Considerations For Your Next Trip!

• Book your flights ~5+ weeks in advance

  • I found that booking flights by planning a few weeks in advance has cheaper flight options. Multiple times I hesitated and tried to wait it out, only to have my flights jump up in $$. 
  • Almost all flight bookings have a 24hr cancelation for full refunds and most airlines nowadays have a $0 change fee in case you find yourself needing to change your plans 

• Flight notifications

  • Turn on flight notifications to track the prices so you get the best deals as the flight costs fluctuate

• Travel on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday 

  • Sunday, Monday, and Friday are typically the more chaotic days to travel because people are traveling before/after business workdays. If you have the option, try to avoid those congested days to ease the stress.

• Search options on various websites

  • Flights or travel packages can be different across different companies. They’re also competing against each other for your business. Remember that and use it to your advantage and research! 
  • occasionally third-party offers may include additional promotions to save you some $.

• When you’re ready, purchase directly from the airline page/app 

  • My encounters with customer support have been much more pleasant when the flights weren’t via a third party. It’s also fewer phone calls you need to make to go back and forth.

• When traveling with a companion

  • Select your seat as window and aisle. 
  • It can go two ways:
    • No one gets seated in the middle and you two have the whole row
    • Someone gets seated in the middle but chances are willing to switch for either aisle or window seat

• Mobile Passport 

  • If you don’t have global entry, it gets you through customs sometimes as fast or faster than global entry

• Avoid Hotel Change Fees

  • If you cancel your hotels last minute, usually there are charges they tag on. Instead, consider changing your stay dates to a further date without any additional charges. Just remember to cancel your bookings far out enough if you’re unable to make the stay.

• Credit card points for mileage redemption vs paying for point benefits

  • Depending on which credit card you have, weigh the pros and cons of paying for your flight to get x2-10 points vs using your points/miles to save you money not or later
  • No foreign transaction fees 
  • Travel/flight cancellation coverage