I don't know about you, but I find air travel to be such an expensive endeavor. First of all, let's talk about flights. They have gotten so pricey, and it's like the plane has shrunk, no? And then you've got all the expenses when it comes to getting to the airport.
If the cab ride doesn't break you, the airport food will. So, wouldn't it be great to get some tips from a flight attendant that can save you money and headache? Okay, let's go.
A lot of people prefer to travel business class. I don't blame them, really. But a flight attendant revealed this secret: If you want to save money, buy an economy ticket first and wait to upgrade until you get to the airport. Chances are, if the plane is pretty empty, you'll get a better deal that way. Who knew, huh?
Did you know that it's cheaper to fly on certain days? Oh, yeah. I never buy a ticket for Friday or the weekend as the prices tend to be considerably more expensive. To be safe, try to fly out on either a Tuesday or a Wednesday.
Just like flying on certain days the time of the day matters, too. Have you noticed that flying on a so-called 'red eye' is always much cheaper? There's a reason for that. Not everybody likes to travel all night so that's a way to save some dough.
Many people think that they can save money by driving themselves to the airport. But then you have to park that vehicle the entire time you're away. Am I right? Well, that can definitely add up. In some cities like New York, parking can cost up to $70/day. So taking that cab might still be a cheaper option for you.
We all know there's that rule that you can't bring liquids through the TSA. But that doesn't mean you can't bring an empty water bottle and fill it up at one of the airport's water fountains, right? You'll be thanking yourself that you didn't have to pay $5 for that bottled water, alright.
Just like bottled water, airport food is way overpriced. So if you can, you would be a lot better off if you made a sandwich at home and brought it with you. Contrary to popular belief, you can get through TSA with a homemade sandwich.
So here's the thing: Some items at duty-free are worth it, but not everything. My advice for you is this — check prices online before you fly. A lot of the time, you can buy liquor or cosmetics at home for the same price or even less than duty-free.
And here's one final word of advice — sometimes it pays off to stick with one airline. In addition to collecting miles or points, you can also get free upgrades like a free checked bag and access to lounges with free food and drinks.
There are plenty of things you can do to save yourself some money the next time you plan on traveling. I had no idea about that business upgrade at the airport. Did you? That might come in handy one day, that's for sure. And I always pack sandwiches for the road. That's always been my thing, ha, ha. What do you do to save money while traveling by air?
h/t Insider
