Tips on How to Score Cheap Flights
1,500php all-in return ticket from Manila to Butuan v.v.? You read it right.
This was how much I paid for my airfare when I did a quick escape to Northern Mindanao a month ago. With patience and perseverance, this or even a 600php return tickets to let’s say, Caticlan, Aklan, Iloilo or any local destinations is possible. Whatever was done in here is not some sort of a magic trick but one of the many travel hacks most especially the frequent travelers do when seat sales are on point. Don’t lose hope, though, if the seats run out! You’ve got a thousand fold of chances in some other ways and I’ll be sharing you some most especially the ones that I often use when booking. How to score cheap flights? Let me tell you the ways!
Look after Seat Sales
Different airlines occasionally run promos most especially the local ones. Among these are Cebu Pacific Air with their Piso Fare, Air Asia’s Red Hot Sale and Philippine Airlines Piso Fare, Skyjet and others. Make sure that you are following their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts so you can stay tuned on their announcements. Also, get a credit or debit card ready since they do not have the pay at the counter options anymore unless you are booking directly at their office. Make sure that you have good internet connection and patience. Some people get successful bookings as late as 2 or 3am since they have been up all night waiting on it. The seat sale warrior pack includes credit and debit cards, good internet connection and of course, your target travel dates. Always have with you a list of your travel dates and destination even before seat sale promos so you wouldn’t need to think right there and then which would actually take some time. Remember, seats run out fast on this.
If you are a frequent flier, you can sign up for a membership on their airlines (i.e. Air Asia, PAL’s Mabuhay Miles, Cebu Pacific’s GetGo). You can earn points in your bookings that you may use on your next one. They also have special promos and seat sales exclusive for their members only.
Look after Travel Expos
Travel Expos are held several times in a year in different places in the Philippines. Keep yourself posted with their scheduled expo’s by following their official pages most especially on Facebook. Different airlines, shipping lines and travel and tour agencies drop their rates during these events. You can avail these by visiting their respective booths and personally booking with them. Don’t forget to take cash, CC’s and debit cards with you!
Book for Travel Dates on Weekdays and Non-peak Seasons
The higher the demand, the higher the price – take it as a mental note when traveling. It’s still business for many. Thus, they also consider lean and peak seasons. Peak seasons include Fridays to Sundays, holidays and of course, summer vacation. Hence, it is a must to plan your travel dates and leave filing as well as. Traveling on lean seasons have several perks. One, tours and plane tickets are cheap and two, there’s a less possibility to have people photo bombing you on your photos. Make sure as well that it is an off-peak to your destination and not only in your current location. It might be off-peak in yours but peak on your destination (i.e. festival, holiday, summer, etc.)
Consider the time span between the booking and your travel dates
The sooner, the bigger – the sooner your travel dates are, the bigger you have to pay for the airfare. When I lose all the chances on seat sales and travel expos, I book regular tickets instead but way too far from my target travel dates and in consideration with the other ways that I have included in here (i.e. use of Traveloka and booking on non-peak seasons). It might not be as cheaper as the ones on sale but at least it’s cheaper compared to the regular ones on dates nearer to my actual travel. Plus, in this case, I can also plan well on my itinerary and save more for my travel budget 😉
Book a flight from and to Clark Airport
More often than not, flying from Clark Airport is cheaper than flying from Manila since it has been a hub for low-cost airlines and flights too.
However, it is not ideal for those who will be coming from the South. You’ll also spend less than 1,000php since you have to commute from Manila, say for instance, to Clark Airport. The good thing is, there are Point to Point (P2P) buses from Manila which travel directly to Clark Airport. From any NAIA terminals, the rate is at 400php. If coming from Trinoma, rate is at 300php.
Use traveloka
Traveloka is a platform at the same time a mobile application where you can book cheaper flights and hotels. It also gives you a preview of the prices for the whole month, highlighting the cheapest or an option where you can book return flights for four days. However, make sure that you’re gonna be real quick and fast in booking once you’ve seen cheap rates as it may change in a blink of an eye (LITERALLY). It has given me several heart aches and heart attacks (i.e. seeing a return flight to Bali for only 6000php and my second thoughts made it 14000php in an instant). Also, you need a good internet connection and credit or debit cards when booking with it.
So these basically are my ways on how to get cheap flights that would take me to the adventure of the lifetime. There are actually a lot out there! Care to share your tips? Email me then! 🙂
Anne Elizabeth Gumiran
Anne Elizabeth Gumiran, also known as Queenie, is a 20-something, full-time public school teacher, a part-time travel blogger and a freediver. She started putting her stories of adventures and misadventures into words and pictures in 2017 and continues to do so as she shares her advocacy, Sustainable Traveling.
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