International travel can be prohibitively expensive but it doesn't have to be. Some people are willing and able to pay top dollar for the most convenience and the least amount of planning. However if you are willing to do some advance planning and some comparison shopping there are bargains to be had on cheap international flights.
Like any business, airlines want to maximize profits. It may seem obvious but it helps to keep that rule in mind when shopping for bargain air fares. Airlines don't make money on empty seats. Figure out when seats are most likely to be empty and you will have a pretty good idea when you can fill one of them cheaply.
The cheapest flights are at the times and on the days when most people don't want to fly. The law of supply and demand decrees that businesses charge less for supplies that are not in demand. However people have many reasons for flying when they do. If the reasons for flying on Mondays and Fridays don't apply to you try booking your ticket for a Wednesday or Saturday
In the US it's fairly easy to figure out when the most and least popular flying days are. For example any number of sources will tell you that the busiest flying day in the US is the day before Thanksgiving. Guess what the least popular day is. Thanksgiving day.
An energetic and clever planner can take the notorious "red eye" or one of the unpopular crack-of-dawn flights on Thanksgiving day and be home in time for turkey dinner. You may be a little worn out but a nap after dinner is part of the holiday tradition.
The Sunday after Thanksgiving is the most popular day for travelers to return home and the most expensive. You can save money by leaving Friday or Saturday or waiting until Monday. You could even catch a cheap red-eye special and go home the same night.
Of course Thanksgiving day traffic will not be a problem when you are traveling abroad. But other countries have their own holidays and sporting events and political gatherings when it seems that everyone is trying to get to the same place. If you can find out when those days are and avoid them you will save money and frustration.
Many people travel on business. Those people are often on tight schedules and are willing to pay top dollar to get on flights going where they need to go when they need to go. If you don't need to go at the same time they do, don't. By being flexible about when you will fly you can gain a lot of flexibility in how much you will have to pay.
If you want to save money on air fares one of the simplest things you can do is to fly when business people are not. This usually means the middle of the week. Check for bargain rates on Tuesdays and Thursdays too but the days you are most likely to find them are Wednesdays.
Business travelers and even tourists tend to crowd the same airports. A tourist who isn't in a hurry can take a cheaper flight, land in a nearby airport and catch a train to the final destination. Flights to less popular airports can sometimes save you big money.
Remember that most European cities and cities in other countries too have excellent rail transportation. By landing in a smaller city and taking a train to your ultimate destination you can save big. You can have a lot of fun shopping for bargains to buy with the money you saved on cheap last minute flights.
Like any business, airlines want to maximize profits. It may seem obvious but it helps to keep that rule in mind when shopping for bargain air fares. Airlines don't make money on empty seats. Figure out when seats are most likely to be empty and you will have a pretty good idea when you can fill one of them cheaply.
The cheapest flights are at the times and on the days when most people don't want to fly. The law of supply and demand decrees that businesses charge less for supplies that are not in demand. However people have many reasons for flying when they do. If the reasons for flying on Mondays and Fridays don't apply to you try booking your ticket for a Wednesday or Saturday
In the US it's fairly easy to figure out when the most and least popular flying days are. For example any number of sources will tell you that the busiest flying day in the US is the day before Thanksgiving. Guess what the least popular day is. Thanksgiving day.
An energetic and clever planner can take the notorious "red eye" or one of the unpopular crack-of-dawn flights on Thanksgiving day and be home in time for turkey dinner. You may be a little worn out but a nap after dinner is part of the holiday tradition.
The Sunday after Thanksgiving is the most popular day for travelers to return home and the most expensive. You can save money by leaving Friday or Saturday or waiting until Monday. You could even catch a cheap red-eye special and go home the same night.
Of course Thanksgiving day traffic will not be a problem when you are traveling abroad. But other countries have their own holidays and sporting events and political gatherings when it seems that everyone is trying to get to the same place. If you can find out when those days are and avoid them you will save money and frustration.
Many people travel on business. Those people are often on tight schedules and are willing to pay top dollar to get on flights going where they need to go when they need to go. If you don't need to go at the same time they do, don't. By being flexible about when you will fly you can gain a lot of flexibility in how much you will have to pay.
If you want to save money on air fares one of the simplest things you can do is to fly when business people are not. This usually means the middle of the week. Check for bargain rates on Tuesdays and Thursdays too but the days you are most likely to find them are Wednesdays.
Business travelers and even tourists tend to crowd the same airports. A tourist who isn't in a hurry can take a cheaper flight, land in a nearby airport and catch a train to the final destination. Flights to less popular airports can sometimes save you big money.
Remember that most European cities and cities in other countries too have excellent rail transportation. By landing in a smaller city and taking a train to your ultimate destination you can save big. You can have a lot of fun shopping for bargains to buy with the money you saved on cheap last minute flights.
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