Budgeting airline travel can save you money if you know how to do it. And the best thing is that there are no special skills or loads of time required. It’s really as simple as creating a spreadsheet for your family and making a list of the various ways to spend less while you’re on the road.
In addition to saving money, you’ll also avoid the hassles of booking everything from first-class travel to last-minute hotel room upgrades. When you’re planning your travels this summer, there will be many opportunities to save money on airfare and hotels.
You’ll have to think about a variety of factors, such as the weather and where you’re going. But one place to save money is in your luggage and baggage allowance. Keep in mind that your allowances won’t be exact, so don’t make any guesswork. But they should include the bare minimum, which should be enough to allow you to travel light.
Don’t pack less than what you’ll need, and remember that the airlines’ rules may differ. Don’t pack more clothing or shoes than you think you’ll need. Onboard, there will be security checks, and all bags and suitcases must go through x-rays. Don’t let your luggage or suitcases get mixed up!
In addition to your airline travel plans, another way to save money is to buy travel insurance online. While the price can be steep, buying travel insurance can be the best way to go if you travel frequently and don’t want to pay more than your budget allows.
And many travelers who fly infrequently actually opt to buy travel insurance, rather than buying travel tickets, because they know that when the unexpected happens, the insurance can bail them out. And buying travel insurance is a small investment, compared to paying for a hefty fare to another city, or spending several hours on a plane waiting to get to your destination.
If you’re flying internationally, you’ll have to abide by a set of airport security rules: no walking around with your luggage visible, no loud, open displays of affection to passing passengers, and don’t drop anything on the ground, even if it’s a piece of trash.
And you’ll need to keep your luggage in one place so that if you leave it on the carousel, somebody will find it quickly and call the airport police. Don’t leave it on the carousel at all; just put it in the trunk, inside your coat-clad pajamas.
Another tip for budgeting airline travel is to keep track of your baggage and its whereabouts at all times. If you don’t have a definite plan for how you’ll get your bags to your destination, ask yourself how long it will take to get there (by using Google Maps, or another smart program, or a paper map from your local library) and how much it will cost to drive to your destination.
Calculate the number of miles you’ll be traveling, and then apply that to the amount of time you’ll have to drive to get there. Don’t forget to factor in hotel costs, fuel, and parking, as well as car rental fees and insurance if you’ll be driving.
Don’t forget any applicable taxes or surcharges when you add up everything. Add those expenses to the total price of the trip. Another tip for budgeting airline travel is to choose the most economical flight. This can be determined by comparing prices between different airlines and even between different airports.
Look for scheduled flights that are within about five to ten hours of your departure airport, as well as one that’s a direct flight. Booking a hotel can also help you budget; always select one located centrally, as opposed to one that’s near the airport or the bus station.
If you do book a hotel, check whether there are discounts available; these can really help trim your expense. If you’re looking to budget airline travel, these tips can definitely help you get your trip under control. Gain Delta elite status and travel with ease when you also check out this website.
As long as you do your homework, you should be able to get the most for your money and still stay within your budget. And remember, it’s not the trip itself that you’re budgeting–it’s the cost of what you spend on other things while you’re planning it. Don’t let this happen!
