February 4, 2019
My attempt to get out of town didn’t happen quite as planned...
In order to save the most money on flights (prices are so freaking inflated!) I book through third party most of the time. For this particular trip I also booked through multiple airlines. When doing this, I always try to leave a good amount of time for layovers because delays can happen and if they do, you’re usually screwed.
My original flight from Salt Lake to LAX was delayed two hours before the flight and it completely eliminated the cushion I had left for myself. Because of the restrictive fares (the cheap ones) I had purchased, the only way for me to get to Athens was to get creative and completely re-book the international leg of my flight. Yes. Pay for the whole thing again.
The good news here is that I still haven’t paid any more money than a full price ticket originally would have been.
Here are my best tips for flying on a budget and dealing with delays.
My attempt to get out of town didn’t happen quite as planned...
In order to save the most money on flights (prices are so freaking inflated!) I book through third party most of the time. For this particular trip I also booked through multiple airlines. When doing this, I always try to leave a good amount of time for layovers because delays can happen and if they do, you’re usually screwed.
My original flight from Salt Lake to LAX was delayed two hours before the flight and it completely eliminated the cushion I had left for myself. Because of the restrictive fares (the cheap ones) I had purchased, the only way for me to get to Athens was to get creative and completely re-book the international leg of my flight. Yes. Pay for the whole thing again.
The good news here is that I still haven’t paid any more money than a full price ticket originally would have been.
Here are my best tips for flying on a budget and dealing with delays.
1. If you’re concerned about making connections and having to put in work when a delay happens DO NOT fly cheap.
Your time has value. If you don’t want to spend an hour or two calling airlines and re-evaluating your options, book your full flight (multiple layovers included) directly through one airline.
-I handle stress well and know my options so I sometimes find it worthwhile to take my chances on cheaper fares. If that doesn’t sound like you, don’t risk it!
2. Pack only a carry-on whenever possible!
This wasn’t an option for me since I’m going to be gone for so long, but trying to make a short connection is much faster when you aren’t waiting on checked bags.
3. If you’re a student, ask me for a referral to an amazing discount site!
If not, compare flight prices and refund options!
If booking on multiple airlines is cheaper, it may be worth it BUT only if you’re saving enough money to make rebooking one of those flights worth it. A delay on one airline won’t allow you to alter a reservation on another.
-For example: my Swiss Airlines flight can’t be pushed back because of a delay with my American Airlines flight.
This means I had to book a whole new flight when I missed the one on Swiss Airlines.
Bonus though: I booked my original flight for $347 which is a way better amount to lose than $1000+. Student discounts are everywhere. Take a minute to look!
4. You don’t get refunds when you pre-pay for a checked bag.
When you check a bag you can pre-pay online or spend $20-50 more at the airport. If it’s closer to the $20, it may be worth it to wait and make sure you make your flight.
-I pre-paid for my bag on Swiss and lost $60, so I think for the rest of this trip I’ll be waiting until I’m at the airport to pay any extra fees.
Your time has value. If you don’t want to spend an hour or two calling airlines and re-evaluating your options, book your full flight (multiple layovers included) directly through one airline.
-I handle stress well and know my options so I sometimes find it worthwhile to take my chances on cheaper fares. If that doesn’t sound like you, don’t risk it!
2. Pack only a carry-on whenever possible!
This wasn’t an option for me since I’m going to be gone for so long, but trying to make a short connection is much faster when you aren’t waiting on checked bags.
3. If you’re a student, ask me for a referral to an amazing discount site!
If not, compare flight prices and refund options!
If booking on multiple airlines is cheaper, it may be worth it BUT only if you’re saving enough money to make rebooking one of those flights worth it. A delay on one airline won’t allow you to alter a reservation on another.
-For example: my Swiss Airlines flight can’t be pushed back because of a delay with my American Airlines flight.
This means I had to book a whole new flight when I missed the one on Swiss Airlines.
Bonus though: I booked my original flight for $347 which is a way better amount to lose than $1000+. Student discounts are everywhere. Take a minute to look!
4. You don’t get refunds when you pre-pay for a checked bag.
When you check a bag you can pre-pay online or spend $20-50 more at the airport. If it’s closer to the $20, it may be worth it to wait and make sure you make your flight.
-I pre-paid for my bag on Swiss and lost $60, so I think for the rest of this trip I’ll be waiting until I’m at the airport to pay any extra fees.
5. Find the silver lining
-The best case scenario for me is that now I get to spend the night with my aunt and her family in California. I love them more than life, so it’s a pretty sweet silver lining to me. If I didn’t have that amazing opportunity, I would have to spend more time fighting the airline to re-book me on a flight tomorrow. Even then, spending one more night in your own bed is something to cherish.
Travel is unpredictable. I try not to get to flustered by surprises and just go with the flow. That’s a skill that’s hard for me in life, but surprisingly easy for me when I’m traveling. Basically, everyone understands that we only have so much control over weather, planes, and every other variable. Even the most OCD travelers (aka me) can’t plan well enough to make every trip flawless. You win some and lose some, so make some lemonade and learn from your mistakes.
That’s all anyone can ever do in travel and in life.
-The best case scenario for me is that now I get to spend the night with my aunt and her family in California. I love them more than life, so it’s a pretty sweet silver lining to me. If I didn’t have that amazing opportunity, I would have to spend more time fighting the airline to re-book me on a flight tomorrow. Even then, spending one more night in your own bed is something to cherish.
Travel is unpredictable. I try not to get to flustered by surprises and just go with the flow. That’s a skill that’s hard for me in life, but surprisingly easy for me when I’m traveling. Basically, everyone understands that we only have so much control over weather, planes, and every other variable. Even the most OCD travelers (aka me) can’t plan well enough to make every trip flawless. You win some and lose some, so make some lemonade and learn from your mistakes.
That’s all anyone can ever do in travel and in life.