Flying through the air is a wonder of the modern world, but it isn’t free. Flight has captured people’s imaginations for generations, and it’s crucial not to take something that only seemed like a remote fancy for granted.
But there are several ways to travel, and while none are more convenient than flight, some are substantially cheaper. With that in mind, here are a few travel hacks that will help you fly for less.
Drive Yourself
The days of arranging for a cab or waiting by your phone for the Uber to arrive are over. A new model lets travelers drive their car to and from the airport, and park for a fraction of the price at an adjacent hotel.
Just show your online reservation to the parking attendant, then board the free shuttle to your airport terminal. From Las Vegas to YYZ, airport parking can be prohibitively expensive if you don’t take the right approach.
Enjoy the comfort and familiarity of your own car for a much lower price, all without having to wait on somebody else.
Packing Tactics
The way you pack can save you time and money. For example, don’t carry a prohibited item aboard the plane — always check it in your luggage. Otherwise, things could be confiscated, like a Swiss Army knife.
On the flip side, if you’re not travelling with any prohibited items, consider not bringing luggage at all. If you can fit all you’ll need for the trip into your carry-on luggage, you won’t have to wait at the luggage carousel for your bag or pay any related expenses.
Airport food is expensive because they know that once you’re inside and checked in, you can’t just run to a coffee shop for a quick bite or eat home food. For this reason, the smartest thing is to bring food you enjoy from home. You can control nutrition levels, portion, cost, and flavour!
Creature Comforts
Similarly, the isolated airport environment means that there’s probably a mark-up on creature comforts that will make your flight go by a little quicker. Airports sell everything you may badly need but might have forgotten, like headphones, a neck pillow, a book, and more.
Take a moment a day or two before your flight to write down everything you’ll want with you on the plane, and make sure to bring it from home. You’ll be more comfortable, and it’s cheaper too: why purchase what you already own?
Harness Google
Google has a feature that sends you email alerts anytime there’s a change in price on a flight you’re considering buying. If you know in advance where and when you need to fly, you can harness this feature so you can pay the lowest possible price for your next ticket.
Flight may be a modern miracle, but that doesn’t mean you need to pay out-of-this-world prices. Remember the above tips, and you’ll be soaring through the air for less.
