- Contact the companies direct – look at their website to see if there are any up and coming seat sales.
- Charter flights are specially arranged flights which are scheduled by the travel agents to meet demand during peak times – i.e. over school summer holidays. Sometimes they also have special offers to ensure that planes are flying at full capacity – check flightsdirect.com
- If you are very tall or have special dietary requirements have a look to see if you are using the airline which best meets your needs - seatguru.com , airlinequality.com , flighstats.com and airlinemeals.net all have information.
- Easyjet.co.uk and ryanair.co.uk are some of the more well known budget carriers. Check their website for details of special offers and “free” seat give away promotions which they run.
- Priceline.com is a reverse auction website where you decide how much you are willing to pay for a flight. The software then searches for an airline willing to release a seat to you at your chosen price. If a flight is found your credit-card is billed – so you must be certain before you make a decision. Priceline will issue a suggested price for the flight but other users have reported success with undercutting the given price by 30%. The decision about your flight will be given in an hour.
Saving at the airport
Food & Drink
Take your own to the airport. Although you cannot take drinks through security there is nothing to stop you taking an empty bottle through and filling it up at the other side.
Duty Free
To ensure duty free is really as good as promised research your prices before you go. Sometimes shopping at your arrival can be cheaper than shopping in the airport.
Airport Travel
Don’t assume special “airport tariffs” will be the cheapest, they can actually be more expensive. Consider using public transport if possible, you can investigate before you go on the airport website.
Parking
Alternative means of transport will be much cheaper than the airport. Purpleparking.co.uk will have information on special cheap parking offers nationwide.
