Woman reveals sneaky way to save hundreds of pounds on flights – even after booking them
A WOMAN has revealed a sneaky way to save hundreds of pounds on flights – even after booking them.
When booking a holiday, everybody wants of bagging a bargain deal on their flights.
Luckily, a savvy traveller has revealed a little-known trick to grab cheap fares.
The woman said she took matters into her own hands after being confronted with whopping prices when trying to book a round-trip journey.
After booking a flight for hundreds of pounds, she then realised she could cancel her original booking thanks to a genius website.
Taking to AFAR, the money-saver said passengers can book cheaper flights on deal tracking service Going.com.
Their booking site compares hundreds of fares to spot the best prices.
It can also detect when an airline had made a mistake and released the prices at the wrong price.
While these instances are rare, they do happen more than you might think.
It previously spotted several mistake fares – including round-trip flights between New York and Paris for US$230 (£189) and from Seattle to Tokyo for US$316 (£260).
Travellers can subscribe to alerts from the site to be told when the prices are live, so that they can quickly take advantage of them.
Savvy users can also take advantage of the genius website to change their flights when a price drops.
The money-saver said: “When a price drops, you can cancel the flight, get the travel credits, and rebook at the lower cost without incurring any fees—as long as you hadn’t booked a basic economy fare.
“You’ll get your money back in flight credits rather than cash, but it’s still worth a shot if you think you’ll use the credits within the time frame that they will be valid for.”
A spokesperson from Going.com said: “If you want to rebook your original flight, most airlines obfuscate the process. In many cases, they won’t even show your original flight as an option when you click to change reservation.
“Instead, the way is to cancel your original flight, receive flight credit in exchange, and then use it to quickly rebook the new [lower] fare.”
It comes as an experienced flyer has shown travellers how to minimise the damage to their wallet as fees to check-in your luggage rise.
Passengers could save money from buying upgraded tickets, said the expert.
But there are other ways to save on hundreds on your flights.
Be flexible
The travel company emphasised the importance of flexibility – saying that adjusting travel dates can offer a wealth of cost-saving options.
You could choose to travel during less popular travel days, like those out of school holidays, or during off-peak, slightly rogue times.
Consider last minute deals
Although booking early is generally recommended to avoid disappointment, last-minute deals can also offer savings.
During off-peak seasons, travelers who book last minute could get some incredible discounts.
Although, they added that the sweet spot for booking European holidays is usually five months before departure – booking then could yield a 47 per cent reduction in costs.
While booking long haul flights six months in advance could save travelers a whopping 54 per cent off typical prices.
How can I rebook my flight?
IF you have booked an overpriced flight, you still have the chance to protect your wallet by rebooking a cheaper option. Here's how:
- Keep an eye on fares after booking your flight – you can use price alert trackers for updates.
- Navigate through Google Flights or airline websites, considering different dates and carriers.
- Once you spot a drop in fares seize the opportunity.
- Go through the rebooking process – ensuring to cancel and rebook where necessary ti maximise savings.
- Consider cancelling the entire booking for added saving and flexibility.