As a Dutchy, I love finding the best deals. I’ll happily dig through websites and make a few sacrifices to save a buck. Over the years, I’ve picked up some tips for making budget travel work, and I’m sharing them with you today.
Image by Dirk Daniel Mann.
1. Use Loyalty Programs Like a Pro
Loyalty programs can be a great way to score cheap flights. However, collecting points is a long-term process. Points often have a vastly different value depending on how you spend them. So make sure you calculate the actual worth before using them.
If you plan a flight with SAS, check out my guide on maximising Eurobonus points.
If you want to start collecting travel bonus points for Norwegian or SAS, check out this post on the best credit card for collecting flight bonuses.
2. Pack Light and Smart
Budget airlines love to charge for extra baggage, so packing light is packing cheap. It’s also a more comfortable and affordable way of travelling. Some ways to pack lite and avoid extra baggage costs:
Use a neck pillow to stuff extra clothes. This was probably last year’s most viral travel hack. I especially liked this no-nonsense homemade version.
Use a duty-free bag: If you’re worried your carry-on won’t fit under the seat, buy something small at duty-free. Swap out your items with something from your bag; you’ve just added “extra luggage” without paying for it. And save those duty-free bags! They’re reusable and perfect for adding extra stuff on future flights.
Wool Clothes: Merino wool doesn’t get smelly and dries quickly. A woollen sweater can be comfortable hiking wear and suited for a formal restaurant. By choosing clothes that fit well into multiple settings, you can reduce the number of clothes you need to bring.
3. Use Google Flights for Inspiration, Skyscanner for Booking
When I’m planning a trip, I start with Google Flights. Their map view shows me flight prices to multiple destinations at once, which is great for narrowing down options. Once I have a destination in mind, I switch to Skyscanner to find the absolute cheapest ticket.
4. Book Early
For international flights, the earlier you book, the better the price. For short domestic trips, though, prices don’t fluctuate as much, so you might get away with booking at the last minute. Either way, keep an eye out for promotions, like Black Friday deals, which can offer upgrades or extra perks for cheap.
5. Bring Your Own Food and Drinks
Plane and airport food is always expensive. So make sure to bring your own. On one of my Norwegian flights, a lady asked for a cup of hot water. This was free, and she used her own instant coffee to get a free coffee. This was pretty smart!
Remember to bring an empty bottle through security to fill it up later.
6. Pay Attention to Airports
Not all airports are created equal. Some “cheap flights” land you miles away from your actual destination, leaving you with expensive transport costs. For example, Oslo’s Torp Airport is far from the city centre, and “Barcelona Girona” isn’t exactly close to Barcelona. Factor in these hidden costs before you book—sometimes, it’s worth paying a bit more for a flight to the main airport.
7. Be Flexible with Flight Times
Flying at odd hours—late at night or early in the morning—can save you money, but be careful. If public transport isn’t available at those hours, you might spend a lot on taxis. Always calculate these extra costs before clicking “book.”
8. Consider the Lounge
Lounges aren’t just for fancy travellers. Some airliners offer affordable lounge access, often cheaper than a meal at a restaurant. It will also give you a quiet place to work. Airport lounges are getting incredibly crowded, and smaller airports’ opening hours are not always great. So keep that in mind.
9. Check for Deals During Sales
Keep an eye out for seasonal promotions or sales. Airlines often run campaigns around Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or New Year’s. On SAS you can also ‘bid’ on an upgrade, which can be beneficial.
Opportunity costs
An often neglected aspect is opportunity costs. If you enjoy looking for a good deal, do so, but if it distracts you from doing more important (higher-value) work, get a ticket directly from the airliner and pay a bit more, but have peace of mind that everything is well taken care of.
Conclusion
Flying on a budget doesn’t mean sacrificing comfort or fun. Got any travel tips of your own? Drop them in the comments!
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