home countries, or explore new destinations around the globe.
Airfare can easily be the largest expense of any trip. Shifting through heaps of flights and options based on time, carriers, duration and price can be intimidating for holidaymakers.
Putting off your holiday is of course out of the question.
So how can you find the best flight rate without breaking the bank?
Luckily, our friends from online flight and hotel booking platform, Tajawal, have shared valuable hacks to help travelers plan their next adventure.
Travel mid-week vs. weekends
Flying out during the week can save bundles of cash. Book your flights for Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Sundays rather than weekends.
Airlines tend to raise the airfares for Friday and Saturday flights, simply because these are the most likely days leisure travelers are planning to get away.
Online Travel Agencies (OTA’s) vs. Direct Airline websites
Besides searching and comparing airfares from multiple airlines, online travel agencies (OTA’s) act as a one-stop online travel shop offering more relevant and affordable flight rates. The convenience of adding cheap travel insurance, a superb range of travel offers, as well as safe and multiple payment methods.
Rely on the OTA’s to discover the most competitive flight deal options and promotions from various airlines, as opposed to airline’s websites.
Book connecting flights separately
If you’re flying somewhere that involves a transfer, say from UAE to Toronto which involves Dubai to Amsterdam, then Amsterdam to Toronto, consider booking these two legs separately by adding another destination to your trip.
It can actually turn out cheaper, but you also get to explore another destination for a few hours or days, before catching your next flight.
Be careful to not book layovers that are only a couple of hours apart as you will need to factor in time to collect baggage, weather conditions and airport delays. If you plan to stay for a few days or overnight at the layover destination, do your research on their visa requirements.
Flexible Schedule
There are certain times of the day and days of the week when it’s usually cheaper to fly.
Travelers not committed to specific travel dates can search for a range of feasible dates to get the best airfares.
If your schedule is flexible, play around with different flight dates and time until you find the cheapest option. Flexibility is one of the easiest ways to lower your airfare costs.
Always read the fine print
Before you embark on your holiday, take a few minutes to read the fine print on your travel booking. You’ll be glad you did as sometimes online travel agencies (OTA’s) show prices in bold without including applicable taxes and other fees that can amount to 20% to 30% of the overall rate.
Comb through the terms and conditions to avoid disappointments at the time of check-in or book with a trusted OTA such as Tajawal.
Take note of these helpful tips to enjoy a blissful, stress-free holiday… safe travels!
If you ever plan your destination trip to Abu Dhabi ( which we highly recommend as a beautiful tourist destination ) don’t forget to check out our article ‘ Explore Abu Dhabi’s scenic beauty through a new lens ‘.
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