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As much as we love them, airports can be a bit of a jungle. Between juggling kids, navigating security lines, and running on...
Life is full of chicken and the egg tales, with none so great as wanting to go on a holiday but still replenishing the coffers from the last trip.
With so many destinations and so little savings, you need to work smarter to find flight deals that work harder for you.
Save your cash to splash for once you’ve reached your destination rather than on the ticket to get there, by following these travel hacks to get the best deals on flights.
Your piggy bank will thank us later.
Hack One: Trawl the net and sign up for airline newsletters
It’s never been easier to compare flight options, with a plethora of comparison websites taking the guesswork out of international travel. Keep up to date with deals by signing up for newsletters from both your home airport (who will likely break the news of new flights first) and your favourite booking engine to make sure you’re ready to pounce when the discount fares drop.
Hack Two: Remember you pay in both money and time
It can be a trap for young players to jump on the cheapest flight possible, not aware that the flight actually stops over in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide or Perth before the onward journey. If time is no barrier, then no worries. But for lots of people, an extra 10 hours backtracking further south before an onward northern adventure, is actually a whole day of annual leave lost in transit. If time is money to you, be conscious of unnecessary stopovers extending your travel time, costing you time rather than money. It could be worth adjusting your travel dates for a direct option instead.
Hack Three: Jiggle your departure dates
Unlike a visit to the cinema, there is no such thing as cheap Tuesdays to fly. That said, common sense prevails when choosing your departure dates. Domestic flights on either side of a long weekend are likely to have surge pricing, while peak seasons internationally like school holidays won’t be where you’ll find the best fares. If you have flexibility on your side, use the visual calendar planning tool that’s available with most airlines to find the cheapest day to fly and wiggle your dates accordingly.
Hack Four: Experiment with around the world fares
Around the world fares are a bit like the unicorn of the flight world. These mystical tickets allow you to travel in one direction around the world, making multiple stops (FYI - each airline has a minimum/maximum number of flights so it doesn’t turn into a free for all) at often a fraction the cost of one-way tickets or connecting flights between each city. Since your ticket will be issued through one airline, this is also a good option to consider if you’re planning to rack up the frequent flyer miles.
Hack Five: Follow news of new routes
The equation is simple: new routes into Brisbane = new routes out of Brisbane. With new routes come launch fares, which are worth following to snag a heavily discounted ride. It’s often not just the route that’s new, but the aircraft themselves, so if you’ve been looking for your first ride on a Dreamliner you’re in with a good chance. Stay up to date with new routes to Brisbane Airport via the eNewsletter which will drop flight news and deals direct to your inbox.
Hack Six: Enter competitions
As the old saying goes, you’ve got to be in it to win it. Each year, Brisbane Airport gives away tickets for two to various places all over the world. Stay up to date with the eNewsletter to find out when the next competition drops.
Hack Seven: If all else fails, just book the damn holiday
If you’ve done all of the above, unless you’re booking during some sort of crazy flash sale, chances are you’re probably already looking at the cheapest rate. If you know where you want to go and aren’t fixed on moving the dates, just book it. Being organised is often the best bargain you can bag.
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